Terri is a curriculum and tech integration specialist, speaker, and author with a passion for engaging and empowering learners. She delivers engaging professional learning, consultations on a variety of educational needs, and professional articles for various outlets . Find out more about Terri on the About page in the site menu.
Penguins Ready to Go Go Go! by Deborah Lee Rose explores the life of Emperor penguins, skillfully blending STEM elements with a heartfelt narrative that engages young readers and educators alike. Through vivid storytelling and stunning visuals, Rose invites us into the wondrous world of these magnificent birds, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, adaptation, and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
This is a book for all ages. The clever rhyme that’s full of action and the accompanying photos will capture the attention of even the youngest audience. QR codes scattered throughout the book along with the compelling back matter will serve as fascinating resources for curious older readers.
image credit: Paul Ponganis, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
The photos and videos (through the QR codes) give unique insight into the lives of the Emperor penguins. As Rose described it to me, “Most people think of Emperor penguins on the ice but in fact an enormous part of their lives—including all hunting for food—takes place underwater. And that is where it is hardest for scientists to discover the birds’ secrets of survival, which this book helps teach. Sliding into the water on their bellies is pretty easy, but getting out!!! That’s where their extraordinary adaptation involving bubbles comes in.”
As a STEM enthusiast and educator, I am particularly impressed by how Rose weaves together facts about Emperor penguins’ adaptations, life cycle, and the challenges they face due to climate change, encouraging young readers to think critically about conservation and their role in protecting our planet. This book, along with her other publications, are testaments to Rose’s skill as a storyteller and her commitment to science education, making them wonderful additions to any home or library.
Penguins Ready to Go, Go, Go! will be available on April 9, 2024, just in time for World Penguin Day on April 25th! You can download the free educational guide here or on Deborah Lee Rose’s website. You can get the book here or from your favorite independent bookseller through Bookshop.
Paul Ponganis, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season.  I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December.  These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child.  For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.Â
Outnumbered: Improbable Heroes is on the 2023 list of Mensa’s Games “Recommended to Play.” Because we are getting close to December 25th with today’s recommendation, I’m going to give you the Amazon link to the game as well as the direct link to the manufacturer’s page, Genius Games.
As you can probably guess from the game title, this is a math game. The recommended ages are 8+ and it’s designed for 1-6 players. One thing that I love about it is that it’s a cooperative game, so all of you are working to defeat the “villains”, which are the number cards advancing toward the bottom of the gameboard.
Children will really enjoy the comic-style design of this game, and the hero vs. villain premise. Players each get to choose the hero who will represent them. The heroes also come with superpowers, such as “Add 1 to a Value.” To defeat villains, you roll dice and can use any combination of operations and/or your superpower to “hit” the target numbers on the villains. There are also “Bonus Power” cards that can be earned and used throughout the game. You can learn more about how to play Outnumbered with the video below:
Outnumberedoffers a lot of opportunities for strategizing, but all of the players are working together, making this an entertaining way to practice mental math skills without the anxiety. You can also play the game at three different modes, “Training” (ages 4+), “Sidekick”(standard difficulty), or “Hero” (hard difficulty), which makes this a versatile game for classrooms and families.
Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season.  I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December.  These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child.  For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.Â
Magnets are so fascinating to children. To be honest, I find them intriguing as well. They almost seem alive in the way they move towards or away from each other, and the clever (or should I say, “Klever”?) people at Kluster have figured out how to make this into a game.
Before you read too far, I should mention that the recommended age level for Kluster is 14+. This is not due to the mental acuity that is required to play this game, but rather the potential hazards of magnets for young children. The included instructions do caution that these magnets are not toys, and that they should be kept out of reach of children because of how dangerous ingestions can be. These are powerful magnets, so the usual warnings to avoid exposing them to electronics or people who have pacemakers or implanted defibrillators apply.
Now that the serious part is out of the way, let’s get to why I’m including Kluster on my annual list this year. First of all, it’s fun and super addictive. Secondly, the rules are easy to learn. And third, this set comes in an attractive, sturdy box and includes a cloth pouch, making it easy to store and very portable.
Kluster can be played solo or with up to 4 players. You can pretty much play it anywhere with a flat surface (just keep in mind that electronics warning). There are 24 magnetic stones and 1 cord. If 2, 3, or 4 people are playing, your setup is just to divide the stones evenly and place the cord on the table so it creates the playing area within its ring.
Then each player takes a turn placing a stone within the ring. The first player to get rid of all of their stones wins. The catch, of course, is that you can’t place your stone too close to another because if any of the stones attach during your turn you must pick them up.
The strategizing comes into play as you: try to figure out how you can force another player to put their stone too close, decide if you want to try to use a stone to try to move another stone (you can’t touch other stones in the ring, but you can use your own’s polarity to your advantage), or attempt to adjust the ring without accidentally forcing any stones too close to each other.
It’s difficult to find games that you can break out at a party attended by different age groups and start playing immediately, but Klusteris a good addition to that category. It’s also a nice alternative for those rare moments in the classroom when you just want to give kids some time to play. If you’re a counselor or therapist, this game is perfect for playing while having conversations. And, families can easily bring Klusteron road trips to play at stops.
With its portability and instant engagement, Kluster is definitely a gift you should consider adding to your list this year!
Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season.  I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December.  These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child.  For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.Â
If you’ve got a kid who’s advanced in math and/or a middle school student who loves math, this book just might be an excellent gift. The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math, by Sean Connolly, has 24 “Death-Defying” Challenges for young mathematicians, and the humor with which it’s written is perfect for this age range.
This book is yet another winner that I would have loved to use in my classroom. Posing witty math problems such as, “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “Buried Alive?” The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math categorizes the challenges by your chances of survival. “You Might Make It” problems address Common Core Standards for Grade 5, “Slim to None” are the Grade 6 problems, and “You’re Dead” challenges include Grade 7 standards. If the reader wants some hints, Euclid always has some sage advice to offer, and the solutions are broken down so you can see the type of thinking needed to solve the problem. In addition, there is a “Math Lab” recommended for each problem that gives instructions for creating a hands-on method of seeing the challenge in action. To make the book even more enjoyable, there are amusing illustrations throughout.
Can you avoid death by a giant blade or vexed parents? Will you be able to save Dr. Grog from an untimely demise due to a Brazilian wandering spider’s bite? Only your persistence and mathematical prowess can help you to escape each dangerous situation.
Rather than just handing the book to your gift recipient, I would sit down with them and challenge them to a duel of the wits for each death-defying situation, so you can model the enjoyment of trying to work out a perplexing problem. Don’t worry if you don’t remember middle school math; your opponent will be even more thrilled if they outwit you!
And if you are looking for more entertaining math activities, don’t forget about Math with Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin, one of last year’s recommended gifts!
Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season.  I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December.  These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child.  For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.Â
For someone who lives with three dogs, my Gifts for the Gifted selections might seem strangely cat-centric this year, but it’s just a coincidence that I discovered two extremely cute feline games within a few weeks of each other. If you haven’t seen my review of Cats & Boxes, I strongly recommend you visit this link. And now for another strong inductee into my Gift Hall of Fame: Boop.
Boop. is a product of Smirk & Dagger Games. It’s described as “a very ‘thinky’ game for 2 clever cats.” I happened to see someone demonstrating it awhile ago on TikTok, and thought the concept seemed intriguing. It’s kind of like Tic-Tac-Toe with cuter pieces and a few more twists. Although the box recommends it for players 10+, I could definitely see elementary school students as young as 6 playing it with a little scaffolding.
Let’s start with the pieces. Each player gets a set of either orange or gray wooden cat pawns. Some of the cats (the ones sitting up) are adult Cats and the playful looking ones are Kittens. To create the game board, you turn the bottom of the box upside down, and place the included quilted comforter on top to create a bed. The quilt squares are your playing spaces.
The object of the game is to get 3 Adult Cats in a row, or all 8 Adult Cats on the board. You must begin by playing the Kittens, though, and this is where the strategic part comes in. When it’s your turn, you place a piece on the board, but if it is next to any other pieces, it “boops” it to the adjacent space (or off the board if there isn’t one). Kittens “graduate” into cats when you manage to get 3 in a row. Kittens can’t “boop” adult cats and no cat can get “booped” if there is already a cat in the adjacent space.
There are a few more rules, but don’t worry if it sounds confusing because you can scan a code on the directions to use an interactive play-along tutorial to get you going. Honestly, once you play the game the first time, you won’t have to look at the rules again. And you will want to play the game again, I promise! There’s also a scaffolding suggestion for younger players on the included game instructions. Here’s a super cute tutorial from Play the Game HQ on YouTube:
Although it doesn’t use chess pieces, Boop. reminds me a bit of Tic-Tac-Chec, which used to be such a favorite in my GT classroom that I had multiple copies of it. Unfortunately, Tic-Tac-Chec doesn’t seem to be too easy to find anymore, but I promise that Boop. is a great alternative if you want children to learn about strategy and thinking ahead while having a wonderful time.
Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season.  I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December.  These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child.  For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.Â
When I taught young Gifted and Talented students, we referred to convergent thinking as “Detective Thinking,” and Deduckto would have been a perfect supplement to those lessons where we would often do logic grids and other types of puzzles that involved making inferences based on clues. But this game is not just great for the classroom. It’s also a nice small family game. Designed for 2-4 players, the age range of Deduckto is 8+, but I think that there are definitely some 6-year-olds who would easily be able to play this game with one or two of the modifications I recommend later in this article.
Billed as “A Quacking Deduction Game,” Deduckto is an adorable card game in which you use visual clues to figure out the description of your suspect. Each player has five cards the player can see and one card the player holds backwards so only the other players can see. Your backwards card is your suspect whose attributes you will try to guess as you obtain clues during the game.
As you can see from the Suspect Guide card in the lower left of the picture above, there are 7 different characters, with 7 disguise options, and 7 possible locations. When it’s your turn, you choose one of the 5 cards that you can see in your hand to display to the group. The other players, who can see your suspect card, tell you if your selection shares any of its 3 attributes with your suspect card by responding only with a “yes” or a “no”. If it has something in common, you can place it in a group of “Yes” clues in front of you. If there are no attributes in common, you set it in your “No” pile. As your “Yes” and “No” clues accumulate, you can start narrowing down your list of suspects. You win by being the first to successfully describe your suspect card. For example, “Pinky the Pig, with a mustache disguise, in the desert.”
To discourage you from guessing too soon, there are consequences for incorrect guesses. The first time this happens, you have to turn over all of the clues you’ve obtained so far in either your “Yes” or “No” pile. The second time, you must turn over the other pile. And the third time, you are eliminated from the game.
As you play, you’ll begin to realize that the “No” clues can almost be more valuable than the “Yes” ones, as they can help you eliminate a lot of attributes at once. The challenge, of course, is trying to keep track of the information you’ve received from the clues in your head. One modification that my daughter suggested would be to laminate or make copies of the Suspect Guide cards (each player gets one to refer to during the game) so you can physically mark off attributes as you eliminate them. This would definitely help younger players. The other challenge little ones might have is holding the 6 cards in their hand without accidentally looking at their own suspect. You could remedy this by giving them something to lean the card against in front of them (such as a DIY mini easel) or making a DIY card holder similar to this.
As a teacher, I would first demonstrate by playing the game in front of the students and showing the class the suspect card while I try to guess the description. I would model my thinking and logic as I get more clues and make my final guess. Then you could reverse it so that only you know the suspect, and you give the class clues so they can try to guess. Parents could also do this to help their children develop their inferencing skills.
Deduckto is one of those games that takes a moment to learn, only about 15 minutes to play, and then you want to play it again because you think you’ve learned some new strategies that will surely help you win this time…
