Curriculum Awards

NAGC Curriculum Studies Network Annual Curriculum Awards

The following units have received recognition as exemplary curriculum in gifted education. These have met the standards of rigorous criteria according to the Curriculum Studies Network Curriculum Award Rubric, including showing evidence of student growth.

These curricula are “evidence-supported” curricula, field-tested with gifted students. Please contact the associated universities for information on the curricula that are “research-based.” Research-based curriculum includes more rigorous research designs, larger samples of students, a systematic approach to collecting student data, and documented evidence of statistically significant results. Learn more about winning curriculum from previous years and where to find them.

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
2004 2003 2002* 2001* 2000 1999 1998 1997

 

Title (Grades)

Content

Authors

Access to Curriculum Information

2019

Pity or Empower: A Problem Investigating the Connection between Language, Education Equality, and Global Citizenship (Grades 4-8)

ELA

Dana Plowden, Rebecca Brusseau, with contributions from Dr. Shelagh Gallagher

Dana Plowden

Interactions in Ecology and Literature: Integrated Science and ELA Lessons for Gifted and Advanced Learners in Grades 2-3  (Grades PK-3)

Science and ELA Tamra Stambaugh, Eric Fecht, and Emily Mofield

Prufrock Press

Vanderbilt PTY Unit
 

Once Upon a Time: A Summer Curriculum Unit for Literature and Talent Development (Grades PK-3)

ELA

Tonya Moon, Vicki Hobson, Mindy Moran, Christine Carr, H. Michelle Kreamer, Keerigan Mahoney, Catherine Brighton, Kateri Gajadhar-Smith

Tonya Moon
University of Virginia

I.O.U. Shakespeare (Grade 4-8)

ELA Tan Kum Chee, Btw Mawar Malyanah, Jason Yan Tan Kum Chee

Microscopic Monsters and the Scientists Who Slay Them (Grades 4-8)

Science Jason McIntosh Jason McIntosh

2018

Project Kaleidoscope: A Summer Curriculum Unit for Talent Development (Pre K-3 Heterogeneous Classroom) 

Science

Christine Carr, Barbara Wheatley, Kerrigan Mahoney, Tonya Moon, Catherine Brighton, Helen Michelle Kreamer, Victoria Hobson, and Andrew McCartney

Tonya Moon

University of Virginia

Not for Sale: A Problem about Gentrification, Soccer, and Building Community (4-8)

ELA-Literacy/PBL

Dana Plowden, Rebecca Brusseau, and Shelagh Gallagher

Dana Plowden

 

Dinosaurs to Drones: Investigating the Connections between Change Over Time and Grit (4-8)

Interdisciplinary

Jason McIntosh

Jason McIntosh

 

2017

 

The Great Debates: A Problem about How Television Changed the Landscape of the 1960 Presidential Election (6-8)

 

Social Studies/ELA PBL

Dana Plowden, Sara Townsend, and Shelagh Gallagher

Dana Plowden

 

The Penguin Predicament

 

Science PBL

Laura Shantz and Shelagh Gallagher

Royal Fireworks Press

 

Space, Story, and Structure: An Integrated ELA and Science unit for Gifted and Advanced Learners in Grades 4-6

 

ELA-Literacy and Science

Tamra Stambaugh and Emily Mofield

Prufrock Press

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth

Greening Up With Graphing: Recycle, Reduce, & Reuse (Elementary)

 

Math

Rubenstein, L. D., Cole, S., Heilbronner, N., Gubbins, E. J., Savino, J., McAnallen, R., Corbishley, J., O’Brien, A. Case, T., & McMillen,&  K. S.

Jean Gubbins

University of Connecticut

 

Perspectives: Turning Mirrors into Windows

ELA-Literacy

Katie Isch

 

Katy Isch

Indiana Dept. of Education Curriculum


Feats and Flops: Innovating Solutions to Real World Problems (4-12)

 

Interdisciplinary

Jason McIntosh

 

Jason McIntosh

 

Honor through the Ages

ELA-Literacy

Monica Plantan

Monica Plantan

Indiana Dept. of Education Curriculum

The Raffles Program: Year 2 English Biographical Writing

 

ELA-Literacy

Kum Chee Tham

 

2016

Quests and Quandaries: Exploring Intellectual interests in Depth (4-8)

ELA- Literacy

Jason McIntosh

 

Royal Fireworks Press

 

Geometry and Measurement for All Shapes and Sizes (PK-3)

Math

Shelbi Cole, Nancy Heilbronner, E. Jean Gubbins, Jeffrey Corbishley, Jennifer Savino, and Rachel McAnallen

 

Jean Gubbins

University of Connecticut

 

Fit to Print: A Problem about Yellow Journalism and the Road to War with Spain (4-8)

Social Studies PBL

Shelagh Gallagher,
Dana Plowden, and
​Sara Townsend

Royal Fireworks Press

I, You, Me, We:  Individuality vs. Conformity: ELA Lessons for Gifted and Advanced Learners (6-8)

ELA - Literacy

Emily Mofield and Tamra Stambaugh

Prufrock Press

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth

Aristotle's Rhetoric: Rhetoric- Language Arts Unit for Gifted Students in Grade 5

ELA - Literacy

Tracy Missett, Amy Azano, and Carolyn Callahan

Prufrock Press

University of Virginia

Geometry and Measurement for All Shapes and Sizes (PK-3)

Math

Shelbi Cole, Nancy Heilbronner, E. Jean Gubbins, Jeffrey Corbishley, Jennifer Savino, and Rachel McAnallen

Jean Gubbins

University of Connecticut

2015

 

 

 

The Pursuit of Justice (4-8)

Social Studies

Mary Ann Yedinak and Kimberly Chandler

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

It's Electrifying: An Exploration in Water-based Alternative Energy (4-8)

Science

Carol Horn, Shelagh Gallagher, and Dana Plowden

Royal Fireworks Press

Perspectives of Power: ELA Lessons for Gifted and Advanced Learners (6-8)

ELA - Literacy

Emily Mofield and Tamra Stambaugh 

Prufrock Press

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth

Moving Through Dimensions: A Math Unit for High Ability Learners (6-8)

Math

Dana Johnson and Kimberly Chandler

Prufrock Press

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

2014

The Case of the Tomato Plants: Exploring Photosynthesis and Respiration Cycles (4-8)

Science

Nicole Cruz and Tamra Stambaugh
 

Tamra Stambaugh

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth

2013

Calorie Quest: The Bear Unit (K-3)

Science

Tonya Moon

 

Tonya Moon

University of Virginia

Ferret it Out: A Problem about Endangered Species and Animal Ecosystems (4-8)

Science

​Shelagh Gallagher and
Dana Plowden
 

Royal Fireworks Press

2012

Exploring Shapes in Space:  Geometry and the Frogonauts (PK-3)

Math

Katherine Gavin, Tutita Casa, Suzanne Chapin, and Linda Jensen Sheffield

Kendall Hunt

Project M2- University of Connecticut

Utopia: A Language Arts Unit for High Ability Students (7-9)

ELA - Literacy

Mary Ann Yedinak

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

A Freudian Analysis of Literature (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Kenneth Smith

Prufrock Press

In the Mind's Eye: Truth vs. Perception (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Tamra Stambaugh and Emily Mofield 

Prufrock Press

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth

The Magic of Everyday Things (K-3)

ELA - Literacy

Tracy Missett, Carolyn Callahan, Amy Azano, Sarah Oh, and Marguerite Brunner

Prufrock Press

University of Virginia

Circus: An Integrated Curriculum Unit (PK-3)

Science

Ellen Honeck and
Shannon Jones
 

Ellen Honeck

Hull House:  Living Democracy in the Progressive Era (4-8)

Social Studies

Anne Horak, Shelagh Gallagher, and Dana Plowden

Royal Fireworks Press

2011

Order in the Court (6-8)

Social Studies

Darcy Blauvelt and
Richard Cote

Prufrock Press

U. S. Healthier Schools Challenge (PK-3)

Science

U. S. Healthier Schools Challenge (PK-3)

 

Mathematics in the Marketplace (6-8)

Math

Richard Cote and Darcy Blauvelt

Prufrock Press

Planning for the Future of the Going Big Skate Park (K-2)

Math

Tonya Moon, Catherine Brighton, Christine Trinter, Peter Malcolm, Kristen Whitlock, Kristofor Wiley, Emily Tombes, and Eileen Merritt

 

Tonya Moon

University of Virginia

Exploring Shape Games:  Geometry with Imi & Zani (K-2)

Math

Kathy Gavin, Tutita Casa, Suzanne Chapin, and Linda Jenson Sheffield

Kendall Hunt

Project M2- University of Connecticut

Spatial Reasoning (K-2)

Math

Jill Adelson and Dana Johnson

Prufrock Press

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

2010

Let’s Plan a Party (2-4)

Math

Christine Trinter, Catherine Brighton, Tonya Moon, Kristen Whitlock, Daniel Tillman, Monty Jones, and Lisa Foster

 

Tonya Moon

University of Virginia

Designing a Shape Gallery:  Geometry for Meerkats (PK-3)

Math

Kathy Gavin, Tutita Casa, Suzanne Chapin, Juanita Copley, Linda Sheffield, and Janine Firmender

Kendall Hunt

Project M2, University of Connecticut

Pay it Forward (PK-3)

Math

​Christine Trinter, Catherine Brighton, Tonya Moon, Kateri Thunder, Kristofer Wiley, Kristen Whitlock, and Peter Malcolm

 

Tonya Moon

University of Virginia

 

Food for Thought (4-8)

Science

Anne Horak, Dana Plowden, Reagan Hanson, and Shelagh Gallagher

Anne Horak 

What’s the Matter: A Physical Science Unit for High Ability Learners in Grades 2-3

Science

Ellen Fithian, Tamra Stambaugh, and Peggy Jacquot

Prufrock Press

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

2009

Water Works (PK-3)

Science

Center for Gifted Education, College of William & Mary

Prufrock Press

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

Ecopolis (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Richard Cote and
Darcy Blauvelt

Prufrock Press

What’s Your Opinion (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Further Steps Project:
Richard Cote and
Darcy Blauvelt

Prufrock Press

Getting into Shapes (4)

Math

Kathy Gavin, Judith Dailey, Suzanne Chapin, and Linda Jensen Sheffield

Kendall Hunt

Project M3, University of Connecticut

2008

Budding Botanists at Work: A Life Science Unit (1-2)

Science

Cindy Holub, Joyce Van Tassel-Baska, Bruce Bracken, Tamra Stambaugh, Janice Robbins, and
Valerie Gregory

Prufrock Press

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

Record Makers and Breakers: Using Algebra to Analyze Change (5)

Math

Katherine Gavin,
Linda Jensen Sheffield, Suzanne Chapin,  Judith Dailey,Tutita Casa, and Jill Adelson

Kendall Hunt

Project M3: University of Connecticut

2007

Building a New System: Colonial America (4-8)

Social Studies

Kim Chandler

Kendall Hunt

College of William and Mary

Experience Poetry (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Leighann Pennington

Leighann Pennington

Project M3:  What Are Your Chances? (K-3)

Math

Katherine Gavin, Suzanne Chapin, Judith Daily, Linda Jensen Sheffield, Tutita Casa, Jill Adelsen, and Ann Marie Spinelli

Kendall Hunt

Project M3, University of Connecticut

2006

Memories in the Shadow of the Arch (4-8)

Social Studies

Karen Giesler

 

Electricity City (4-8)

Science

Center for Gifted Education

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

At the Mall with Algebra: Working with Variables and Equations (4-8)

Math

Katherine Gavin, Linda Jensen Sheffield, Judith Davis, Tutita Casa, Jill Adelson, and Ann Marie Spinelli

Kendall Hunt

Project M3, University of Connecticut

2005

What's the ME in Measurement All About? (K-3)

Math

Katherine Gavin, Linda Jensen Sheffield, Suzanne Chapin, Judith Dailey, Tutita Casa, Eric Mann, and Anne Marie Spinelli

Kendall Hunt

Project M3, University of Connecticut

A House Divided? The Civil War:  Its Causes and Effects Grades 5-6

Social Studies

Kimberly Chandler, Carrie Beth Adams, Molly Sandling, Catherine Little, Joyce VanTassel-Baska, and Linda Avery

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary

The Desert: The World’s Biggest Sandbox (K-3)

Science

Jennifer Beasley

 

Balanced Diet  - Balanced Life (4-8)

Science

Sue Zupko

 

Poetry in Motion: Dances of Life (K-3)

ELA - Literacy

Bernie Mossotti

 

A Yearlong Exploration of Universality (K-3)

ELA - Literacy

Mary Clark, Lucy Pfirman, Beverly Given, and Tonie Proto

 

In the Muck:  A Study and Practice of Investigative Journalism (4-8)

ELA - Literacy

Jessica Hockett

 

2004

 

 

 

Concepts of Balance in Literature: The Tale of Peter Rabbit (PK-3)

 

ELA-Literacy

Hedy Droski and Mary Boegner

 

Ethnology of Communities (K-3)

Social Studies

Christine Kujawa Jones

 

Paleontology: Putting the Puzzle Together (1-3)

 

Science

Cindy Sheets

 

Ancient China: The Middle Kingdom (2-3)

Social Studies

Catherine Little, Joyce Van Tassel-Baska, and Linda Avery

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

Natural Disasters (3-5)

Science

Melinda Beaumont, Mary Bunkers, Gay Carlson, Ellen Honeck, and Shannon Jones

Ricks Center for Gifted Education

University of Denver

2003

Ancient Egypt: Gift of the Nile (PK-3)

Social Studies

Catherine Little, Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Linda Avery, and Gail McEachron

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

Viewpoints (4-8)

 

Debbie Keiser

 

Quest for Knowledge (4-8)

Interdisciplinary

Phillippe Ann Lipscomb and Judith Hurwitz

 

Medieval Mania (4-8)

Social Studies

Lauren Wilhelm

 

Social Justice (4-8)

Social Studies

Elizabeth de Brux

 

The Great Depression (4-8)

Social Studies

Wendy Conklin

 

Missing information for 2001-2002. Please contact Emily Mofield [email protected] if you have information.

 

2000

Archeology (PK-3)

Science/Social Studies

Stephanie Zenker, Carmela Kuper, Carole McKee, Donna Muth, Bonnie Kunel and George Brauer

 

Greek Mythology (PK-3)

ELA-Literacy

Jane Cooke, Patricia Schultz, and Barbara O’Neill

 

Keeping the Memory Alive (PK-3)

 

Donna Nesbitt, Gloria Jones, Connie Foster, and Betty Bell

 

Discovering History (4-8)

Social Studies

Andi Stix, Frank Hrbeck

 

Literary Reflections (4-5)

ELA-Literacy

Catherine Little and Joyce VanTassel-Baska

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

Gateways (9-12)

 

Shelagh Gallagher

 

1999

Think and Talk (PK-3)

ELA-Literacy

Kaye Kraus, Donna Morrison, Joyce Armstrong and Katheryn Shannon

 

Riding the Economic Railway (PK-3)

Social Studies

Melody Key and Debbie Bull

 

Anne of Green Gables (4-8)

ELA-Literacy

Dana Hyrkas and Anne Robinson

 

Who is America? (4-8)

Social Studies

Sally Simon

 

Across the Generations (4-8)

Social Studies

Christina Briggs and Carol Williams

Christina Briggs

[email protected]

In-depth Inquiries into the Natural Environment (PK-3)

Science

Nancy Hertzog, Marjorie Klein, and Joyln Blank

 

What a Find: Analyzing Natural and Cultural Systems (2-4)

Science

Joyce VanTassel-Baska

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

 

Wallet Wisdom and Free Enterprise (4-8)

Social Studies

Jo Vanderspiken

 

Food for Thought (4-8)

 

Gloria Jones, Donna Nesbitt, Betty Bell, Connie Foster, and Nancy Kramer

 

Visions and Voices (9-12)

 

Kay Brimijoinm and Cynthia Kelly

 

1998

Journeys and Destinations (2-3)

ELA-Literacy

Catherine Little and Joyce VanTassel-Baska

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

William and Mary

Robots are Coming

 

Chris Nobe

 

Think Like a Sociologist (4-8)

Social Studies

Judy Satterwhite, Chris Briggs, Fort Worth ISD, TX

Christina Briggs

[email protected]

Chemistry Magazine (4-8)

Science

Leslie Mirman and Jonathan Plucker

Jonathan Plucker

[email protected]

Young Inventors (9-12)

Interdisciplinary

Jonathan Plucker

Jonathan Plucker

[email protected]

Storm King (4-8)

 

Laura Shapiro and Terry Murray

 

1997

Differentiated and Integrated Kindergarten Curriculum (K)

Interdisciplinary

Shauna Maughm

 

Facilitating Inquiry at University Primary School (PK-3)

Interdisciplinary

Marjory Cline and Nancy Hertzog

 

Acid, Acid Everywhere (4-6)

Science

Linda Neal Boyce, Sandra Coleman, Victoria Damiani, Shelagh Gallagher, Dana Johnson, Donna Poland, Beverly Sher, and Joyce VanTassel-Baska

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

 

Autobiographies: Personal Odysseys of Change (5-6)

ELA-Literacy

Claire Hughes and Joyce VanTassel-Baska

Kendall Hunt

Center for Gifted Education

College of William and Mary

Lessons on the Lake: An Educator’s Guide to the Pontchartrain Basin (9-12)

Science

Mary Banbury, Sharon Flanagan, Michael Green, Sue Ellen Lyons, and Ann Rheams

 

Architectural Visions (9-12)

 

Fayetteville (Arkansas) Public School