Emily Mitchell's class of 8th grade gifted students could name fewer than half of the U.S. states. Three could not recognize their own state! Not one student could locate both China and India, our biggest competitors. But after 2 weeks of study, the average score was 38 states. By the project's end, the average score was 49.4 states, with spelling counting. Students similarly learned central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East through maps, interactive computer games, memorization techniques, and competition. (less info)