The information below originally appeared in the most recent issue of Gifted Child Today (Winter 2006). Visit the Gifted Child Today homepage to download sample articles or to order a subscription to Gifted Child Today -- the nation's most popular gifted education journal.

The Grey Labyrinth

http://www.greylabyrinth.com/puzzles.php
This site is a must for all puzzle lovers. In the Grey Labyrinth, one unsolved puzzle is always available. Visitors need to solve the most recent puzzle before the answer is posted. With attractive graphics, the large variety of puzzles--optical illusions, riddles, and logic problems--are very engaging. Solutions are posted for all but the most recent puzzles. While having fun, this great site improves critical thinking skills.

OLogy

http://www.ology.amnh.org
Ology means "the study of." And, on the American Museum of Natural History's OLogy Web site, visitors can study and explore many cool OLogies. This site provides visitors with information on a vast number of topics including archaeology, mammalogy, geology, and herpetology, just to name a few. On the marine biology pages, visitors can play the ocean creature feature game that will teach them about ecosystems in the ocean and how various sea creatures learn to adapt to their environments. There are also games, songs, and interesting facts on a variety of other topics.

NationStates  

http://www.nationstates.net
NationStates is a free nation simulation game. Visitors have the opportunity to build a nation and run it according to their own political ideals. Create a utopian paradise for society's less fortunate or a totalitarian corporate police state. Care for the people or deliberately oppress them. Join the United Nations or remain a rogue state. Visitors wishing to create a nation can choose from many different governmental options such as a republic, dictatorship, or commonwealth. They are also asked to choose a governmental style ranging from sensible to psychotic. A very fun and engaging way to learn more about government.