LEWISTON — The annual gifted and talented open house was held at Farwell Elementary School and included students from Farwell, Montello, Pettingill, McMahon, Martel, Longley and Lewiston Middle schools. The event was hosted by the two gifted and talented teachers, Desiree Spaulding and Mary Ann Methvin.
The first- through eighth-grader’s projects spanned all curriculum areas. Subject matter for the projects, which were created throughout the year, included a CSI murder scene, geography around the world, terraforming Mars, working robots, architecture, archaeology, anthropology and mythology. Debate, leadership and medieval studies were displayed, including an eight-foot castle and a solar cooker, which both received Best in Show awards.
A game based on ancient Egypt and a project exploring Kenya were also chosen as Best in Show. The students in the gifted and talented program vote for each other’s projects through a peer assessment. 
Many parents and siblings of the gifted and talented students attended the open house. Teachers, administrators and members of the public explored and discussed the information and the different approaches employed by the students to construct products which demonstrated their months of research.
The gifted and talented program helps to challenge students who are in need of additional differentiation. Though the students adhere to the curriculum of the school district, their learning is supplemented with additional explorations and in-depth study, while practicing team building activities with their peers.