The LUPE-Toolbox

The LUPE-Toolbox has been developed and field-tested over several years in a strategic research-practice partnership involving researchers from Trier University and over 20 elementary schools in eight German federal states.

The LUPE-Toolbox is based on the following understanding of potential: Potential is the achievement-related developmental potential of an individual. A student’s potential is not limited to a single ability, but consists of a variety of characteristics (referred to as talent characteristics), including abilities, personality traits, and acquired skills. Potential can be developed and nurtured, and it can differ by domain (e.g., mathematical or scientific potential).

Potential is...multidimensionnal, dynamic, partly domain-specific

The LUPE-Toolbox is a toolbox for the classroom. It contains modular materials that create a variety of opportunities for students to show their potential. Teachers can use it to observe their students’ talent characteristics in mathematics and natural science education, which helps teachers to identify potential.

The LUPE-Toolbox provides opportunities to observe the following talent characteristics:

 

talent characteristics: Numerical abilities; Cognitive motivation; Interest; Academic self-concept; Spontaneous focusing on numbers, relations, and patterns; Scientific thinking; Creative problem-solving; Divergent thinking; Observational ability; Verbal abilities; Spatial abilities

To use the LUPE-Toolbox, the following requirements must be met:

  • Participation in a LUPE training course
  • Familiarization with the manual
  • Formation of a LUPE team with at least two members at the school

 

Contents of the LUPE-Toolbox

Core material

Manual for the users of the LUPE-Toolbox including background information and practical tips

LUPE-Lessons

  • Detailed lesson plans, observation sheets, work materials with mostly open-ended tasks, and instructions for evaluating students’ behaviors
  • To be conducted with the whole class or with groups
  • 1 to 4 related lessons on a topic

LUPE-Interviews

  • Guides for short conversations supported by pictures as well as instructions for evaluating students’ answers
  • To be conducted with the whole class, groups, or individual students
  • 10 to 30 minutes

LUPE-Questionnaires

  • Work materials with closed tasks or questions with answer options for the students as well as instructions for evaluating students’ answers
  • To be conducted with the whole class, groups, or individual students
  • 10 to 30 minutes

Potential-Portfolio

  • Collection of individual student’s results, documentation of observations of the student and his or her developments
  • Observation plan for the whole class

 

 

 

The materials can be used specifically in mathematics lessons, in natural science lessons or in both subjects (cross-curricular). The following figure shows the assignment of materials to subjects:

test

Supplemental Materials

Links to the School Curricula

Overview of thematic links between the core components of the LUPE-Toolbox and the curricula of elementary schools in Germany

Available in the Material Download Area

Suggestions for Supporting Talent Development in Math and Natural Science

Additional tasks, programs, and tips for nurturing potential.

Available in the Material Download Area

Citation for the LUPE-Toolbox

Preckel, F., Gnas, J., Mack, E., Matthes, J., & Breit, M. (2023). The LUPE-Toolbox–Supporting achievement, identifying potential. Diagnostic material for identifying potential in elementary school children in mathematics and natural sciences. Psychology Department of Giftedness Research and Education, Trier University.