A PROGRAM BASED ON SCOUTING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP SOME LINGUISTIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SKILLS AMONG GIFTED INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

The current research aimed to develop a program based on scouting activities with the aim of developing some linguistic communication skills and environmental life skills among a distinguished group of students, namely gifted students with learning difficulties. The research was based on the urgent need to provide flexible and stimulating educational environments that take into account the characteristics of this group and combine their high abilities with the difficulties they face, investing in scouting activities as an effective educational method that combines cognitive, emotional, and skill-based aspects simultaneously. The study relied on a quasi-experimental approach and applied measurement tools developed to verify the program's effectiveness in achieving its objectives. The results showed statistically significant differences between the students' average scores in the pre- and post-tests, in favor of the post-test. This indicates the effectiveness of the program in developing linguistic communication skills and environmental life skills among the individuals of Al Ain, whose number is 8 participants, with an average age of 9 years, and a standard deviation of approximately 1.0. The study recommends adopting programs that employ scouting activities as an appropriate educational approach to teaching students with special needs, while also training teachers on how to design and implement such programs to achieve effective integration and active learning.