Information societies--and life in general--require a host of skills beyond those found in the traditional school curriculum. Yet nearly a quarter of the way through the 21st century, educators are still looking for clarity on what these skills are and a comprehensive, whole-school model that explains how to teach and develop them; how to observe…

There exists an "innovation gap" where students are not prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly complex world. Skills such as creative confidence help close this gap and also foster innovation. To better prepare students, two concepts, design thinking and experiential learning, are integrated through the use of a modified writing…

Creative thinking is important to scientists and engineers as they frame their work and engage in the practices of their fields. Elementary-age children need opportunities to think about and develop an idea from its inception through to its conclusion to expand their thinking and engage in scientific processes. Generating and expanding on ideas…

Middle level educators around the country aim to create a classroom environment and a way of teaching that is developmentally responsive, challenging, empowering, and equitable for every student. One way to ensure this is to include instruction that promotes creativity. This article offers guiding principles and shares instructional lessons that…

Social studies curriculum is modified for gifted intermediate and secondary students by incorporating strategies designed to foster creative thinking. The strategies are an outgrowth of futures and creativity research and include brainstorming, attribute listing, morphological synthesis, reverse historical chronology, webbing, consequence charts,…

Discusses a need for problem posing and gives a definition and explanation of the term. Highlights an environment in which problem posing is a natural process of mathematical learning. Presents activities supporting problem posing. Contains 16 references. (ASK)

States that imagery is increasingly recognized as important in children's sense-making activities in mathematics. Presents an example of Elaine, a fifth-grade student who used her well-developed spatial sense in solving a nonroutine mathematics task. Illustrates some direct connections between a student's use of imagination and the ability to…

The guide examines creative problem solving strategies for gifted and talented students (kindergarten through intermediate levels). The 33 strategies are arranged alphabetically by title and include the name of the developer, grade level, purpose, time allotment, strategy instructions, examples, application and/or variation, resources, and…

The article presents three activities designed to create new images, restructure ideas, and try out new ways of thinking for primary-aged gifted children. (PHR)

The learning station process approach to curriculum enrichment in gifted education is considered. Key aspects of such an approach, including facilitator availability, spontaneity, flexibility, individualized and creative problem solving, and individual programing, are described. (CL)

These learning activities are designed for use in the classroom or at home when activities for special moments are needed. They can be introduced with a minimum amount of preparation and materials and a maximum amount of success. They are intended to give children a learning experience that is fun while developing imagination and creative…

Offers a systematic approach to creative learning in music through an analysis of the components of complex learning and creative activity. Outlines goals for fostering creative learning in music education, and delineates person, process, and product objectives. Suggests methods of evaluating creativity. (RW)

Presents a critical thinking exercise program, modeled on a physical exercise workout, for elementary teachers to use in the classroom. It includes warm-up exercises, a more strenuous workout, and a cool-down period for the brain. (SM)

Presents a portfolio assignment giving students an opportunity for creativity in designing their portfolios to demonstrate their progress in the course. Presents examples from student portfolios and outlines portfolio goals. Concludes with student reactions to the class portfolio, information on the grading procedure, and candidate courses for…

Presents exercises in the history of names, the origins of certain words, context clues, and creative descriptions--all designed to expand students' vocabularies. (SJL)