This book proposes a new theory on children's thinking (cognitive) development. According to this theory, the stages of said development should be divided into four stages: first, the stage of animalistic thinking (birth--before possessing basic language ability); second, the stage of elementary thinking (beginning to possess basic language…

Students can imitate scientists at work by conducting inquiry investigations in the classroom, thereby exhibiting a multitude of skills and competencies. As stated by Bransford and Donovan (2005), learning science as a process of inquiry involves students in observation, imagination, and reasoning about the phenomena under investigation. Rather…

By introducing students to the idea of inventing their own celebrations, teachers encourage creativity and help them sort out values and make decisions. Students can savor a sense of community as they share discoveries with classmates. Examples of several invented celebrations are recounted. (MT)

A seven-step technique is presented for introducing elementary students to the use of metaphors in order to develop their creativity and improve their writing skills. (JD)

Dramatic play games emphasizing creative thinking and listening skills offer an emotional outlet for the entire class. Games involving pantomime, musical instruments, and communication are described. (CB)

A teacher of gifted elementary students describes how her students used creative problem-solving principles to help her overcome a vocal problem caused by removal of a cyst. (CL)

This article describes inventions devised by 50 undergraduates, and groups them into 6 categories: personal/body, home, transportation, convenience devices/services, entertainment/recreation, and miscellaneous. Examples of inventions by national winners (ages 6-12) in the Invent America Contest are also given. (DB)

A professor's one-time observation of gifted and low-achieving students at one school leads to a startling conclusion. The gifted students were excessively anxious and unable to think creatively in the face of new problems; the low-achievers demonstrated high levels of creative problem-solving. (Author/WD)

Art education is discussed as a necessary basic skill which develops aesthetic responses fundamental to life experience. The role of art in internalized cognitive mechanisms is illustrated by the "American Freedom Festival," a day of school activities in many arts, developing the "whole" child's resources and sense of discovery. (CM)

Describes a screening and discussion of Eric Breitbart's 1970 documentary film on Kenneth Koch's teaching. Presents commentary on the program that helped to put the film in a larger pedagogical context and to extract from Koch's classroom a few lessons for everyone. Reflects on Project Zero's exploration of how young children learn to use symbols…

The first step in helping students to think more creatively is to create a safe and inviting atmosphere. A discussion of the basic skills of creativity: fluency, originality, flexibility and elaboration, lays the foundation for suggestions for developing creative thinking within the framework of the existing curriculum. (JD)

Discusses the need for teachers to foster the creativity of elementary school students. Describes creativity boosters for the classroom such as designing and defining new words, providing open-ended problem-solving situations, designing original inventions, presenting "what-if" questions, and providing tasks that require divergent thinking. (CR)

"Creating a superhero", a minicourse for gifted elementary children, is described. (CL)

Described is Project Reach (Reaching Educators and Actualizing Children) which is designed for gifted students, and includes exercises in productive thinking, student participation in planning, decision making, forecasting, communication, creative problem solving, and mind stretching. (KC)

Analyzed how bilingual elementary students responded to monolingual classrooms which assumed that those who did not fit in were problematic and required learning support. Discusses bilingualism and creative thinking, creative learning, and evidence of bilingual students' creativity. While bilingual students within monolingual environments often…