This is the second sourcebook that has been produced by members of the Council of Elementary Science International (CESI) in cooperation with the ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education. This sourcebook is focused on activities designed to enhance children's thinking. Activities emphasizing creativity,…

This report describes a program that used both critical and creative thinking skills to enhance the educational process in language arts. The targeted population consisted of fourth- and seventh-grade students in two growing, middle-class communities located in northern Illinois. The lack of higher-order thinking skills was documented through…

This guide encourages a learning environment that allows for creativity. Creative theory, assessment, and talent identification information is given. Student activities are presented to encourage creative problem solving, dispel myths and misunderstandings about creativity, provide exercises in brainstorming, creative thinking, and making cross…

Project development activities centered on the components of teacher in-service, classroom activities, curriculum materials, parent/community involvement, and student evaluation. After three years of operation, test scores showed increasingly superior performance in creative thinking on the part of the students. (DLS)

Argues that creativity is the essence of true learning and explores its role in art education. Studies the creative process at work in several artists. Considers David Perkins' work on the creative process, identifying characteristics of a creative environment. Concludes creativity is more akin to problem solving than to spontaneous and mysterious…

Creativity in education often takes the form of concentrated periods of arts-based "light relief" from the rigours of the National Curriculum. In psychology, on the other hand, creativity is often associated with a dramatic moment of "illumination" in solving scientific, mathematical or practical problems. This paper explores a third approach…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics'"Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" envision an interdisciplinary approach to mathematics that allows children to communicate their ideas in the process of solving real problems. This book promotes the connection between mathematics and children's literature as part of realizing that…

Scientific challenges are presented to motivate secondary and college students in creative thinking and scientific problem solving. Student solutions to the "Create-a-Creature" challenge are presented and six new challenges are issued. (PEB)

Presents a student project that requires students to create a puzzle involving some form of manipulative and present it to the class with an advertisement. Uses writing to have students report on their progress. (MDH)

The argument examined in this paper is that music--when approached through making and responding to coherent musical structures, facilitated by multiple, intuitively accessible representations--can become a learning context in which basic mathematical ideas can be elicited and perceived as relevant and important. Students' inquiry into the bases…

This article describes the experiences gained from a seminar in the teaching of mathematical reasoning and problem solving designed to prepare in-service high school mathematics teachers to teach genuine mathematical activity in a computer-based environment. Presented with a set of unfamiliar tasks and activities, the participants were encouraged…

This paper reports on one dimension of a longitudinal study that researched the impact on student creativity of a unique intervention program for elementary (year 6 and year 7) students. The intervention was based on the Australian National Profile and Statement for the curriculum area of Technology. The intervention program comprised…

Defines creativity as the process of being original, spontaneous, and/or unique, using prior knowledge and available information to think or act in a new way. Creativity can be fostered by acceptance and encouragement, by an atmosphere of trust, and by selection of classroom activities and materials. Children need uninterrupted work time for…

The curriculum guide is intended to provide creative and academic enrichment for gifted students in regular classrooms of grades 3, 4, 5, and 6. Introductory information includes a discussion of the Three Stage Model, characteristics of the able student, and instructions for using the guide. Individual lesson plans are provided for the following…

The activities described in this guide have been collected in an effort to suggest an underlying philosophy for a language arts curriculum in nursery schools and to outline and suggest a variety of methods by which this philosophy can be put to use. Materials commonly found in the classroom, outside, and in the home, and well-known songs and games…