Wallach-Kogan Tests of Creativity were administered to 129 second-graders and fluency and uniqueness scores were computed for each of five subtests. Evidence was obtained for the construct validity of the Wallach-Kogan measures of creative thinking. (Author)

Effective Thinking Outdoors (ETO) is an organization that teaches thinking skills and strategies via significant outdoor experiences. Identifies the three elements of thinking as creativity, play, and persistence; presents a graphic depiction of the problem-solving process and aims; and describes an ETO exercise, determining old routes of travel…

Describes The Teachers, Time, and Transformations (TTT) project and uses the discussions of open-ended problem to present a cooperative model of staff development. Attempts to portray the advantages of such an approach and concludes with challenging readers to attempt a similar group-mathematics experience. Appendices include six approaches to the…

Two studies involving 60 graduate and undergraduate students explored the role of structured imagination in story creation. Results indicate representational knowledge was an important influence on story meaning and originality and that meaningful and original stories were more likely to contain abstract concepts than were nonmeaningful and…

Reports on the winning tool creations by 1,300 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students in the 1997 Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program. Students had to use mechanical and science process skills to design and build tools to meet their needs in solving a problem. The winning entry was a calibrated angle and depth scissors. (AIM)

Discusses how clothing choices can be a form of art expression in children and young adults and believes that art teachers should encourage such creativity. Describes types of outlets for artistic dress-up that can be used in the classroom. (CMK)

Focuses on how music teachers can make choral rehearsals more interesting for students by incorporating creative lessons and activities. Explores what it means to be creative and includes examples of creative lessons that can be used in the choral rehearsal. (CMK)

Examines uses of humor in middle level classrooms and relationships between humor and effective teaching. Suggests that, with the incorporation of humor into the classroom to facilitate rapport building, student empowerment, creative thinking, attention, self-esteem, and socialization, middle-level teachers have the power to become the genesis for…

Reports on a study that focused on three teachers and their ways of teaching problem solving. Findings indicate that the participants unconsciously constructed personal metaphors that became the basis of their conceptualization of problems. "Community", "adventure" and "game" were the key metaphors. The outcome…

Discusses the use of disguises and masks in the art classroom and in the daily lives of children. Focuses on different materials and objects that can be used as a mask or disguise. Draws on the experiences of the author. (CMK)

The following recommendations for promoting students' creative thinking are provided: provide better teacher training; use cooperative teams; combine media tools and teacher instructional skills; detect conditions that contribute to boredom; avoid continuous classroom routines; encourage students to take initiative for constructive use of…

This essay discusses how Maude Adams influenced James M. Barrie's creative process and became his inspiration. Set change theory is underscored as a cognitive explanation for Barrie's illumination. The psychoanalytic theory of transference is proposed as an underlying mechanism for facilitating the change of mental set during the incubation stage.…

Discusses the use of wheels in children's art. Focuses on collecting wheels, ideas for decorating different artworks with wheels, and objects that can move on wheels. Sees wheels as an inspiration for children's art, reflecting on the use of this object in the art classroom. (CMK)

Focuses on the importance of creative thinking in music education. Addresses three factors that support creativity in music: (1) the availability of resources for teachers, (2) the growth of information related to understanding creative thinking, and (3) the role of technology. Introduces this issue of the "Music Educators Journal." (CMK)

Traces the longitudinal development of creative thinking in music education. Contends that creativity in students is enhanced by building on the natural process of sound exploration. Suggests strategies for teaching music to very young children, and presents ways to foster creativity in students. (RW)