Curated OER
Creative Thinking Cards
In this creativity worksheet, students use imagination to think of different uses for each of 8 common objects. Students tell how they could use a bell, toaster, pencil, drum, clock, seashell, fan and strawberry. The worksheet does not...
Curated OER
Note Cards
This is a very simple idea, learners make note cards or stationery out of their recycled art work. Note: I have done a version of this, where I've had my special needs learners paint on card stock or watercolor paper. I then cut each...
Curated OER
Invention/Innovation/Creative Thinking/Opportunities/Ideas
Students, while examining inventions and innovators, identify, differentiate and discuss five Canadian inventors/innovations. After applying creative thinking strategies to a promotional piece, students brainstorm patents.
Curated OER
Relief Foil Sculpture
A little tin foil can go a long way. Middle schoolers create relief sculptures out of card board and foil. The step-by-step procedure and materials list are included. Note: This project can be done with children as young as seven.
Curated OER
Symbols and Trading Cards
A silk rank badge was a symbolic emblem worn by high officials during the Qing Dynasty. Your class will get a chance to examine the details, symbolism, color, and design of such a badge as they make their own symbolic trading cards....
EngageNY
Clarifying Thinking on Water Management: Revisiting the Gallery Walk
One, two, three, go! Scholars gather in triads and number themselves one to three. Each number is responsible for sharing a section of the map homework completed the night before as learners discuss domain-specific vocabulary terms using...
Curated OER
Survivor Game
Learners discover competition and trickery by participating in a class game. They participate in a role-playing game called "Survivor" in which students utilize critical thinking skills to identify who is the "Bad Guy." Students win the...
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Playing the Float
Got a rainy day and need a few fabulous activities to foster creative thinking skills? The class works to understand the three types of human power; direct, indirect, and stored. They do this by first creating a parade float like the...
Curated OER
Expressing Ideas
Before a child can write in detail, he/she needs to be able to identify what the details are. To build an understanding of how to add or express details in describing an object, place, or person, learners match the detail cards to the...
Michigan State University
Create an Animal
Think beyond the animals and habitats we've already discovered and allow scholars to dream up their very own habitat and an animal that lives there. Class members present the new habitat and animal on a poster alongside an...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Give It All You’ve Got!: Challenge Activities (Theme 2)
Explore ways to make research and writing more interesting. The first in a series of three challenge activities designed to accompany Theme 2: Give It All You've Got involve creating sports cards, designing cereal boxes, and using other...
Curated OER
Holiday Greeting Cards
Students create holiday greeting cards using digital images and Photoshop elements in this great holiday art activity for the elementary school classroom. The lesson includes step-by-step procedures, a student example, and resource links.
Curated OER
Photo Quilt Square
Build creative thinking and organization skills with a beautiful quilting project. Young photographers use a digital camera and computer to create photo transfers, which they will use to create a photo quilt square. They sew or embroider...
Curated OER
Truth and Lies Games
Students participate in a get to know you activity. In this social lesson plan, students write three statements about themselves. One is true and the other is false. Students read their cards and their peers decide what is true and what...
Curated OER
"No, You Can't Take Me!"
Students study imitation or pantomime. In this creative drama lesson, students pick an object to imitate and state the reasons why that object should not be taken out of the room pretending to be that object.
EngageNY
Mid-Module Assessment Task - Geometry (Module 1)
How do you prepare class members for the analytical thinking they will need in the real world? An assessment requires the higher order thinking they need to be successful. The module focuses on the concept of rigid transformations...
Computer Science Unplugged
The Chocolate Factory–Human Interface Design
What is this? What is it for? How does it work? Challenge the class to think about to how to design a new chocolate factory for the Oompa-Loompas to make it easy to use. The activity is the first of a three-part series on computer-human...
EngageNY
Putting It All Together
Shuffle 'em up and deal! Learners practice operations with polynomials using cards they pass around the room. The activity works with pairs or individuals, so it offers great flexibility. This is the fifth installment in a series of 42...
Curated OER
I Choose Card #
Students practice problem solving and creative thinking in order to develop an answer/solution for the prompt on a chosen activity card.
Curated OER
Captain's Quest
Fourth graders, in groups, participate in a game in which they are assessed on their ability to work together to gather communication skills, leadership, trust, respect and creativity.
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
What is Health?
Many indicators of health are beyond a teenager's control, but there are many changes they can make in their daily life that can improve their health. Middle schoolers think about their physical, social, and mental health status before...
Population Connection
Meeting Human Needs
How to meet the needs of people around the globe—a question many ask. The fifth in a six-part series about human population and its effects on the globe, the eye-opening lesson includes discussion, a homework activity, and an in-class...
Curated OER
Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Presenting Information
Students develop a business card to market them. In this developing a business card to market them lesson, students design a business card to represent them. Students create a logo or graphic design that is professional and catchy. ...
Curated OER
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Here is a good activity on butterflies and caterpillars. After listening to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, young learners put cards that depict the life cycle of a butterfly in the correct order. There are some good ideas for center...