How to Promote Creative Thinking. Creative use of books inspires children to think up ways to manage their own personal troubles as they listen to how a character in a story is coping. Read books that stimulate children's ability to enter into the adventures of others and recreate scenarios. These books often help heal a worry in a child. Adventures to Explore The Dusk Fairy* by Keith Faulkner (Scholastic Inc.; $7.95)Hey, Little Antby Phillip M. Hoose (Tricycle Press, 1998; $13.95)In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (HarperTrophy, 1995; $6.95) Tar Beach* by Faith Ringgold (Scholastic Inc.; $3.95) Problems to Solve Aaron's Hair* by Robert Munsch (Scholastic Inc.; $11.95) Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (Scholastic Inc.; $3.50)A Bad, Bad Day* by Kirsten Hall (Scholastic Inc.; $2.99)I Don't Want to Take a Bath! Reference Books for Teachers *To order, call 800-SCHOLASTIC We often remark on the marvelous creativity of young children's drawings, dramatic play, and invented language.
How can teachers incorporate creativity in their classroom? Fuel Creativity in the Classroom With Divergent Thinking. Recently, I showed a group of students in my high school art class a film called Ma Vie En Rose (My Life in Pink), about a seven-year-old boy named Ludovic who identifies as female. Ludovic has an active imagination, but is bullied by both adults and other kids who are unnerved by his desire to wear dresses and play with dolls. The film challenged my students to broaden their understanding of gender and identity and led to a discussion about ways in which our imaginations are limited when we are forced to be who we are not. It also reminded me of other examples in which character is forced to choose an identity, such as the movie Divergent, based on the popular trilogy of novels by Veronica Roth.
In Divergent, a dystopian future society has been divided into five factions based on perceived virtues. Young people are forced to choose a faction as a rite of passage to becoming an adult. Defining Divergent Thinking In the Classroom: Strategies Strategy #2: Let the Music Play. Drawing Pad. iMovie. Davinci note.