Barbara Basford's Creative Thinking Activities

Barbara Basford
Creative Thinking Activities

Fluency
1. Using student groups (grouped any way you like), elicit a list of words in particular categories. Each group has a particular category. Have the group narrow the list to the most interesting number of words based on the number of groups in the room. Place the lists horizontally on the board.
Example:
Clothing gown stiletto shorts wheelies cap
Vegetables zucchini radish jicama fiddleheads carrots
Animals lemur kangaroo snake puppy owl
Book dictionary Hamlet Harry Potter math book Seuss
Cleaner Mr. Clean Oxy Clean shampoo Clorox Soap

Elaboration
Using the same student groups who created the lists, assign a column of words. Each group must create a piece of writing that used the list of words in a sensible way.

Flexibility
Career Graphing – Begin by brainstorming all the careers the students know. Using the yellow pages of a telephone book, add to the list. Design a special graph that shows the professions in a unique way such as using pictographs. To further support Career Pathways, use the categories of the five pathways; Health Science and Human Services; Arts and Humanities; Public Services; Business Management and Information Systems; and Engineering, Manufacturing, and Industrial Technologies.

Originality
The Thank You Note – Show the students different kinds of stationary. If possible, show them how to create original stationary on the computer. Have the students (sophomores) write thank you notes for their job shadow experiences. They should include some thoughts or experiences that connected them personally to the job shadow experience. Teach them how to address the letters and send them.

Originality and Elaboration
Health Science Campaign – Use this activity while studying the Health Science career cluster. Tell the class they are part of a campaign to convince people to live a healthful life. Brainstorm all the things we should do to keep healthy. Have small groups choose one idea and develop a way to promote the idea (posters, brochures, PowerPoints, Public Service announcement, etc. Posters and brochures can easily go on display around the school, PowerPoints and Public Service Announcements can be aired on the Nokomis station, and any other ideas can be shared with the public in some way.
Flexibility
A Bird’s Eye View – What places or objects can you think of that look circular when viewed from above? List as many as you can.

Fluency
7. Salad - List as many vegetables as you can.