Children will enjoy creative writing in the primary grades if they are given inspiration, time to write, and the opportunity to share their work with classmates. A second-grade class began a creative writing project by listening to poetry and selecting poems to memorize and recite. This stimulated and encouraged them to evaluate and to write…

This pamphlet touches on definitions of creativity; its manifestations and methods of measurement on the preschool, elementary, high school, and college levels; its pattern of development; non-test ways of identifying creative behavior; and an explanation of creative learning. Common blocks to creative development are delineated, and a section…

This text presents a creative, child-centered approach to the teaching of dance in the elementary school based on the theories and methods of Rudolf Laban and Joyce Boorman. The content area of dance is briefly described so that the practical experiences presented later in the text can be viewed in perspective. Dance experiences are presented that…

Outlines a method to help students through the beginning phases of writing that will also show them the vital relationship between observation and creation. (RL)

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)

Drawing on existing work in the area of creativity and early years education, this paper maps the process of an exploratory study which sought to identify what characterizes "possibility thinking" as an aspect of creativity in young children's learning. With the aim of developing a framework for identifying "possibility…

This digest considers teacher- and child-initiated strategies for enhancing young children's self-expression and creativity. When teachers think about art and creative activities for children, it is important for them to consider that young children: (1) are developmentally capable of classroom experiences which call for (and practice) higher…

Educational experiences which facilitate the development of original thinking and learning are (1) the "open system" of education which stresses freedom at home and at school; (2) the emphasis on sensory awareness of the environment; (3) the development of curiosity and sense of wonder; (4) the growth of imaginative powers and original thinking…

Many criticize the educational system, arguing that it suppresses individual creativity. This paper proposes an alternative instructional design which is intended to be used by educators in planning for creative learning and assessing it in the classroom. It is based on the notion that everyone has the potential to be creative and that any process…

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…

Recognizing that children need enrichment at home, this book offers hundreds of unusual ways for kids and parents to spend time together. It also demonstrates the fun people can have while learning, and the learning that goes on while having fun. Using this book as a guide, parents and children can survey new subjects ranging from cultural…

A study of 74 female campers aged 10-13, primarily from middle to upper income families, determined if creativity of campers changed during a seven-week residential summer camp. Findings indicated camp environment and counselor abilities nurtured creativity. Ten ways camp directors can establish a camping environment to support creative growth…

This paper discusses creativity in young children and what teachers can do to support and promote it. Topics addressed in the paper include: (1) teacher interest in promoting creativity; (2) defining creativity; (3) creativity in the socioemotional domain; (4) the relationship between creativity and empathy for others; (4) bibliotherapy; (5)…

Noting children's need for enrichment at home, this book offers hundreds of unusual ways for children and parents to spend time together. Using this book as a guide, parents and children can survey new subjects ranging from cultural diversity to photography, journal keeping, psychology, food science, gardening, and sports science. The activities…

Divided into six sections, this book focuses on creative pupils and creative reading, special considerations when developing programs for gifted students, materials and resources, meeting the writing needs of gifted students, suggestions for meeting their unique needs, and future trends regarding the gifted. The titles of the articles and their…