Promoting Creativity In the Classroom

Chelsea BibeauEducational Psychology

What is Creativity?

“The use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.” – Merriam Webster Dictionary

“The tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, an entertaining ourselves and others.” – California State University.

What is Creativity?

Creativity is not reserved for art students and musicians.

Successful innovations such as Post-It notes, the dog collar, and even Dayquil are all started off with as a creative idea.

“Everything that could be invented has been invented”.

Charles Duell, the U.S. patent commissioner of 1899

Oppositions

Many believe that they have no time to bother promoting creativity

They say that it promotes “disruptive behavior” such as arguing, excessive questions, and excessive talking.

Students with these behaviors are often with misdiagnosed ADHD.

So creativity causes ADHD in students?

These are often misdiagnosis There are relaxing activities that can be

incorporated into the everyday classroom in order to help these students, while also being beneficial to those who do not display this type of behavior.

Relaxation Activities

Meditation Deep breathing exercises Listening to relaxing music Yoga

These activities not only help relax the minds of the students often misdiagnosed with ADHD, but act as a creative channel that allows the creativity to replace the disruptive behavior and/or continue to grow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nASvIgSOCxw

Creativity in the classroom (in 5 minutes or less!) | Catherine Thimmesh | TED TALKS

Activities to Help Promote Creativity

“Change this Object” “2D-3D” “Creative Seating” “Other Than Paper”

Your Turn!: Change this Object

You will count off by ABC’s, and each letter will have their own object that they will have to change into something entirely different.

A. A ShoeB. A QuarterC. A Shoelace

Afterwards, we will quickly share our new objects!

How Creativity Effects Development

Physical Social Cognitive Emotional

Physical Development

Activities that involve physical activity Muscle development Exercise Will attribute physical activity to fun, which can help

promote a healthy lifestyle.

Social Development

Activities in which students have to share, collaborate and clean up together.

Teaches the importance of collaboration and teamwork.

Helps develop necessary social skills.

Cognitive Development

Students learn shapes and colors through artistic activities.

Students learn about the outdoors through playtime outside, where they notice the different types of trees, plants, animals and insects.

By having them paint or draw a tree, plant or organism they observe, you are helping them develop key observational skills.

Emotional Development

If something is going on in a child’s life, and they are too afraid to talk about it, then they may open up through a drawing.

Can also give insight to any mental disorders or abnormalities a child may have or be developing.

If you value a child’s work of art, you re valuing the child therefore helping them create a positive self image.

References

CSU (n.d.).What is Creativity? Calidrnia State University, Northridge. Retrieved from http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/creativity/define.htm.

  Extension Staff (2013). Creative Art Helps Children Develop across Many Domains. Extension,

America’s Learning Based Network.. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/25680/creative-art-helps-children-develop-across-many-domains#top/.

  Henion, A & Elder, T (2010). Nearly One-Million Children Potentially Misdiagnosed With ADHD.

Michigan State University Today. Retrieved from http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2010/nearly-1-million-children-potentially-misdiagnosed-with-adhd/

Hogan, M (2012). Cultivating Creativity in the Classroom. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-one-lifespan/201209/cultivating-creativity-in-the-classroom

  Thimmesh, C (2014). Creativity in the classroom (in 5 minutes or less!). TED TALKS. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nASvIgSOCxw