Creativity – Summer

SUMMER FUN

ON WHEELS

School on Wheels Social and Emotional Learning

Creativity

Creativity involves using our imagination in order to build unique, new ideas and solve problems! Creativity is also about using our existing knowledge and experiences to approach challenges in different ways and it is a skill that can grow with practice. Studies suggest that habits like writing down new ideas and regularly learning unfamiliar subjects can help foster creativity. Your creativity might show up in art, science, performance, or taking care of yourself and others. For your next three tutoring sessions, take a few minutes to introduce, practice, and express creativity.

Complete all activities in order. Click the “Session” headings below to open each lesson plan.

Reminders for students and tutors:
● Listen with interest.
● Participate.
● Ask open-ended questions.
● Choose the best way for each of you to reflect and show your learning.

Tutoring tips for complex ideas:

  • Use simple language and short sentences.
  • Give examples before asking students to respond.
    • Try saying: “I use creativity when I find a different way to solve a problem, like cooking a meal even though I am missing one of the ingredients.”
    • Then ask: “When have you used creativity?”
  • Pause and check for understanding.
  • Encourage student to explain their thinking in different ways.

Packet Completion Prize Information:
Your student is eligible for a prize after completing all of the activities below! You will find the link to the completion form at the end of Activity #3 – please complete it together when you’ve finished all of the activities on this page.

Introducing creativity!

Let’s explore some of the many sides of creativity.

5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity

This week is all about introducing creativity! Select one of the videos below, then reflect and discuss out loud, write, or draw; your choice!

Video options:

Discussion & guiding questions:

  • What does creativity mean to you?
  • What are one or two ways that you show your creativity?
  • Can you name one or two people or things that spark your creativity?
  • Can creativity be learned and/or taught?
  • What outside factors influence your creativity, for example classes, physical activity, or friends?
  • Bonus question for “Your Amazing Creative Brain”: How can you strengthen the connections in your brain and create new ones?

5 min: Session review & preview

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

15 min: Core Program activity (Literacy, Academic, BUS)

5 min: Break

20 min: S.E.L. Summer Program activity

Choose from the following 2 options:

Video option:

Watch this short video: How To Be An Inventor! | Kid President then reflect and discuss out loud, write, or draw; your choice!

Discussion & guiding questions:

At the end of the video, Kid President said “It’s ok to make mistakes! It’s not ok to stop.”

  • Can you think of a time that you made a mistake when you were being creative?
  • Did you stop, or what did you do to keep going?

Slides option:

Review these Inventions by Kids! Refer to the close reading tips and reflection question after each slide for deeper understanding and discussion points.

5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity

Did you know that someone out there invented a robot that sits on your shoulders and feeds you tomatoes while you run? Review these other weird but true facts about exciting inventions!

Go to the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet to post about today’s session.

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.

Practicing creativity

This week is all about harnessing creativity to drive innovation and problem-solving skills!

5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity

This week is all about harnessing creativity to innovate and problem-solve!

“Think Outside the Box” drawing

Remember: Be as creative as possible! What masterpiece can you create out of these seemingly simple images?

Choose and complete one or more of the following drawings:
*Tutor: Download the file and upload in Big Blue Button to draw, or print out the 4 pages and bring any art supplies to complete in person!

5 min: Session review & preview

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

15 min: Core Program activity (Literacy, Academic, BUS)

5 min: Break

20 min: S.E.L. Summer Program activity

Brainstorm your future product!

Think about a product that you would like to create and/or improve! (Your product could be: a physical thing, technology, an app, a service, etc.)

Use the Bubble Map Graphic Organizer to think up and organize your ideas: 

  • In the center bubble write the name of the product you’d like to create and/or improve.
  • Use the rest of the bubbles to answer the following questions:
    • Who are you creating your product for? 
    • What is the purpose of your product? 
    • When would you like your product to be used? 
    • Where would you like to sell your product? 
    • Why is your product helpful?

5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity

Logos are creative and memorable symbols that grab attention and make a brand or product unique. We sometimes recognize a great logo without even thinking about it.

Can you identify these popular logos?

After you finish reviewing the “logo quiz” slides, consider what the brand logo for your product would look like.

  • What would the main shape be?
  • Would you have a character or an object in it?
  • Would it be colorful? Black and white?
  • Can you draw it?
Go to the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet to post about today’s session.

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.

Expressing creativity

This week is all about showcasing your creativity!

5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity

Select one option below to help you reflect on the discussion & guiding questions:

  • What is imagination?
  • Where do you think our imagination comes from?
  • If there is a difference, what is the difference between imagination and creativity?

Video option: Kids Describe Made Up Animals to Koji the Illustrator

Drawing option: Open Window

  • Use the worksheet above to draw a scene outside your window, using your imagination. You can include real or imagined plants, animals, cars, spaceships… etc.!

5 min: Session review & preview

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet.

Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.

Preview the plan for today.

15 min: Core Program activity (Literacy, Academic, BUS)

5 min: Break

20 min: S.E.L. Summer Program activity

Select one of the activity options below:

“Pitch your product” option

Imagine you have 3 minutes to “pitch” or try to sell your new or improved product from last week! Make sure to use your completed graphic organizer from your last check-out for this activity. Your pitch could be a verbal presentation to your tutor, a jingle, or a social media post. (Only really post on Padlet, though!) Consider the following questions while creating your pitch:

  • What is your product called?
  • What problem does your product solve?
  • How does it work?
  • Who would benefit from your product?
  • Why should they choose this product over another?
  • Design: Have fun drawing the product, sketching a logo, inventing a slogan, etc. 

Zine / Creative writing option

Create a zine on a topic of your choice:

OR

Choose one of the following writing prompts to create a short story! The Backward Storytelling handout will help you organize your ideas. Use your imagination and be as creative as possible!

  • Write a short story that must include a detective, a piano, and a pizza.
  • Imagine you are the captain of a pirate ship. Write a diary entry for what your day was like!
  • Ever heard the story of Little Red Riding Hood?  Write the story from the Wolf’s perspective!

5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity

Select one option below to help you reflect on the discussion & guiding questions:

  • Did you learn new ways to express your creativity over the past 3 tutoring sessions? 
  • Which activity was the most challenging? 
  • Which activity was the most fun? 
  • Did you enjoy exploring creativity and expressing your ideas?

Quote option: “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” – Mary Lou Cook

Video option: The 5 Types of Creative Thinkers

Go to the School on Wheels 2026 Community Padlet to post about today’s session.

Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.

You did it! Congratulations on completing the CREATIVITY summer activities!

Click here to fill out the completion form…
(and let us know it’s time to send your student their prize!)