Creativity – New matches

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 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

Packet Completion Information:
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. After submitting that form, you are welcome to sign up for another SEL trait if you’d like to try more activities!

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?
  • What are one or two things and/or people that inspire you to be creative?
  • 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 2024 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.

10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)

10-15 min: Academic support

5 min: Break

10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity

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

“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!

Go to the School on Wheels 2024 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!

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: Session review & preview

Review the previous session and the School on Wheels 2024 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.

10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)

10-15 min: Academic support

5 min: Break

10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity

5 min: S.E.L. Check-out 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?
Go to the School on Wheels 2024 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

Choose from the following 2 options:

Build your brand option: 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?

Explore your imagination 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 2024 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.

10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)

10-15 min: Academic support

5 min: Break

10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity

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 2024 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 SELebrate you CREATIVITY activities!

Please click here to fill out the completion form!