This activity is similar to the one on Creativity, however the ability to make a mental leap / the ability to make a judgment that really looks for originality, is a skill that children are just beginning to develop.
1. It is a tremendous "mental-leap" for young students to STOP... and consider whether or not an idea is original or common. This is especially true when kids come up with their own ideas. The following activities are designed to help children think about the differences between common and exceptional ideas. This is followed by viewing the two goat videos under Creativity Videos. Students are asked to justify what they see as truly creative and that which is common.
2. cIRCLE pROJECT --have kids participate in whole class brainstorming activity based on, "What could a circle be turned into?" For instance, a cookie, a happy face, a apple. Keep the brainstorming going, using the thinking categories below to extend their thinking. The idea is to fill up the board with many ideas that efficiently use up ORDINARY ideas. When you feel kids "think" they are out of ideas, hand each child a sheet of paper with one large circle drawn in the center. Tell children that their challenge is to turn the circle into something that has NOT been named. Below are some CIRCLE PROJECTS completed by older kids AFTER the brainstorming session used up all the ordinary ideas. Show these to children, explaining there are always lots of ideas that are creative that we only think of after ordinary ones are used up! Before children start drawing, they must tell you their idea so that you can be sure it is not on the brainstorm list. ***This activity can be a "partner" activity. A rubric is provided below that can be adapted according to age. Children should see it BEFORE they begin drawing their idea.
THINKING CATEGORIES
THE CIRCLE PROJECT -- (adapt according to age of student)