After a lesson based on the story, Not a Stick, the class had a discussion about the one student’s project that was both innovative and useful (the fire maker). The teacher then created an integrated Science and creative thinking task around the topic of magnets. After giving students some time to read about and experiment with magnets, the teacher presented them with the challenge, “What can you create using a magnet?”
This student created a game that was fun for her and her classmates. It was interesting to see how her game evolved. Initially her plan was to use the magnets as the game pieces that move around the board. On each square she put a paper clip. The first player to land on a square used the magnet to pick up the paper clip. The person with the most paper clips at the end of the game was the winner. Later she changed the game. The paper clips were taped down. When the teacher asked her about it she replied, “All the pieces kept getting bumped around. I decided that if I taped the paper clips down then none of the pieces would move around. Now the game is way better because I can play it anywhere”. She then altered the rules of the game to fit. She was able to persevere and make changes to her game until she was content with the final product.
I can get new ideas, or build on or combine other people’s ideas, to create new things within the constraints of a form, a problem, or materials.
I can get new ideas, build on other’s ideas and add new ideas of my own, or combine other people’s ideas in new ways to create new things or solve straightforward problems. My ideas are fun, entertaining, or useful for me and for my peers, and I have a sense of accomplishment. I can usually make my ideas work within the constraints of a given form, problem and materials if I keep playing with it.