developing children’s creative traits elizabeth c. fairweather, ph.d. thomas a. fairweather, ed.d
TRANSCRIPT
Developing Children’s Creative Traits
Elizabeth C. Fairweather, Ph.D.Thomas A. Fairweather, Ed.D.
Creative Traits PASSION
Perseverance CURIOSITY
Imaginatio
nINDEPENDENCE
SENSE OF HUMOR
PREFERENCE FOR COMPLEXITYNON-CONFORMITY
Nurturing Creative Traits• Organic• Focus on strengths and interests• Chicken/egg • Schools can’t do it all
Reading
Reading and Creative Traits• Traits– Imagination – Curiosity – Passion – open-mindedness – Perseverance
• Also creative skills– Preparation– making connections
How to Encourage Reading
How to Encourage Reading• Modeling• Continue Reading Aloud• Frequent Libraries/Book Stores• Support Independent Reading• Subscribe to Magazines• Start a Book Club
Drawing
Learning to Draw
• Resources• Materials• Drawing Contests
Cartooning
• Comics, cartoons, editorial cartoons• Resources• Contests• Publishing
More Drawing Activities
• Illustrating Narratives• Movie Making• Storyboards• Plans/Designs• Share Work – Creative Kids
Drawing and Creative Traits
• Imagination• Open-mindedness• Preference for complexity• Perseverance• Risk-taking• Creative Skill - observation
Writing
Journaling
• Making the journal is important• Types of Journals
Making and Publishing Books
• Pre-fabricated• Make your own• Ebooks• Book Signings
Submissions/Contests
• Magazines• Contests
Writing and Creative Traits
• Imagination• Perseverance• Risk-taking• Sense of humor• Non-conformity• Preference for complexity
Experiencing Nature
Nature Walks
• Just fun observation times• Scavenger Hunts• Gathering Specimens• Taking Pictures • Nature Journal• Recording Data
Organized Activities
• Bioblitz• Great Backyard Bird Count• Nature Clubs for Families
Tools for Exploring Nature
Gardening
Organizations
Follow-Up Activities
• Research at Home• Posting Findings to Websites• Join Groups• Science Fair Project• Sources for ideas on Handout
Experiencing Nature and Creative Traits
• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Open-mindedness• Imagination• Perseverance• Risk-taking (gardening)
Collecting
Reading/Drawing/Writing
Organizing
• Sorting, grouping, etc.• Materials
Collecting and Traits
• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Perseverance• Independence• Creative Skills – observing, decision-making,
making connections
Experimenting/Researching
Problem Finding
• Observing• Asking Questions• Activities
Types of Research
• Observing• Fact Finding• Experimenting• Recording Data
Resources
• Research Comes Alive! (Schack and Starko, 1998)
• Looking for Data in All the Right Places: A Guidebook for Conducting Original Research with Your Child (Starko, 1992)
• Picture Books– Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas
(Bardoe)– S is for Scientists
Experimenting and Creative Traits
• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Risk-taking• Perseverance• Independence• Creative Skills – problem finding, problem
framing, observation, implementation
Imaginative Play
Important Considerations
• Unstructured Time• Play Area• Props – clothing, puppets/stage, toys, boxes• Prompt but don’t disturb– Scenarios– Low profile questions
• Allow a mess• Follow up with writing, video, . . .
Modeling
• Reenacting adult processes• Mimicking• Impersonating
Imaginary Friends
• Encouraged/not discouraged– Accept “friends”– Go with the flow
• Can have them until fairly old
Storytelling
• Let’s Pretend Radio Show• Tell the story from a book – without reading• Spooky Stories• Campfire Stories• Start a Story• Story Around the Circle
Plays
• Go to plays and re-dramatize them• Make plays from stories/books• Videotape these dramatizations
Imaginative Play and Creative Traits
• Imagination• Risk-taking• Independence• Sense of Humor• Open-mindedness• Creative Skills – imagery, divergent thinking,
making associations
Building
Types of Building
• Blocks/Large Materials• Inventing• Structures• Making Machines• Reproductions
Materials
• Cans/jugs• Toilet paper rolls• Toothpicks• Construction paper• Straws• Paper clips• Posterboard• Magnets• Paper cups• Clay
• Velcro• string• Pool noodles• Popsicle sticks• Styrofoam• Egg Cartons• Boxes• Marshmallows• Glue
Commercial Products
• Lincoln Logs• Tinker Toys• Erector Sets• Littlebits• Legos• Squigz • Knex• Zoob• Model Kits• Dover Books
Building and Creativity Traits
• Imagination• Perseverance• Open-mindedness• Risk-taking• Preference for Complexity• Independence• Curiosity
General Resources• Light Up Your Child’s Mind (Renzulli
and Reis, 2009)• Smithsonian Museum – Webcasts– Activity Sheets
Summary• Reading!!!• Electronics • Unstructured Time• Indulge Interests
If the facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of childhood are the time to prepare the soil.
Rachel CarsonThe Sense of Wonder, 1965
