Top 5 activities that can foster creativity among students

The world is changing at a fast pace making creativity an integral skill that is required in all fields of work. To foster creativity among students, learning the different sources of creativity at an early age is essential. Creativity has no limit. It is more than colors, drawings, and paints. 

If we look back a decade, no one could have predicted that digitalization and globalization would take creativity skills to the next level. Access to technology and learning apps have encouraged students to explore their creativity. 

You must have noticed, there were times when learning creativity was restricted to books and classrooms only. But now, today’s young children are exposed to real-world learning experiences that can pique their curiosity because of interactive and enjoyable learning applications. 

Abstract thinking and adapting to creative learning is the future of STEM. Learning applications are leading the charge in this shift toward digitalization in education. It is a great opportunity to engage students’ creativity in STEM learning apps helping them to broaden the horizon of their minds.

With these 5 activities, you can foster creativity among students throughout the school year. This will help them to think out of the box and solve problems creatively.

 5 activities to encourage students’ creativity 

You can follow these creative ways to engage students to foster creativity in them:

1. Brainstorming sessions: 

Brainstorming is the process of thinking critically about different situations. In this activity, you can ask questions to the students. Young minds are encouraged to voice their crazy ideas. How would this foster creativity in them? You see, the child will open up a window of their imagination.

For example, create a problem like what will you do if you are left alone after school hours? All the students will give their ideas. Note down their ideas and make sure no one criticizes them. As an educator, you can shape their crazy ideas into meaningful ideas. This brainstorming session would help them to think creatively.

2. Team building:

Team building is a collaborative task. In this activity, you can divide students into different teams. Give them the liberty to choose names for their teams. It is a great way to foster creativity. The children will exchange their shocking ideas to solve that puzzle or find a valid solution to the given problem. 

For example, give every team a maths quiz. Ask respective teams to solve that time-bound problem. When you introduce time into any activity, the human mind tends to think of ideas more creatively. As an educator, you can encourage them to work as a team and make sure every student put across their creative thought while solving the math quiz. 

3. Journaling:

Journaling is a way of writing thoughts on paper for better understanding and clarity. In this activity, you can provide creative topics to write about. Students can choose any random topic to write about. This will encourage students to think out of the box and learn new ways to express themselves more creatively. Also, this enables students to build connections with teachers and communicate more effectively with them. 

For example, you can put topics in the jar, like what makes you happy? how will you celebrate your birthday? which place you would like to visit? These prompts will spark creative thoughts in their minds and will help them to write them down on paper. As an educator, you can read their opinions without judging them. This will encourage them to be more creative with their writing and thinking abilities. 

4. Gamification:

Gamification is a strategy that creates a “play-and-reward” framework using game mechanics, techniques, and visual components. Students can develop untapped creative potential where they are free to experiment, succeed, or fail, then try again. 

For example, you can play a bingo game in class. Ask students to identify vocabulary terms on bingo cards after hearing their meanings. If you are conducting an online class, you can play a scavenger hunt where students will find things in their room and show them during zoom or google meet. Give them points to increase their interest. This will encourage them to be more open in expressing their interests and thinking. 

5. Field workshop:

Field workshop is a way to introduce students to the real world. Children learn faster through visuals. Creativity is not surrounded by the four walls of the classroom. Going out and exploring real-life situations is the best way to cultivate creativity in the child.

For example, arrange field trips to the art gallery, museum, or aquarium. Give them the freedom to explore the place by themselves. If you are in an aquarium,  ask them questions like which is your favorite fish? Which fish would you like to keep in your fish tank and why? This will open a new vertical of learning for them. In addition to this, visual learning skills will help them to be creative with their thinking and communication. 

To wrap up, as a teacher, you should make a perfect environment for students to foster creativity. You can encourage creativity by teaching students to think critically and innovatively. Remember, when it comes to schooling, creativity is essential. 

It is the responsibility of teachers and school administration to inculcate this vital skill in students. When children come to school, they are filled with curiosity and imagination. Hence, execute these top 5 activities that can foster creativity among students in the classroom.

Jessica Robinson loves to write interesting and knowledgeable blogs regarding business management, education and life to satiate the curiosity of her lovely readers. Currently, she is serving as a content manager at the ‘Speaking Polymath’. Every piece of content that she writes demonstrates her immense love and passion for her profession.