The 3Cs: Creativity, Critical Thinking and Craziness in the Primary Classroom

XVII Jornadas CETA, 2016

by Michelle Worgan

OVERVIEW

Creativity and critical thinking skills are key areas of education in the 21st century. In

this practical workshop we will look at lots of simple yet effective activities and images

that will get our primary learners thinking more. The third C, craziness, will look at

how humour can make lessons more memorable.

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

1. ·         Renaming or rethinking the purpose of everyday objects.

2. ·         Pareidolia

3. ·         Fantasy food

4. ·         New identities

5. ·         A cat’s birthday

Tip 1: Inspire creativity with simple sketches, use of colour vs B&W, abstract shapes,

mixed media, picture frames, space to doodle

Tip 2: Allow for creativity outside the activity.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

1. ·         Formulating opinions 1. What will happen next?

2. ·         Justification 2. Was X a good idea?

3. ·         Decision making 3. Why? Why? Why?

4. ·         Analysis and evaluation 4. How are X and Y the same/different?

5. ·         Problem solving 5. How can we solve the problem?

6. ·         Reflective thinking 6. How would you feel if…?

7. ·         Inference and deduction

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CRITICAL THINKING ACTIVITIES

1. ·         Fact or opinion?

2. ·         A cat’s birthday party

3. ·         Cupcakes for everybody

4. ·         Evaluation and self-evaluation

CRAZY ACTIVITIES

Humour lowers affective barriers, laughter increases relaxation

1. ·         Paper plates

2. ·         Crazy consequence cupcakes

YOUR IDEAS http://padlet.com/michelleworgan/CETA2016

BIBLIOGRAPHY & FURTHER READING

● Creativity in the English Language Classroom Ed. Alan Maley and Nik

Peachy

● Fuel Creativity in the Classroom with Divergent Thinking, Stacey

Goodman, Edutopia

● How to Explain Critical Thinking Skills to Young Children, Heidi Butkus,

● eisforexplore.blogspot.com - science activities, creativity, critical thinking

● Critical Thinking Skills for Young learners and Teens, H. Puchta

● Developing Thinking Skills in the Young Learner’s Classroom, H. Puchta

● http://blog.ted.com/4-inspiring-kids-imagine-the-future-of-learning/

● The Adventures of a Cardboard Box https://vimeo.com/25239728

● The Deep by PES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK18bdUEWSs

● HOTS v LOTS https://youtu.be/DRGKzKDwURA

CONTACT michelleworgan@gmail.com Twitter: @michelleworgan Facebook page: www.facebook.com/michelleworganelt

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