A teacher describes how she uses storytelling in her fifth grade classes, because storytelling combines listening skills and imagination with the nuances of language, history, culture, and values. Resources are listed. Two insets discuss the benefits of storytelling and offer tips on becoming a storytelling teacher. (MT)

The author describes activities of a weekly enrichment class providing right-brain tasks to gifted elementary students. Activities, which centered on artistic creativity, were taken from "Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain" by B. Edwards. (CL)

Interviews the author of a program in the language arts which develops creativity. (RB)

The first step in helping students to think more creatively is to create a safe and inviting atmosphere. A discussion of the basic skills of creativity: fluency, originality, flexibility and elaboration, lays the foundation for suggestions for developing creative thinking within the framework of the existing curriculum. (JD)

This article begins by identifying that children have a spontaneous predilection for playing with language, engaging in poetic discourse even before their first poetry lesson. Although children's language play is relatively unresearched in the classroom, in a case study of two groups of pupils aged between 10 and 11, it was observed that children…

One hundred fifty-six gifted elementary students (grades 3 through 6) responded to the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory on a pre- and posttest basis during a 3 week, 45 hour College for Kids program, designed as an enrichment program with focus on critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, research, and questioning. Thirty students responded to…

The study investigated the possible correlations between brain growth stages and creative art work through the evaluation of 549 samples of children's art by children in grades K through 6. The absence of a valid instrument led to the development by the investigator of a criterion referenced rating scale for evaluation of the art work. The data…

Development of problem-solving and creative thinking ability was examined through administration of experimental tasks to 240 gifted children (grade 2 to grade 6). Different patterns of development were noted: problem-solving skills grew steadily from grade 2 through grade 6; while creative thinking increased from grade 2 through grade 4, with no…

Eliciting creativity in every student in the classroom can be a realistic goal for classroom teachers. The teaching of creativity embraces form and structure as well as freedom of thought and expression. It is very appropriate to provide the student with an imaginative and creative impetus with which he/she cannot only create or establish the…

Three educational leaders--Robert Quackenbush, Geraldine Siks, and David A. Sohn--offer reflections on recent developments regarding activities that stimulate children's creativity, their hopes for the 1980s, and recommended books for teachers. (AEA)

"Creating a superhero", a minicourse for gifted elementary children, is described. (CL)

This study asked 95 beginning and 116 experienced elementary teachers in Singapore to rate the usefulness of 33 learning activities for fostering creativity. Three clusters were identified. About two thirds of the experienced teachers' and one fifth of the beginning teachers' ratings indicated little differentiated preference among learning…

The drama hike is a walk in the woods, in which children observe nature and engage in an imaginative search for a "lost civilization" or "strange creatures." Instructions cover scouting out the area beforehand, preparing the children, leading the hike, followup activities, suggestions for creative sites, ideas for language and…

This study asks (1) are teachers able to identify creative children in their classrooms at better than chance level, (2) does this ability change with grade level, and (3) does creativity itself increase as a function of grade level in school? The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking--Circles Subtest--was administered to 455 first, second, and…

Suggestions for developing creative and original science fairs include trying new categories, issuing a challenge, and involving the community. (DF)