Create It Challenge

If you are like me, you are always looking for new and interesting ways to engage your students. No matter what grade level you work with or what subject area you teach, it is helpful to have some things in your “bag of tricks” that will spark creativity and offer students the opportunity to think, design, and make.

It is even better when the ideas that we collect in our trick bag are universal and can be used in many ways and with lots of different learners. For example, in this Create It challenge we can use a simple template (below) to inspire some creative making. This can be used within an English Language Arts class, in a STEM/STEAM classroom, or in a library/makerspace. There are so many places where we can connect making to the curriculum.

The challenge template can be used as a whole group lesson or in a learning center. It can be an individual task, a partner activity or completed in a small group. The template can be laminated and placed in a maker corner or can be a “free choice” activity in the classroom.  Let’s explore some ways to use this challenge.

Primary

I have used this activity with kindergarten and first grade students, using play dough to create an animal from a story that was read aloud. Fun animal books like Panda-monium at Peek Zoo or Giraffes Can’t Dance are perfect for this creativity challenge. After reading the story, students can create an animal from the book, or use the grid below to create something a little more unconventional.

 With students at this level, let’s make it a game. Have students fold their paper in half and then half again creating four rectangles. In each section, students will choose any number 1-4 and write it.

After selecting their numbers, this student would work to create an insect (3) with glasses (2), that can sing and dance (3) somewhere in your neighborhood (4). With students choosing different number combinations, who knows what their creations will look like!

Upper Elementary

In a 4th grade classroom, students are working on adding dialogue to their writing. They are also using tools like Makey-Makey and Lego Build the Change in their STEM classes. This creative challenge could offer an opportunity to integrate both.

Students can choose one item from each column on the grid to create one animal character. Then they can connect with one partner who has selected a different animal/character. Together, they can create a scene where the two animals engage in dialogue. The students can construct their characters out of cardboard, other recyclables, or building bricks. Each partnership can create movement, lights, or sounds to enhance the interaction between their characters.

Middle Level

This tool could also be used with middle level learners. In a 7th grade class, I shared the book The Secret Seahorse. It is a vibrantly colored book that explores ocean plants and animals. The illustrations are made out of fabric with buttons, ribbons, and sequins creating bold details in each creature. The middle school students then wrote their own narrative stories about animals with an end goal to illustrate and read their stories to their “book buddies” in first grade.

For a different twist, middle school students could use the challenge grid to select their main character, details and setting for their story. Better yet, they might let their buddies do the choosing! The older students can draft the story. The younger students can work on creating creatures out of recycled fabrics and other sewing materials. Then, the partners can come together to create a fabric book of the story.

I call this type of learning, Remaking Literacy. When we add design, engineering and hands-on making to our literacy instruction, we provide a more meaningful and connected learning experience for students. Not only does this approach promote collaboration and communication, but it also taps into creative thinking.

Challenges like these can be used and reused over time, since students can come up with different combinations every time. You might also add a few more rows or even columns of your own.

PS. I plan to share several other versions of this in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

The 30 Circles Challenge is another idea that can be added to your trick bag. This simple template can be used to spark creativity but can also be used to connect to different content areas. We can build our students’ ability to think outside of the box and look at problems in new and unique ways.

If you are looking for more ways to build creative habits, check out my books Unlock Creativity: Open a World of Imagination With Your Students. I have book study questions and activities available for any school team that buys more than 15 books.

For more ideas, follow me on Twitter @DrJacieMaslyk or subscribe to my website www.steam-makers.com.