Speaking Up For Creativity

1. Creativity is all around us and every student is creative in some way. Discuss with students what creativity is and what it means to be creative.
2. Have students make a list of words that are associated with creativity. Document student contributions to the discussion on a classroom white board using Crayola Dry Erase Markers.
3. Select one of the words on the class list to represent in a visual way. On a square piece of canvas painter’s tarp, use Crayola Premier™ Tempera Paint to write the word in the center of the paper. Have students think about how they can design the letters in the word to show how it represents creativity.
4. Fill in the space around the word with designs and pictures that illustrate its connection to creativity. Think of interesting ways to use the paintbrush to make lines, colors, shapes, and patterns that will represent the word!
5. Have students carefully cut a small hole in each corner of the square canvas. Loop a piece of string or yarn through the holes and tie a knot to attach each student’s drawing together and form a large creativity quilt! Display the quilt so the entire school can see all the ways creativity is a part of life!
6. If time permits, encourage students to write a poem using several terms included in their creative quilt square. Students may choose to work collaboratively with classmates on this writing assignment, borrowing terms from each of the team's members. Provide time in the school day for students to present their writing to classmates.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal contrast, addition, and other logical relationships

VA: Select media, techniques, an processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of choices.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

Possible teacher resource: Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media by Heather Smith Jones; Oma's Quilt by Paulette Bourgeois

Poets use words in creative ways to evoke images in the readers' minds or to hide meanings in plain sight. Students read selected poems about weather and snow together in class. Discuss the poet's creative use of language. Encourage students to compose original poems about snow and be prepared to present to classmates.