Creativity Across the Curriculum

The last day of my placement, I co-facilitated a puppet-making session. Children created own characters with the help of socks, buttons and wool. They then undertook the activity of puppet show at pairs which improved their ability to tell stories, creativity, and socialization. I also made a contribution to a display where children art work for the whole week could be seen. This experience taught me more about the fact that creativity is not connected to one subject but can be incorporated into all learning areas.

What creative activities spark the most joy and learning in your little tackers?

Role and Story Telling

Role playing is an enjoyable method of initiating learning and pleasure. It helps children train their imagination and socialisation skills, and also develop it by putting themselves into new perspectives (OpenAI, 2023).

An example: Puppet shows and Dress up Play

I prepared a mini puppet theater or a dress up area with costumes, props and puppets. The children like to make stories, assume roles and play the scenes together. This assists in their social-emotional growth, language and innovativeness.

Learning Outcomes: Sterile emotional growth, language and communication, imaginary play, problem solving.

How do I weave creativity into different learning areas like maths, story time, or even outdoor play?

Math: Visual exploration and Creative Problem-Solving

Math need not be numbers on paper, math can be manipulative and creative. I incorporate the humor strategies to introduce mathematical skills such as shapes, patterns, measurements and counting (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2009).

Case in example: Shape Hunt or Pattern Building

What I do: I create an outside or an inside shape search where the children search for shapes in their surroundings (square, circle or triangle). Once we have determined the shapes, we are then given blocks, colored paper or even playdough to make their own patterns or creating their own structures.
How it enhances creativity: This will enable them to see abstract things such as shapes and patterns as well as utilize the hand and imagination to create something. It provides them with a more in-depth comprehension of mathematical aspects and it keeps them active (Wood, 2013).
Learning Outcomes: Spatial awareness, problem-solving, Fine motor skills, pattern recognition.

Examples: Cooking for Math

What I do: I may use children in a basic recipe where their activities consist of measuring, counting or dividing ingredients. As an example, preparing a fruit salad will be a chance to review fraction and measures.
The ways in which it builds creativity: Cooking enables children to perceive the applications of math in the real world and test volumes, with the activities also contributing to teamwork and the development of creativity when decorating and presenting the food (OpenAI, 2023).
Learning Outcomes: Counting, measuring things, cooperating, discovering senses.

Story Time: Language Imagination / Creativity

It is a good chance to touch upon creativity at story time which helps children develop an interest in the language, narrative patterns, and inventive thoughts (Berk, 2013). Creativity could be incorporated in the narration of the story in so many ways.

Example: Proposals: Interactive Props Storytelling

What I am doing: I am making the story interactive either by using props, puppets or costumes associated with the story.There are instances when I allow the children to take part as actors or introduce their ideas into the storyline. As an illustration, in case we are reading a story of animals, those animals can do impersonation of the animal sounds or actions.
The way it encourages creativity: This will allow childrens to immerse themselves into the story, which stimulates imagination and develops narrative skills as they think of versions of the story write their own endings.
Learning Outcomes: Development of Language, Creativity, Social-emotional, Imagination.

An example is: Story Creation through Drawing

What I do: I ask children to, after reading a story, to draw their version of characters or scenes of the story. They also have power to produce alternative endings or rather create another story based on the story we have read.
The way it contributes to creativity: When the children draw their ideas, they not only express themselves creatively but also learn to work on the fine motions, understanding and visual literacy (Bodrova & Leong, 2007).
Learning Outcomes: Fine motor skills, Storytelling, understanding, artistic expression.

Outdoor Play: Exploring Nature Through Creative Play

The outside play presents infinite potential of creativity. Nature as a subject is a changing, moving background that induces the curiosity and creativity (OpenAI, 2023).

Example : Pieces of nature-inspired art

How I do: I take children outside and challenge them to gather some natural products (leaves, sticks, stones, and flowers then ask them to create their own version of nature Art by placing or gluing the material on paper.
How it encourages creativity: It brings children in touch with nature although posing creative thoughts on how they can utilize the resources in a creative artistic expression. It also provides children with an excellent opportunity to learn about the texture, colors and shapes (Wood, 2013).
Learning Outcomes: Creativity, fine motor, awareness of the environment, art.

Example: Physical tests and Goal Brewers

How I do it: I create an obstacle course or imaginative physical activity outside, with various equipment or with natural materials such as logs, ropes and cones. I could provide the children with various tasks such as jumping, crawling or balancing themselves in some creative manner which involves some storytelling where they pretend to be some explorers or superheroes.
The way it develops creativity: Although this outdoor exercise leads to physical development, it also contributes to non-physical growth especially imaginative games whereby the kids are left to explore their own creativity either in problem solving or role-playing.
Learning Outcomes: Gross motor, problem solving, cooperation, play.

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