The U.S. Library of Congress is a treasure trove for teachers—so much so that it can become a bit overwhelming. So, for today, I’d like to share just one resource, Lyrical Legacy, a collection of 400 years of American song and poetry. Few things can give us insight into a place or period of history … Continue reading
As those of us in the northern hemisphere begin to contemplate the crazy last-days-of-school approaching, it may be time for some off-the-wall teaching. Really. The Off the Wall Learning project of the Institute of Play is an informal learning approach for presenting creative challenges in poster form. The basics are simple. Create a learning challenge … Continue reading
I love the stream of imagination that comes out of Google. Recently I came across yet another great classroom resource: Google Story Builder. The original Google Story Builder allowed users to create a story as a series of Google searches. This version allows us to create a video conversation among characters as if they were … Continue reading
It is May, and even in Michigan spring seems finally to have taken hold. This has made everyone in our house very happy, including the tribe of resident cats. Sitting in a sunny window is much more fun when the window isn’t the temperature of an icicle. In their honor, this month’s family fun activities … Continue reading
One of the most fascinating mysteries about creativity is problem finding. How do artists decide what to create, writers decide what to write, or scientists determine what to investigate? The finding of a creative task is the heart of the creative process. We know something about the kinds of behaviors that can lead to problem … Continue reading
One of the roots of creativity is the ability to look at the world in new ways. This may be one of the reasons that experiences in different cultures seem to be tied to greater creativity. A wonderful example of both flexible and multicultural thinking—along with a great teaching resource—comes from ethno-mathematician Dr. Ron Eglash. … Continue reading
When I was young (albeit in the Dark Ages) the marks of a customized bicycle were playing cards that flapped between the spokes to make a satisfying racket, and perhaps an extra-large horn. No longer. How would you like to design a bike that glows in the dark? Thanks to Make, you can do it—just … Continue reading
I don’t often take a week off from blogging, but the end of the semester got away from me until I realized I almost let National Poetry Month go by unrecognized—can’t have that! Of course there are lots of ways to celebrate, starting with the 30 Ways to Celebrate from the American Academy of Poets … Continue reading
How do you think your pen is feeling today? How about your phone? Your keyboard? Your shoes? One of the most essential skills for reading, writing, and creativity is understanding different points of view. While we typically think about point of view when considering the human characters in literature, Drew Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons … Continue reading
I know most of you who live outside the Midwest probably are tired of my comments about our long record-breaking winter. But I can’t help myself. As the snow in my yard slowly melts (and I hear rumors of flurries in the forecast), I’m dreaming of spring flowers. So, just to cheer myself up, here … Continue reading
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