*This lesson coincides with chapter 10 (I’m not creative) from Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech.
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Lesson created by Holly Kuhlmann
Grade level range: Created for adults, but can easily be adapted for any age.
Length of time to teach lesson: 8 minutes
Overview of lesson: In this lesson, students will learn more about creativity and what makes someone creative. We will discuss creativity as a self-fulfilling prophecy, and research that supports that idea. Also, we will watch a video about creativity that expands the idea of creativity beyond just creating things. To culminate, students are encouraged to see that they are creative and embrace their own creativity by creating a “Creative License”.
Objectives (Learning targets) of this lesson: To understand that creativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy. To expand ideas about creativity beyond just creating things. To better understand and embrace my own creativity.
Resources/supplies/handouts needed to teach this lesson: A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech, Everyone Can Be Creative - a video on creativity found at: edu.gcfglobal.org/en/creativity/everyone-can-be-creative/1/
Creative License Handout, Creativity Self-Assessment Rubric (originally created as a google form)
Teaching instructions for the lesson:
1) Have students take the Creativity Self-Assessment Rubric
2) Introduce main idea… If you want to BE creative, you must BELIEVE you are creative!
3) Describe the “toilet paper shortage” story found on page 218 of A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger von Oech.
4) With the class, discuss this story with a focus on the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
5) Share research that a team of psychologists did with oil company engineers. Main idea “creative people thought they were creative, and the less creative people didn’t think they were.” (pg. 221, von Oech)
6) Show Everyone Can Be Creative video: edu.gcfglobal.org/en/creativity/everyone-can-be-creative/1/
7) Discuss the video briefly as a class, in groups or with partners.
8) Introduce the Creativity License and give one to each student to complete.
9) Have students take the Creativity Self-Assessment Rubric
Extension: Allow time for each student to embellish their Creative License in whatever creative ways they are moved to.
Special Notes from the creator of this lesson: Feel free to use your own creativity to adapt this lesson to suit you and your students! Enjoy!
