This year during my 1st/2nd grade Differentiated Engagement Block (DEB) we are continuing to use the Primary Education Skills (PETS) program. During this time I work with a small group of students to further develop their higher level thinking skills, such as divergent, convergent, analytical, visual/spatial, and evaluative thinking. During this session of DEB we are focusing on divergent thinking. This type of thinking is similar to creative thinking in that there is not one correct answer, but many answers. Divergent thinking also involves the ability to think in a more flexible and original way. Elaborate and detailed responses is common with this type of thinking. My goal is to support the students in continuing to show abstract, out of the box ideas and thoughts with the implementation of inventive lessons.
Some of the fun divergent learning I have been doing with the 1st/2nd grade students can be seen below!
In a story from the PETS program, the squirrel character, Isabel the Inventor, finds a whisk, but doesn't cook. Therefore, we brainstormed ways she could use the whisk in other original ways. Some of the creative responses can be found below.
The students were also challenged at creating a machine for Isabel the Inventor that would gather her acorns scattered on the ground and take them to Isabel's hollow near the top of her big tree. The students had an additional task of using at least two spare parts in their design from Isabel's workshop. Some of the spare parts included the following: kite, balloon, doghouse, fork, wheel, whisk, and a pipe. Below are a couple abstract designs!
The last week in class, the students have been having fun completing pictures from unfinished drawings. The students were given the start of a drawing and they had to complete the picture. We discussed how we all perceive things differently, because our minds work in their own ways. It is fun to see our imaginations at work!
No comments:
Post a Comment