Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking
In the creative process, what comes first: divergent thinking or convergent thinking? For the past 25 years, I have taught deliberate creativity to educators, students, and leaders. One principle has consistently anchored my work: creativity requires a dynamic balance between divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is about generating multiple, varied, and original ideas. […]
What is Your Dream Machine? With Piet Grymonprez
What is your Dream Machine? What would your students create if they had the opportunity to build a dream machine? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast, Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood welcome Piet Grymonprez, author and Co-Founder and Managing Director of MyMachine. MyMachine is a for-purpose non-profit that has a unique […]
Three Ways to Nurture Creative Potential
To think inside the box or outside the box, that is the question… or is it? Before we can answer that question, we probably need to understand the nature of the box itself. Whether we decide to improve the box we’re in or abandon the box for something better, one thing’s certain: we’re going to […]
X Amount Of Ways To Embrace Mistakes!
*Note: Any typos or mistakes are on purpose, due to the nature of this blog. 😉 Have fun reading! Introduction We’ve all heard about how: Steve Jobs had 123 versions of the iPhone before it worked. Michael Jordan was cut from his college team. Oprah was told she was “unfit” for television. Even though we […]
Your Final Creativity Mission: Recolor Your World
Header image created by Iris Lawson, Age 12 We have one final family-fun creative activity for you! In case you missed our first five missions, you can access them here: “Create Your Own Family Camp,” “Family Game Night With a Creative Twist,” “A Colorful Scavenger Hunt in Nature,” “Summer of Surprises,” and Going Beyond Your […]
Summer of Surprises! Family Activity
Surprise! How do you feel about surprises? Perhaps it depends on the type of surprise you experience. A surprise tax bill can be upsetting, but a surprise tax refund can be a cause for celebration. In this mission, we are looking to create delightful surprises for your family. What does surprise have to do with […]
Family Game Night With A Creative Twist
The first mission “Create Your Own Family Camp”, was released last week, and today we are releasing the second mission: “Family Game Night”. Games are a wonderful way to bring people together. There is a joy to be found in playing long-standing family favorites, and also in discovering completely new games. But what if you […]
Create Your Own Summer Family Camp!
The first activity in our Summer Series is Creating Your Own Family Camp! You may choose to watch this video that outlines and shows examples of each step, or simply follow the instructions listed below! If you have any questions, feel free to comment or reach out to me directly at cyndi@creativityandeducation.com Enjoy your summer! […]
20 Lessons to Weave Creative Thinking
into Your Curriculum
Ever since Sir Ken Robinson presented his highly regarded TED talk, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” I have had countless teachers approach me inspired by the “why” we need creativity in the classroom but not knowing how to make it happen. Fortunately, the “how” is the central focus of my professional work and is anchored on […]
Let’s play! Ideas to Engage your Children in Creative Play
Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities. – Stuart Brown, MD The following are excerpts from the book, My Sandwich is a Spaceship: Creative Thinking Activities for Parents with Young Children. You can learn more about the book […]
Creativity is Everywhere, You Just Have to Look for It
When people hear the term creativity, they typically associate it with artistic ability. As my younger daughter tells me, “Daddy, you are not creative because you cannot paint pictures like Mommy and me.” I plead with her (I know. Pleading with a middle schooler is a sure sign of insanity.) that I have written over […]
Fail + Learn = Flearn:
8 Ways to Embrace a Creative Mindset
As a parent of teens and an elementary school educator, I can say that this year has been a stressful one for students. Connecting has been more challenging than ever. It is also more essential than ever. It takes a lot of time and effort to create a classroom culture that nurtures a creative mindset. […]
Highlight the Essence: My Quest for Bringing Creativity into my ELA Lessons
January ushers in a much anticipated New Year —a chance to look back and look forward during a dizzying time for all. While there were unspeakable challenges in 2020, there have also been opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and growth. Back in March, when the pandemic hit, I realized that my elementary and middle school students […]
Tools, Tips, & Tricks for Teaching Creative Problem Solving Virtually
Tools, Tips, & Tricks for Teaching Creative Problem Solving Virtually Register for this event here. Invest in Yourself: $25 This workshop will be highly interactive as attendees participate in a virtual creative problem-solving facilitation session using Zoom, Mural, and Google. We will demonstrate the best practices for using those technologies and provide participants with resources they […]
The Five Pillars of Creative Problem Solving
Introduction Over the last 40 years, I have taught more people to lead the Creative Problem-Solving process than anyone else in the world. When I step back and view the field from this perspective, I have observed that there are five “pillars” that support the successful use and implementation of the creative behaviors embedded in […]
When Lightening Strikes: Brainstorming with Pa
Background When COVID 19 hit this Spring, my wife and I agreed to homeschool our ten and seven-year-old grandsons for two weeks. Those two weeks turned into nine, and they were weeks of pure joy for everyone involved. My wife, Judy, was an elementary teacher and reading specialist for over 40 years. In my first […]
