This document outlines strategies for developing critical thinking and creativity in the classroom. It discusses using debates, brainstorming, teamwork, problem/project based learning, and guest speakers to enhance critical thinking. For creativity, it recommends using art, role playing, games, presentations, and media/technology in research. Specific activity ideas are provided, such as creating maps, role playing important historical figures, and playing vocabulary games. Guidelines for enhancing creativity include finding flow, encouraging diverse ideas, and giving supportive feedback and sufficient time for assignments.

1. STRATEGIES FOR
DEVELOPING
CRITICAL THINKING
AND CREATIVITY IN
THE CLASSROOM

2. CRITICAL THINKING
STRATEGIES
The use of these strategies will help
develop a higher level of thinking in
your students.
Students will collaborate with each
other.

3. Debate
Teamwor
k
Guest
Speaker
PBL
(Problem/Proj
ect Based
Learning)
Brainstorming

4. CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGY IDEAS
*Debate:
 Choose an important topic from your class and have opposing teams
debate the idea
*Brainstorming:
 Play Game: What if? (Finish with an unusual situation),
brainstorming and answering questions
*Teamwork:
 Create a Newscast for the school. Involve students at different levels
to create a weekly newscast for the school. Use school important
news: sports, arts, subjects, Chapel, students will create and produce
with a Teacher Sponsor

5. CRITICAL THINKING STRATEGY IDEAS
*PBL (Problem/Project Based Learning)
 Give a specific situation happening at the school or
community (example: under age alcohol abuse)
*Guest Speaker
 Each student should ask at least two open-ended
questions to the speaker, and answer questions

6. CREATIVITY
STRATEGIES
According to Fletcher (2011)
Csikszentmihalyi said, “creativity
included any act, idea, or product that
changes an existing domain (the
discipline or area in which work occurs),
or that transform an existing domain into
a new one” (pp. 37).

7. Create a
Map
Use Art
Role
Play/Res
earch
GamesSkit
Presentations
Research
Using Media
and
Technology

8. CREATIVITY STRATEGIES
IDEAS
*Create a Map/Use Art
 Use any kind of art to create a map showing the different countries that
you are studying in class. Label the country/countries
*Research Using Media and Technology
 Organize an educative trip to a Spanish-speaking country: create a
brochure or poster of your chosen country in class
*Skit Presentations
 Present a skit in class from a story read in class

9. CREATIVITY STRATEGIES
IDEAS
*Role Play/Research
 Each group will research an important Hispanic American and
his/her contributions to the American society. One group member
will portrait the person in front of the class, and talking about
his/hers contributions to the society at the time that it actually
happened. Other group members also participate.
*Games
 Recognize and make connections using Spanish vocabulary
words: Play Apples to Apples with given Spanish vocabulary

10. OTHER USEFUL IDEAS
IN COLLABORATION WITH MY LEARNING TEAM MEMBERS
Creativity strategy Ideas Critical thinking strategy Ideas
 Music: Students create
different words to a song that
utilizes key terms or the main
topic of the lesson
 Alphabet Letters - Students
will create a word from a
lesson that corresponds to
each letter of the
alphabet. Each word begins
with the letter of the alphabet.
 Have students do more
drama-based activities
(monologues, skits, plays,
etc.)
 One word Summary: at the
end of a lesson , student think
of one word that summarizes
the lesson. Each word is
listed on the board for class
discussion.
 Safety in the classroom, and
bully-free (students need to
feel that they can be
themselves in your classroom
to an extent)
 Open-ended questions that
make students think

11. STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM
(FLETCHER, 2011).
1. Find flow
2. Encourage diverse ideas
3. Give students different tools and ideas
before they start
4. Be supportive of your students ideas
5. Assist when needed but give space to your
students to work out differences

12. STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE
CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM
(FLETCHER, 2011).
6. Create diverse groups within the class, you
will be amazed of what they can do
7. Support each individual, be a Mentor
8. Provide complete materials, guidelines and
rubrics
9.Give enough time for completion of the
assignment

13. REFERENCES
 Borgia, L., Owles, C., Frisch, J., Stearns, L., & Craig, L. (2011).
Terrific Teaching Tips. Illinois Reading Council Journal,
39(2), 47-50.
 Fletcher, T. (2011). Creative Thinking in Schools: Finding the "Just
Right" Challenge for Students. Gifted Child Today, 34(2),
37.

14. STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING
CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING
Zulma Sostre
MED/560
Rich Merlo