Maria+Ines+Carrion

micarrion@fcaq.k12.ec

**Pre Assignment**
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1. - **Summery of five main points you find compelling from these articles.**

In both articles they present clear the importance and the difference between a creative education and one that is not. The main points I can compile from these articles are:


 * Creativity means variety not only in different ways of solving things and also in looking out of the box all the problems.
 * Creativity should be treated in schools as important as literacy is.
 * Kids have the talent of innovation in many ways and what education does is not letting them take advantage of it.
 * Intelligence is diverse, dynamic and distinct.
 * The importance of alternating between divergent and convergent thinking.


 * 2. -** **Discuss how you nurture creativity in your students currently. Provide concrete examples.**

Reading this article and listening to this talk, I start wondering how much I nurture my students. I actually work with kindergarten kids, where creativity is in everything they do, in the way they answered questions or in the questions itself. And I fell that the system makes you not value it. Because when we think about creativity is seems like is only for art class not for everyday activity.

Well in my class routine I think I nurture creativity when kids choose a project for the unit and they are able to investigate and to draw their answers and to find the answers to the questions they had at the beginning of this project. IF THERE IS ONE CORRECT ANSWER TO AN INQUIRY, CAN WE CALL THAT USING CREATIVITY?

When in class we read books with no images and they have to imagine the character of the story and we found that there is not one kind of giant but many different ones.

When I let the kids just play freely in construction centers and they are solving how to make a taller tower or how to ensemble the pieces so they don’t felt down. GREAT EXAMPLE OF CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.

When we are making math activities and we gave them the chance to used different materials to solve the problems.

When we dramatized books to introduce a theme and they decide the characters they have to construct the costume and act and made a presentation for other class.

These are some activities I have done during this school year that I think that develop their creativity.

I AGREE THAT YOU OFFER YOUR KIDS OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THEIR RICH IMAGINATIONS.


 * 3. - Three understandings or skills to learn in this course.**


 * How to use creativity in all areas.
 * How to give kids strategies to preserve their creativity
 * How to manage kids when they used their creativity and they get more dynamic.

I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE NEW STRATEGIES TO KEEP CREATIVITY ALIVE AND WELL IN YOUR CLASSROOM. MANAGEMENT JUST ENTAILS SETTING THE PARAMETERS FOR BEHAVIOR AND PROCESS. LIKE JOSHUA COULDN'T CREATE WITH NO PARAMETERS SO HE FORMED HIS OWN.

**Definition of Creativity**
** Creativity Definition ** After analyzing the video “Why man Creates”, as a conclusion I can make my own definition of Creativity: // Is the sequence of exploring episodes, accept changes, questioning, observing, foolish, answering of needs and as a result the transformation of things in an original and unique way. // AN IMAGE WOULD ENHANCE THIS DEFINITION. SEE OTHER PAGES.

__Mini assignment__
**Ideas for my students** After listening to the Tim Brown Ted Talk on creativity, it gives me some ideas that I can work on my students, and I recognized too, that sometimes what we don’t let them do things that they really need to do. GREAT IDEAS.
 * Gave them more time to play roll games. DO YOU MEAN ROLE PLAYING?
 * Gave them different kinds and sizes of blocks and space where they can leave their creations without destroying them
 * Introduce new vocabulary by dramatizing words
 * Dramatized stories we have read, inventing new characters or settings.
 * Hanging a problem they have to solve, like setting with blocks a parking lot with a car stuck in it, and they have to take it out without moving the blocks. Things that can challenge them.
 * Gave them variety of material and let them feel free to play with it.

** Joshua in a Box Discussion **
** Joshua in his box Reflection ** While I watched this short clip I started thinking instantly that we are surrounded by many barriers, represented in the film by the square. Some of these barriers are created by our own fears and others are created by society, all of which limits our creativity. This happens mainly because we are raised within specific cultural structures that already determine how things should be done, that limit our perception that there are many other solutions out there, not only the established ones. Another limitation is our own fear that people sneer us and this doesn’t let us take risks and show our own creativity. Yes, fear is such a factor in living our lives fully and creatively.

Many times taboos and well-established habits don’t let us create different things in a different way. Education contributes to this because it trains us to give only expected answers and gives little spaces to express ourselves in a different way. BUT IF WE COULD SEE HOW CREATIVITY CAN BETTER THE LEARNING WE MAY BE MORE INCLINED TO TAKE THAT RISK.

During the class, I realized that we have the capacity to find new solutions to things, that we have to take risks, to break taboos and sometimes even rules. Otherwise, we may forget about the internal and natural capacity we have just as when we were kids.

Chances are that we have fear to be different, because we can feel alone and not so secure of what we are doing, because is more comfortable to be part of the standard. But it will worth to take the risk of being creative and finding solutions out of the box.

EXCELLENT DISCUSSION

** Ted Talk on Creativity **
This was a super interesting video, Isabel Allende was so passionate while she talked that she really kept you interested. She said that what matters is the heart more than luck, which means we all can do things if we decide to. She talked about 4 women who had passionate hearts that would do anything to accomplish their dreams and save their children. She also mentioned that the poorest societies are the ones that put women down, because if women work together they bring prosperity and peace to the world. We concluded that creative women are the ones that made changes for themselves and for humanity. They are flexible and determinded. Necessity makes you a creative person. Group:

** Isabel Allende tells tales of Passion **


GREAT PRESENTATION. WOULD MAKE ME WANT TO WATCH THE TED TALK

Mini Assignment: **Math problem**
**Masato is a tourist guide on his spare time. He receives a call from some tourists. They need a guide for three groups of twenty three tourists that come from different countries. They wish to visit Masai.** **How many tourists does he need to guide in a week to earn US126?** **He charges US13 per hour. Since it is a large group he usually offers a 10% discount.** **Finally he needs to know how much he will earn in shillings. The currency change at the moment is 85,23 shillings are equal to US1.**

**Group:** **Maria Ines Carrion** **Gabriela Larrea 2** **Paulina Lucero** **Valeria Izquierdo** **Maria Tereesa Romero** **Soledad Robalino** **Gabriela Bustamente** **Maria Elena Cobo** **Maria del Carmen Elsitdie**

THIS WAS A GREAT PROBLEM. YOU SHOWED THAT YOU COULD BOTH FIND A PROBLEM TO SOLVE AND ELABORATE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE PROBLEM FUN AND DOABLE.

__**Assignment 1:** **Scavenger Hunt**__




**Scavenger Hunt Reflection** After the beginning of the project, it seems hard to find creative things around us, but suddenly, it is as if you uncover your eyes, I was surprised how easy was to find creativity everywhere and connecting ideas was so much easier. We started to take risks as crossing streets to interview strange people, observed carefully the city and how the people act and how people make creativity things without even noticing. The experience was amazing, and takes us to achieved the objective of looking things in a complete new way, to gives us the chance of realize that we never give us the time to look the simple things of life carefully and that is, in those things where we can get inspired and find new solutions. The group works organized and with enthusiasm, everyone had their role in it, I think I contribute taking pictures and giving ideas, as respecting others ideas. This activity help me dealing with my emotional blocks, feeling secured of myself.



I THINK THIS ASSIGNMENT HELPED YOU TO GROW PERSONALLY. I am pleased you connected your discussion to Barron and Eisner. Bravo.

ASSIGNMENT 2 : Application of Creative Strategies
Valeria Izquierdo

María Teresa Romero

María Inés Carrion


 * Lesson #1**


 * Discipline:** Language Arts

Reading


 * Strategy:** Morphological Matrix


 * Objectives:**


 * Identify main characters in a story.
 * Combining characters from different stories, for children to create new stories.
 * Identify problems and solutions in different stories.


 * Description of the Strategy:**

- After listening to several stories, children will fill in the following morphological matrix chart, using the information they can recall from the stories they heard.


 * Hero || Villain || Problem || Solution ||

- They will combine the characters of the different stories and the problems to create a new story.

- They will change the solutions, creating their own new solutions.

- Working in small groups children will create their own books.


 * Implementing the Activity:**

When working on identifying the different parts of a story, children will listen to the following stories:

- Goldilocks and the Three Bears

- The three little pigs

- Little Red Riding Hood

- Snow White and the seven dwarfs

After listening to the stories children will then identify and brainstorm who are the heroes, villains, problem and solution of each story.

Then children will work in small groups to combine the characters and the problems of these stories to come up with new ones.

Children will decide what their solution to the problem will be. They have to come up with new solutions.

Each group will decide how to present their book: dramatizing, picture book, puppets, etc.


 * Assessment/Follow-up:**

In the assessment, we will observe children explaining to their classmates why they came up with that solution and if they are able to recall the story they heard as well as the story they came up with.

We would assess the use of this strategy by the students through discussions about the ideas they brainstormed for each category and about the combinations they created using the matrix.

I L OVE THIS ACTIVITY AND IT WILL BE FUN TO EXPLORE IT WITH THE KIDS. MAKE SURE YOU MODEL AN EXAMPLE SO THEY KNOW THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO CHANGE THE STORY. I HAD FIRST GRADERS TO A PLAY ABOUT SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARFS MEET GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 BEARS. LOTS OF FUN WRITING THAT ONE WITH THE CHILDREN.
 * Lesson # 2**


 * Discipline:** Science

Properties of Solids and liquids


 * Strategy:** Brainstorming and Imagery


 * Objectives:**


 * Identify the properties of solids and liquids.
 * Create a space craft that can land on both a solid and liquid planet.
 * Experiment with material that has different properties and attributes.
 * Understand s basic concepts about structure and properties of matter.
 * Knows that different objects are made up of many different observable properties.


 * Description of the Strategy:**

Children will learn how to prepare Oblix, which is a special substance that has different properties and attributes.

They will brainstorm the different properties that this substance has. What are the differences between solids and liquids.


 * Implementing the Activity:**

Children will learn how to make Oblix, which is a special substance that can be a solid as well as a liquid.

Children will experiment with this substance. They will touch it, feel it and manipulate it.

After children will brainstorm in group, what are the properties of solids and liquids, what are the similitaries and the differences.

Then children will be asked to imagine that the Planet Earth was made of this type of substance and create a spacecraft that will be able to land on both a solid or liquid surface.

Children will work in small groups, using different recyclable material to create their own spacecraft. GREAT FUN IN A DISCOVERY/INVENTION CENTER


 * Assessment/Follow-up:**

In the assessment, we will observe children explaining to their classmates why they came up with that type of spacecraft and why they think it will be able to land on this type of a planet.

We would assess the use of this strategy by the students, through discussions about the ideas they came up with. Then we would simulate a landing on the Planet with that surface and see if it works. AGAIN, STELLAR ACTIVITY THAT COMBINES LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS WITH CREATIVITY.

__Assignment 4: Creativity Socratic Seminar__
1) Creative people are described as the ones that have a passionate heart, that are fearless, outsiders, revels, adventures, ask questions, bend rules, and take risks. Considering how Isabel Allende describes passion in her Ted talk, do you think schools are prepared for creative students?

2) The article //The Creative Personality,// talks about the characteristics creative people should have. How can we, as teachers, enrich these characteristics mentioned in kids that have emotional or environmental blocks that don’t let them be interested?

3) How can we combine creativity with curriculum and schools requirements? When creativity leads us into different paths that are not always what standards or assessments wants.

4) How can we help our students to go from a divergent thinking in to a convert-- CONVERGENT thinking? WHY DO WE WANT TO DO THIS?

I REALLY LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ESPECIALLY THE FIRST TWO WHERE YOU ARE RELATING TO YOUR ARTICLE AND TED TALK.