INTERGRATING CREATIVITY IN K-5 CLASSROOMS
How might we cultivate creative confidence in elementary aged students that they carry with them into adulthood? The “Start The Day Deck” helps to solve this problem by offering teachers a deck of cards meant to enhance the experience of integrating creativity into the classroom. With warm-up prompts on each card, students have the opportunity to practice and grow to enjoy their creative abilities.
While working at an after school program througout college, I began to notice a shift in creative confidence from grades K-5. When assisting students with homework, it was clear that the higher the grade, the lower the self-assurance in formulating inventive ideas or thoughts.
I began my research by asking the question, “How can creative curriculum in art classes instill innovative freedom in elementary aged students that they carry with them into adulthood?”. Next, I studied articles, books and podcasts that discussed the relationship between creativity and the classroom. From here, I created a concept map to connect my findings. This concept map not only revealed to me the pain points in which I was to further study, but led me to realize that my solution should be tailored to the general classroom, rather than the art classroom.
Next, I observed kindergarten, third and fifth grade classrooms. I noticed that students were more likely to participate with the use of tools and “manipulatives”. Considering this observation and the rapid growth of technology, it became clear that I should design something tangible. Interviewing teachers revealed to me that because 90% of classroom supplies are paid for by the teachers themselves, implementing creative activities does not come with ease. It was after this experience that I was able to see clearly that my solution would be for both the student and the teacher.
The deck is split into 5 categories that consider the unique learning types and time limitations that often arise.
Below you can see a front and back of a card that comes from the Kinesthetic category. After a prompt is completed on a card, a student will replicate the shape on the back. Then, the shape is meant to be added to a living mural in the classroom. As the mural changes with the completion of each card, students are rewarded with a sense of community and strengthened creative confidence. Within the deck there is a letter to the teacher, further instructions, and a deeper explanation of the mural.
Through research I learned that because STEM requirements do not test students on creative thinking, curriculum lacks in offering students ways to practice their creative abilities. I have also learned that teachers want to awaken creative expression in their students but don’t have the resources to provide this type of practice.
When conducting user testing with a focus group of seven, K-5 students, the feedback was incredibly encouraging. After testing one of the prompts from the cards with this group, Stella, Age 10, proclaimed “Can you give these to my teacher? I want to do it again.” The photo on the right is a self-portrait by Stella.
It is my hope that these cards offer redemption and authentic joy within the classroom!
