Teaching Creativity Through Inquiry Science

Abstract

The experience that students gain through creative thinking contributes to their readiness for the 21st century. For this and other reasons, educators have always considered creative thinking as a desirable part of any curriculum. The focus of this article is on teaching creative thinking in K-12 science as a way to serve all students and, especially, creatively gifted students. The premise is that teaching creativity through science is a good learning motivator and can lead to more meaningful science learning. Included is a model for teaching creative thinking through science with examples that show how a teacher can, at a minimum, start with an established series of inquiry lessons and incorporate more creative thinking. It is hoped that teachers with this experience can begin to include more creative aspects in the curriculum at the initial planning stages.