Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Serendipitous Superheroes
In this instructional activity, SuperHero ABC, a book written by Bob McLeod, and Meanwhile, a book by Jules Feiffer, are used as mentor texts. Students will work in groups and create lists of unique superhero powers that start with...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Olympic Engineering
The activity begins by introducing Olympics as the unit theme. The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the techniques of engineering problem solving. Specific techniques covered in the activity include brainstorming and...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Boundless Communications: Finding and Selecting a Topic
This site provides five links to help students select a topic: The importance of choosing a good topic, your areas of expertise, your areas of interest, brainstorming, and scoping your topic.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Writing Process: Brainstorming
This lesson will be used to introduce the writing process. Students will learn about the first step, brainstorming, through webbing activities. Students will also view other students' work on the Internet. Students will learn how to use...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Georgia Tech's Invention Studio: Live Exploration
Take a special trip to Georgia Tech's Flowers Invention Studio with GPB Education! This interactive virtual exploration offers students an inside look at the world's largest student-run makerspace as they learn about the engineering...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Curriculum Hub: Ela Guidebooks: Application Student Selected Task: Prepare to Write
Prepare to write by analyzing the requirements for the culminating task product for the application unit.
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Developing Ideas for Writing: Brainstorming
This resource explains brainstorming and gives a sample idea list generated from brainstorming.
University of Richmond
University of Richmond: Brainstorming
This site from the University of Richmond provides step-by-step guidelines through the prewriting brainstorming process. Recommended as a solution to writer's block. Though brief in its content, the site is factual and informative.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Picture Book Writing Lesson: Planning a Fierce Wondering Story
After reading and discussing "Fierce Wondering" inspired by Ralph Fletcher's A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer within You, and a page from Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss, the teachers makes two class lists of interesting...
Other
Techniques for Creative Thinking: Yes, They Work
A nice article that explains some of the processes that can aid in the creative thinking process. Some of the processes explained include analogical thinking, brainstorming and attribute listing.
Other
Ndt: Problem Solving Skills
NDT Education stresses the importance of problem solving skills. Problem solving steps and strategies are provided.
Other
What Is Brainstorming?
Brainstorming can be a helpful tool during the creative thinking process. Learn the origins of brainstorming, what it isn't and the general guidelines associated with this technique.
Other
Creative Thinking With Brainstorming
Brainstorming has long been a useful tool for the development of new ideas. This article explains what brainstorming is and ways you can use it to enhance your own creative thinking skills.
Daily Teaching Tools
Daily Teaching Tools: Going to the Movies
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides an efficient brainstorming strategy. The brainstorming techniques involves a simulated trip to the movies.
Daily Teaching Tools
Daily Teaching Tools: Structuring the Instructional Day
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides an efficient way of structuring the instructional day using a learning strategy that involves visualization. As a brainstorming activity, students will visualize themselves going to a movie.
Other
Mycoted: Creativity Techniques an a to Z
A large assortment of various creative techniques that can be used to help spark your creative thinking skills. Listed in alphabetical order, each technique has a brief article describing its process and how it can be used.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Writing With Pizazz
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart helps the students with the first step in the Six Traits Writing Process-- gathering ideas. Students are encouraged to analyze writing samples and brainstorm possible personal writing...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Brainstorming
[Free Registration/Login Required] Several different examples of brainstorming: cluster/web, listing, circle graph, jot-chart/table. Has introduction, examples, and whole class brainstorming examples.
Tom Richey
Slideshare: Creative Brainstorming
This slide presentation provides a background of why the process of brainstorming is important as well as elements and tools you can use to get your creative juices flowing.
Can Teach
Can Teach: Writing a Cooperative Class Story
For this lesson plan, learners will write a cooperative class story, using brainstorming and editing skills. Lesson plan indicated for 3rd grade and above.
Can Teach
Can Teach: Writing Prompts and Journal Topics
This site has hundreds of writing prompts/journal topics to get students started writing. Topics like "what is" and "what if" will get students thinking about what they could write.
Other
Brain dance.com: Three Step Creative Writing Process
This process seems very involved, but there are good ideas for getting started on your creative writing if you're stuck at the brainstorming stage.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Introduction to Prewriting (Invention)
"When you sit down to write, does your mind turn blank? Are you sure you have nothing to say?" Try these strategies to get yourself going.
Other
The Creativity Web: Brainstorming
This site briefly explains and comments on the classic group brainstorming process. It lists the four major guidelines for successful brainstorming and contains some commentary from an author who wrote a book on creative thinking.