5 Creative Thinking Exercises Every Student Should Practice

When you hear the word “creativity,” you might think of an artist, a writer, or a musician. You might think that a creative person is a person who has a special gift that others don’t have. But the truth is, creativity is not just for artists. It is a skill that is needed in every part of life, from solving a math problem to finding a new way to do a school project. A creative person is a person who is able to look at a problem and find a new and original solution.

The good news is that creative thinking is not a special gift that some people have and others don’t. It is a skill that can be learned and practiced. With a few fun and simple exercises, you can train your mind to think in new ways, to see new connections, and to come up with new and original ideas. In this article, we will take a deep dive into 5 creative thinking exercises that are proven to work. We will show you how to have a mind that thinks differently, which will help you to be more innovative in your schoolwork and in your life.

What Is Creative Thinking? A Mind That Thinks Differently

Many students think that creativity is about being a genius. But it is not. Creative thinking is about being a curious person who is not afraid to try new things. It is about having a mind that is open to new ideas and that is willing to see a problem from a new perspective.

A creative thinker is a person who:

Asks a lot of questions. They do not just accept an idea. They ask why it is true and how it works.
Connects ideas. They are able to see the connections between ideas that do not seem to be related.
Is not afraid to fail. They know that a lot of good ideas come from a lot of bad ideas.
Is a good problem-solver. They are able to look at a problem and find a new and original solution.

Creative thinking is a skill that can be learned and practiced. It is like a muscle for your mind. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. These exercises are a workout for your creativity.

Exercise 1: The “What If?” Game

The “What If?” game is a very simple and fun way to practice your creative thinking. The idea is to take a normal situation and ask a series of “What if?” questions about it. This exercise helps you to think outside the box and to come up with a lot of new and creative ideas. You can play this game with your friends, your family, or even by yourself. The more wild and strange your ideas are, the better.

Here is how you can use the “What If?” game:

Choose a topic. You can choose a normal object, a daily routine, or a school assignment. For example, let’s choose a pencil.
Ask a series of questions. You can ask questions like:
- “What if the pencil could write with a different color for every emotion?”
- “What if the pencil could change its shape to help you draw a perfect circle?”
- “What if the pencil could clean up your mistakes by itself?”
- “What if the pencil could talk and tell you about the things it has written?”

This simple game helps to open up your mind to new ideas. It shows you that a problem can be solved in a lot of different ways and that a new idea can come from a simple question. You can use this exercise to brainstorm a new idea for a school project, a story, or a new invention.

Exercise 2: The Mind Map Method

The Mind Map Method is a great way to take notes and to brainstorm new ideas. It is a visual and creative way to organize your ideas. It is a great method for classes where the ideas are connected in a complex way. The Mind Map Method is a great tool for a student who is a visual learner.

Here is how the Mind Map Method works:

Start with the main idea. You write down the main idea or the topic of the class in the center of the page. You can put it in a circle or a box. For example, let’s say the topic is “The Solar System.” You can write “Solar System” in the center of the page.
Branch out. You then draw lines, or “branches,” from the main idea. On each branch, you write down a main idea that is related to the central idea. For example, you can draw a branch for “Planets,” a branch for “Moons,” and a branch for “Asteroids.”
Add more detail. You can then draw more branches from these ideas. For example, from the “Planets” branch, you can draw a branch for “Mars,” a branch for “Jupiter,” and a branch for “Earth.”
Use keywords and pictures. You use keywords and pictures to represent the ideas. You should not write in complete sentences. You should use different colors to make your mind map more interesting and easier to remember.

The Mind Map Method is a great way to see the connections between different ideas. It helps you to see the big picture and to make sure that you do not get lost in the details. It is a great method for brainstorming a new idea for a school project.

Exercise 3: The “Six Thinking Hats” Method

The “Six Thinking Hats” is a very popular method that is used to look at a problem from all sides. The idea is to have a group of people put on different hats, and each hat represents a different way of thinking. This exercise is a great way to make sure that a group of people can work together in a creative way.

Here are the six hats and what each one means:

The White Hat (Facts): This hat is for facts and information. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the facts. “What information do we have?”
The Red Hat (Feelings): This hat is for feelings and emotions. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about your feelings. “How do I feel about this idea?”
The Black Hat (Problems): This hat is for the bad things that could happen. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the problems. “What are the risks of this idea?”
The Yellow Hat (Benefits): This hat is for the good things that could happen. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the benefits. “What are the good things about this idea?”
The Green Hat (New Ideas): This hat is for new ideas. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about new and creative ideas. “What are some new ideas we haven’t thought of?”
The Blue Hat (Leader): This hat is for a person who is a leader of the discussion. They make sure that everyone is wearing the right hat and that the discussion is going in the right direction. “What is our plan for this discussion?”

This method will help you to look at a problem from all sides and to come up with a better solution. It is a great way to get a group of people to work together in a new and creative way.

Exercise 4: The “Forced Connections” Exercise

The “Forced Connections” exercise is a great way to train your mind to think in new ways. The idea is to take two things that are not related and find a connection between them. This exercise is a great way to train your mind to be more flexible and to see new connections.

Here is how you can use the “Forced Connections” exercise:

Choose two random things. You can choose two random things from a book, from a newspaper, or from the world around you. For example, let’s choose a pencil and a computer.
Find a connection. You then try to find a connection between the two. You can say that a pencil and a computer are both used to write. You can also say that a pencil is used to draw, and a computer is used to draw.
Make a new idea. You can then use the connection to make a new idea. For example, you can say, “What if we had a pencil that could also be used as a mouse for a computer?” This new idea is a result of your creative thinking.

This exercise will help to train your mind to think outside the box and to see new connections. It is a great way to brainstorm a new idea for a school project or a new invention.

Exercise 5: The “SCAMPER” Method

The SCAMPER Method is a great way to find a new solution to an old problem. The idea is to use a set of seven words to change and improve an idea. The method is a set of questions that you can ask about an idea to make it better.

The seven words are:

Substitute: What can you substitute or change? (e.g., use a different material for a project).
Combine: What can you combine with your idea? (e.g., combine two ideas to make a new one).
Adapt: What can you adapt or use from another idea? (e.g., take a feature from a phone and add it to a watch).
Modify: What can you modify or change about your idea? (e.g., make a product smaller or bigger).
Put to another use: What can you use your idea for in a different way? (e.g., use a newspaper for an art project).
Eliminate: What can you eliminate or remove from your idea? (e.g., a car without a steering wheel).
Reverse: What can you reverse or change about your idea? (e.g., a phone that is a watch).

You can use the SCAMPER method to a lot of things. For example, if you want to find a new way to do a school presentation, you can use the SCAMPER method to come up with a lot of new and creative ideas.

The Benefits: How These Exercises Boost Academic and Personal Growth

These exercises are not just for fun. They have a lot of benefits for a student’s academic and personal growth.

Better Problem-Solving: These exercises help a student to be a better problem-solver. They help a student to look at a problem from all sides, to think in new ways, and to find a new and original solution.
Improved Critical Thinking: These exercises help a student to be a better critical thinker. They help a student to question an idea, to look at the evidence, and to find the truth.
Increased Confidence: A student who is good at creative thinking is a student who is more confident. They are not afraid to share a new idea, and they are not afraid to try a new thing.
Better Grades: These exercises help a student to be a better student. They help a student to have a more complete understanding of a topic, to find a new way to study, and to get better grades on their exams.

Conclusion

Creative thinking is a crucial skill for every student. It is a skill that can help you to be more innovative, more confident, and more successful in school and in your life. The good news is that it is a skill that can be learned and practiced by anyone. By using the “What If?” game, the “Mind Map” Method, and a lot of other exercises, you can train your mind to think in new ways. These exercises are fun, and they are a great way to make your mind a more creative and a more innovative place.