Creative Thinking Exercises That Boost Innovation in Students

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 10 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 people 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.

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.

For example, you can take a school bag. You can ask:

• “What if the school bag could fly?”
• “What if the school bag could talk?”
• “What if the school bag could make a sound?”
• “What if the school bag could clean up its own mess?”

This simple game will help you to think outside of the box and to come up with a lot of new and creative ideas. You can play this game with your friends or your family, and it is a great way to brainstorm a new idea for a school project or a story.

Exercise 2: 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.

The six hats are:

• The White Hat: This hat is for facts and information. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the facts.
• The Red Hat: This hat is for feelings and emotions. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about your feelings.
• The Black Hat: This hat is for the bad things that could happen. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the problems.
• The Yellow Hat: This hat is for the good things that could happen. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about the benefits.
• The Green Hat: This hat is for new ideas. When you are wearing this hat, you only talk about new and creative ideas.
• The Blue Hat: 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.

This method will help you to look at a problem from all sides and to come up with a better solution.

Exercise 3: 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.

Here is how the Mind Map Method works:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 4: 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 seven words are:

• Substitute: What can you substitute or change?
• Combine: What can you combine with your idea?
• Adapt: What can you adapt or use from another idea?
• Modify: What can you modify or change about your idea?
• Put to another use: What can you use your idea for in a different way?
• Eliminate: What can you eliminate or remove from your idea?
• Reverse: What can you reverse or change about your idea?

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.

Exercise 5: The “Drawing a Story” Exercise

This is a great exercise for students who are visual learners. The idea is to draw a series of pictures to tell a story. You don’t have to be a good artist. The goal is to be creative and to tell a story.

You can take a simple idea, like “a day at school,” and you can draw a series of pictures to tell a story about it. You can draw a picture of a student waking up, a picture of them going to school, a picture of them in class, and a picture of them going home. This will help you to think creatively and to practice your storytelling skills.

Exercise 6: 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.

For example, you can take a pen and a car. You can find a connection between them by saying that a pen is used to write, and a car is used to go to a store, where you can buy a pen. This is a simple connection, but the goal is to make a more creative one. You can say that the shape of the car is like the shape of a pen. The goal is to think in a new and original way.

Exercise 7: The “Brainstorming” Exercise

Brainstorming is a very popular method for coming up with a lot of new ideas in a short time. The idea is to have a group of people all come up with ideas, no matter how bad they are. The goal is to get as many ideas as possible.

Here is how brainstorming works:

1. Set a time limit. You set a time limit for about 10 minutes.
2. No bad ideas. You tell everyone that there are no bad ideas. The goal is to be creative and to come up with as many ideas as possible.
3. Write everything down. You write down every single idea that is said.
4. Combine and improve. After the time is up, you look at all the ideas and you try to combine them and improve them.

Brainstorming is a great way to get a lot of new and creative ideas.

Exercise 8: The “Change the Perspective” Exercise

This is a great way to find a new solution to a problem. The idea is to look at a problem from a different point of view.

For example, if you have a problem with a school project, you can try to look at it from the point of view of your teacher. What would they want? What would they like? You can also try to look at it from the point of view of a person who does not know anything about the topic. What would they need to know? What would they find confusing?

This exercise will help you to find a new solution to a problem and to have a more complete understanding of it.

Exercise 9: The “Random Words” Exercise

This is a very fun and simple exercise. The idea is to take a random word and use it to find a new solution to a problem. You can get a random word from a dictionary or from a random word generator.

For example, if your problem is “How can I improve my school grades?” and your random word is “chair,” you can try to find a connection between them. You can say that a chair is used to sit in a classroom, and you can say that you can sit in a chair at your desk and study. The goal is to find a new and original connection that will help you to think in a new way.

Exercise 10: The “Daily Creative Challenge”

The last exercise is not an exercise; it is a habit. The idea is to do a small creative exercise every day. You can draw a picture of something you see, you can write a short story, or you can try to find a new way to do something. The goal is to train your mind to be creative every day.

Conclusion

Creative thinking 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 “Six Thinking Hats” 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.