Want to encourage students to find unexpected connections across content? Here’s a quick framework based on the most important terms from both bits of content.
Differentiation TechniqueDivergent Thinking
Read The OverviewHow To Ask Divergent Questions
How Gallagher and Ascher's Divergent Questions can ensure students are thinking rather than merely remembering.
Specific Examples of “Divergent Thinking”
What Could You Do With This Pancake Flipping Robot?
I love videos of robots messing up tasks. This one in particular struck a chord, because we get to see the robot learn from his mistakes. Let’s have students write him some advice…
Academic Love Letters
We’re going to take the Academic Valentine idea from earlier, and extend it into a full blown love letter – just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Puzzle: Antonym Paths
Begin with a small, simple word and identify its antonym. Then, take this second word and find its antonym. Many times, you’ll find that an antonym of an antonym isn’t always related the original word.
An Image for Divergent Thinking Practice
I think this is an interesting way to practice our students’ divergent thinking skills. What else could this trash can’s icon represent?
Halloween: Characters Dressed As Characters
What if characters from film or literature dress up like other characters based on some parallel such as: conflict, trait, accomplishment, etc.
Lunar Survival Skills
We’re supposed to rank fifteen items according to usefulness if we were stranded on the light-side of the moon. The items range from pistols to powdered milk. Some seem useful, but are actually worthless while others seem unnecessary on earth, but are actually vital when stuck on the moon. However, the structure of the activity as a website is not optimal. Let’s improve this and make it an awesome problem–solving exercise for our class.