Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Creativity Web site to research topics on creativity. Students will read overviews of techniques and methods to increase creativity, read about what can hamper creativity, and learn different approaches to problem solving. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by using the random-word method to write a children's story.

Instructional Objectives
1. Students will be able to evaluate and apply different techniques used to enhance creativity and problem solving.
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to employ the random-word method to write a children's story.

Student Web Activity Answers
1. Techniques include keeping a journal, doing something new each day, learning a new creativity technique each day, giving yourself time to relax (which promotes non-directed thinking), learning to draw, learning to use "mind maps," practicing association, taking a new challenge each week, and reading biographies of creative people.
2. Students' answers will vary. Students should realize that every person has the potential to be creative. Students may note that they could tune in more to their thought processes, be more motivated to be creative, congratulate themselves for being creative, and allow themselves to propose many ideas.
3. Students' problems and solutions will vary. Problem reversal means that you view a problem from an opposite angle. Then you ask questions such as, "What if we did the opposite?" and ""What is everyone else not doing?" This leads to new perspectives on the problem and possible solutions.
4. Imitation can serve as a starting point for creative thought. It may provoke associations with other ideas and generate new perspectives.
5. Students' stories will vary. After students select the first word they see, they should list the word's attributions or association with the word to spark story ideas.