Creativity for a New Curriculum: 5-11

Creativity for a New Curriculum: 5-11 provides an account of what creativity really means in the context of children?s learning in the primary school, and describes in practical terms what teachers can do to foster it. At a time of curriculum development and change, it focuses on the opportunity to build a new curriculum that is inclusive of creativity and is fit for the twenty-first century.

The value of fostering creative thinking and problem solving abilities in education is widely recognised for its capacity to confer an independence and ability to function effectively in life. As such, encouraging children to be creative thinkers and problem solvers should be an integral part of everyday teaching and learning across all subjects.

Building upon the research and practices of a group of educators studying creativity across the curriculum and coordinated by the author, this book provides primary teachers and trainee teachers with easy to understand explanations of what creativity means in the context of the subjects of the curriculum for young children. It introduces ideas for how to nurture and support it, and explores issues associated with fostering it, such as assessment. Chapters cover areas including:

• A brief history of creativity and pedagogy, including common misconceptions
• Strategies for creative learning as well as creative teaching
• Creativity in English
• Creativity in Mathematics
• Creativity in Science and Design and Technology
• Creativity in Art and Music
• Creativity in History and the Humanities
• Creativity in ICT
• International perspectives on creativity

Creativity for a New Curriculum: 5-11 is an ideal source of information for teachers, teacher trainers, students on teaching programmes and anyone interested in developing opportunities for creativity across the primary school curriculum.

About the Contributors; Introduction; Chapter 1: Creativity and Problem Solving: An Overview; Chapter 2: Creativity in English; Chapter 3: Creativity in Mathematics; Chapter 4: Creativity in Science and Design and Technology; Chapter 5: Creativity in Art and Music; Chapter 6: Creativity in History and the Humanities; Chapter 7: Exploring Creativity in ICT: concepts, themes and practices; Chapter 8: Recognizing Creativity; Chapter 9: "Creativity is our hope" – a Wider Perspective on Creative Thinking; Chapter 10: Teaching for Creative Learning; Index

Lynn Newton is Professor of Education at Durham University, UK. She is Director of Initial Teacher Training and leads the primary sciences programmes. Previously she has worked in schools and has published widely in the areas of primary education and science and design and technology.