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.