| The aim of this project is to establish how science lessons can strengthen children’s creative thinking skills in upper-level elementary classrooms. Since little research as-to-yet has focused on creativity in science education, our first study quantitatively examines how creative and scientific thinking skills are related. Furthermore, we’ll qualitatively examine how children with different creative and scientific abilities use divergent and convergent thinking during an inquiry-based science task. These findings will inform the design of science lessons aimed at strengthening children’s creative and scientific thinking skills. The following studies will examine the effectiveness of different forms of instructional support and the best way to support transfer of creative thinking skills across the domains of science and mathematics. |
