In STEM class, if you’ve done your work to prepare for a project, student engagement is typically not much of a problem – that is, once you actually get the project started. For years, I’ve been experimenting with how to improve the flow of the first 5-10 minutes of STEM class, when I’m sharing goals and directions for the day. Yet, despite lots of trial and error, I still found myself battling against side conversations and other distractions that ultimately led to students not fully comprehending or retaining the challenge criteria.
I totally understand why student engagement is tricky in the first part of a specials class. They are transitioning in from wherever they’ve been, carrying all of their thoughts and feelings about how that was going, and they know that a specials class is a little different, usually a little looser, than a traditional academic class. They come in wanting to breathe that sigh of relief, which sometimes conflicts with my goal of getting them engaged in creative, deep thinking as soon as possible.
Enter the Creativity Jump Start. A simple, easy-to-implement tool for taming those transition struggles and immersing students in flexing those creative muscles.
What Is a Creativity Jump Start?
A Creativity Jump Start is a short and inviting task designed to spark creative thinking. The tasks can be completed in about five minutes, with maybe 2-3 more minutes tacked on for student sharing. While Jump Starts may focus on creativity in different modalities – artistic, linguistic, critical thinking, etc – the tasks are designed to be simple and accessible for all learners.
Consider the following Jump Start activity – Shape Shifters. The task is simple – turn the four circles into anything – but the opportunities for creative solutions are limitless.
Types of Creativity Jump Starts
I use 5 different types of Creativity Jump Starts, as I see student groups for a week at a time. I rotate through one of each during the week and this gives us plenty of variety to keep the beginning of class engaging.
| Shape Shifters | Students transform a set of shapes into different things. |
| Wonderful Words | Students brainstorm creative answers that start with a given letter and fit within a specified category. (Think Scattergories.) |
| Dare to Doodle | Students create a doodle that incorporates a given starting design. |
| Many Uses for A… | Students brainstorm as many uses for a given item as possible. |
| Odd One Out | Students identify an item that does not belong with the others in the group and then explain their rationale. |
How Do You Use a Creativity Jump Start?
- (Before students arrive.) Choose a Jump Start and distribute copies around your student work space.
- Start a timer when students arrive and get started on their Jump Starts. If needed, give simple directions to students about the Jump Start. (Typically only needed the first 1-2 times you use a Jump Start.)
- When time is up, offer students a quick opportunity to share. Gallery walks, partner shares, and table talks can all work well for efficiently getting students noticing the creativity of their classmates.
- Repeat at your preferred frequency, cycling between the different Jump Starts. I use a different Creativity Jump Start to begin many of my STEM classes and that consistency has helped make it an expected part of our class routine.
How I Use Creativity Jump Starts in STEM Class
I use Creativity Jump Starts at the beginning of my STEM classes as a way to tame the challenges of the transition into my room. With my 5th and 6th graders, Creativity Jump Starts are now a routine – students enter the room, grab a pencil, and get started on the daily task, chatting happily with one another while they work.
Once students arrive, I start a 5-minute timer with music that is visible via my projector (I like timers from this Youtube channel.) and then use those 5 minutes to take attendance (such an improvement over having students wait while I call off each name) and check in with any students I may need to connect with before we start our project work time. If any time remains, I will work on my own solutions to the Jump Start. (I always have one completed so that I can participate in the sharing.)
When the timer hits zero, we move into sharing mode. Depending on the type of Jump Start, I’ll have students spend 1-2 minutes sharing with a partner, in a table group, or in a whole class gallery walk.
After the Creativity Jump Start, I move into any directions or announcements for the day. After engaging with a Creativity Jump Start, my students tend to be far more attentive to this part of class, as they’ve had a chance to settle in, chat with friends, and take part in a fun warm-up activity. The Creativity Jump Start routine has also provided me with an easy way to reinforce the message that creativity is a skill we can grow through repeated practice.
Want to Give Creativity Jump Starts a Try?
Want to give Creativity Jump Starts a try in your own classroom? Subscribe to my email list below to gain access to a free sampler pack of Jump Stars. If the freebie leaves you wanting more, check out my Creativity Jump Starts product on TPT, which includes 50 ready-to-print Jump Starts.