Creative Confidence
30 Circles Exercise
Grades: ALL
Big Idea
Directions
Time: 3 minutes, plus discussion
Supplies: Pen and a piece of paper (per person) with 30 blank circles on it of approximately the same size. (Template here. If you don't have time to print, you can also just ask students to draw their own 30 circles on a blank piece of paper.)
Step 1: Give students one 30 Circles sheet of paper and something to draw with.
Step 2: Turn as many of the blank circles as possible into recognizable objects in three minutes (think clock faces, billiard balls, etc.)
Step 3: Compare results. Look for the quantity or fluency of ideas. How many people filled in ten, fifteen, twenty or more circles? (Typically most people don’t finish.) Next, look for diversity or flexibility in ideas. See if the ideas are derivative (a basketball, a baseball, a volleyball) or distinct (a planet, a cookie, a happy face). Did anyone “break the rules” and combine circles (a snowman or a traffic light)? Were the rules explicit, or just assumed? Highlight and share student response that are intriguing to classmates or teacher.
When to Use
Strategy Variations
- You could extend the discussion by highlighting a particular aspect of creativity that you would like to connect to the classroom activity (divergent thinking, synthesis, connections, multiple perspectives)
- You could have students categories their circles, star ones they like the most from each category and seek out students who have similar circles (or different). This could help with creating groups.