Teachers! Developing an imagination?!?!

Okay, I've reached a lesson I just don't know how to teach. I'm a Drama teacher. My entire career and subject is BASED on having an imagination. Alas, my students here haven't fully developed one. HOW do you TEACH 'imagination' to a teenager?!?!

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination." - Henry David Thoreau


The problem is, as you know, some children are visual learners, others are aural. Few are tactile learners so it might be a idea to use touch as a way to prod the imagination - it's also a sense we take for granted and are a bit out of touch with.


Say you have a class of 30, have them sit in circles of 5 or 6 and give each group a bag (cloth is best, with a narrow neck and not transparent). In each bag is an object. The bag is passed around the circle, one person at a time. Each person closes their eyes, puts their hand into the bag and holds the object without removing it from the bag. Ask them what word, picture, idea, person, or place comes to mind.


For example, say there is a rock in a bag. The person might say it is a meteor made from iron which landed in their school grounds after travelling through the universe for billions of years. Or a smooth round object is the ball they threw through a window and got into trouble. A soft, fluffy object is the feeling of walking through clouds.


This is not a guessing game. In fact, they shouldn’t say what they ‘think’ it is. There are no wrong answers – except to say what it is!


Let them continue with that thought and expand on it to create a little story.



Mind maps are another way to stimulate the imagination. Get them into small groups (pairs if possible), each group has a large piece of paper and coloured pens. Have them mind map something, such as a visit for an overseas friend to Hong Kong. They can use pictures and words. Start with a picture in the middle, say a junk, and out of that comes places to visit, things to eat, etc. - and each branch has further sub-branches. Again no wrong answers.

Thanks everyone, these are great ideas for USING their imagination. Alas, my plea was regarding DEVELOPING an imagination.


You hit the nail on the head Claire. Those of us raised with Santa, Mickey, Montessori, and 'think outside the box!' anthems most certainly take the freedom of our imaginations for granted.


I'm certainly frustrated, though not daunted. But mostly, I'm a little sad for them.

All children have an imagination. Ask them what they would do with $1 million and they will be able to make an imaginary list what they would like to buy. IMO, just like a muscle, using the imagination does help it to develop.

Piggybacking off Claire's suggestion, why don't you start with what they are already familiar with? For instance, it might look like this.

Get them to remember the most interesting or memorable fun place or situation they've been. In groups of 3 or 4 decide on a place - a festival? Disneyland? the beach? This will get them talking, and hopefully feeling comfortable. Get them to brainstorm what that place was like, maybe using the five senses. Keep them talking and sharing as a small group. You could do a number of things from this point: Get them to form a physical postcard or photo of the place (eg on a rollercoaster)or you could get them to improvise something very simple in that situation, or you could hotseat anyone who was keen about the situation. Go first yourself. I love hotseating - once they get going, they're hard to stop.

When they're ready, introduce a twist, so they move gently from the known to the unknown. Eg the group who did a day at the beach - tell them a huge wave was coming in as their photo was taken, or suddenly the shark siren sounded. Create an alternative photo/postcard.


I think the key is to feel them safe. If the group is not too large, you might do it as one group. I would consider the possibility that they are just shy and lack confidence about something new and (from their point of view) potentially embarrassing. Lots of non-threatening games might help with that. I'd also work from things they're familiar with.


Carolyn

Well, it's good to know I'm doing all the familiar things. I have my 'arsenal' of drama games, but it actually hurts my heart to see how much my students STRUGGLE to think outside that box. Witnessing how much l o n g e r it takes to get the flow of an activity going compared to my American, South American, and Caribbean students because of the immense social inhibitions. (you said it Miss P!) Once they get it, or after I (so very often) demonstrate options, they loooove it, as all kids do. Alas, no matter how patient I am with them, it doesn't help my heart hurting to see this bit of 'childhood Bill of Rights' denied them.


Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

Play a video which has a lot of sounds but don't let them watch it. Ask each one to discuss and write down what they think is making the sound.


Play it again to give a second chance of cultivating imagination.


discuss out loud.


Play video and let them watch. Who got it right?