Catalogue of Critical Creativity Presentation

Creating with words (122-149)

Potent Quotables: The students are given a few different quotes (three is suggested) and given the tools on how to find Creative Commons Zero images online to enhance the quote.  They should be instructed in how to make an impact with their image composition. In a theatre classroom, we could use this activity for advertisement for student productions.  The students can select an impactful quote from the show and then an image to go with it.

Creating with images (153-177)

Two Images, One Question: Students use images to represent their research and then pose a question to encourage further inquiry. This could be used in character development.  The students could find two fair use images to describe their character of choice, and then a question to help find a deeper understanding or level of that character.

Creating with Sounds (181-206)

Soundtracking the Moment: Students create an alternative soundtrack for a film clip that transforms the tone, mood, and atmosphere of the film. Students need to be able to identify these elements in an example so they can intentionally use it in their own work. In a theatre classroom, this activity could be used in a play writing unit.  The teacher can select a clip, mute the original, and have students select different pieces of music to go with the clip, playing the clip multiple times to different types of music.  After a few viewings, the students then write a short story based off one of the film/sound combinations that had been used.

Creating with the Body (209-231)

Humojis: Students create their own emojis with pictures of themselves.  These images are then used in student responses and in analyzing text. In a theatre classroom, you can use these humojis to create a story.  It can be their own story, like for a play writing unit, or it can be to depict a play the class is reading, so a humoji for major parts of the play.

Creating with stuff (235-263)

Oreo Challenge: Create a visual representation of a concept from the course using any available materials and a single Oreo cookie. I liked the idea in the book about how you can use this activity as an advertisement for the class to other students or to the own parents.  I’d love to explore the idea of having the students create an image or 30-second video that advertises the class to their parents and depicts some of the favorite things they’ve learned thus far in the year.

Creating with Social Media (269-295)

One Word to Rule Them All: Distill something complex into a single word.  It would be useful to use this activity after reading a play or to figure out character objectives in a scene.  It’s effective because it simplifies both of these things down to a word that is powerful and understandable to the student.