TeachingEnglish lesson
Creativity and Innovation
April 2020
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Creativity and Innovation
Which of the activities below involve being
creative? If so, how?
• Cooking
• Playing football
• Doing a science experiment
• Writing a book
• Hairdressing
Do you consider yourself to be a creative
person? Why/why not?
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Creativity and Innovation
You are going to read an article, which is
divided into 5 paragraphs.
1. Read the full article first
2. Match the missing headings to the
paragraphs. Do this on paper by yourself
first.
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C __________________________
Be willing to challenge things that you have always done. A group of
Japanese watermelon farmers had an issue with the way that
watermelons were difficult to pack and store. Their round shape
meant that they took up a lot of space, making their transport more
Read the full article below expensive. But why do watermelons actually need to be round?
thought the farmers. They began growing the fruit in square glass
boxes, thus creating square watermelons. They just needed to think
differently to find the perfect solution.
A _______________________________
In a recent experiment, scientists gave the same task to a group of people who
stayed sitting down and to a group who went for a stroll outside. What they D_______________________
found supports what many people believe, that getting out and about is very Believe it or not, more than one research study has shown that
good for creativity. In fact, 100 per cent of the group that went for a walk people who watch a comedy film are much better afterwards at
produced better quality ideas and produced them more quickly. coming up with a creative solution to a problem than those who
The researchers then compared a group walking on a treadmill inside with watched a horror film. It appears that having a chuckle makes us feel
those stretching their legs outside and found that while being outside was more relaxed, which helps the creative process. It is very difficult to
good for creativity, even walking on a treadmill helped, which suggests that it is be creative when you’re stressed, because the mind is too focused
the movement which is most important. on survival.
B ___________________________ E___________________________
Your teacher may tell you off for staring out of the window at nothing, but You might imagine that you will be at your most creative if you are
having a wandering mind may be a sign of intelligence and creativity, able to work in complete silence, but you’d be wrong. Research
according to a new study. The scientists recorded brain activity while people shows that for most creative tasks, a low level of noise, like the
lay still, but not asleep, and concluded that daydreaming can help people chatter that you get in a café, is best. Complete silence is good when
become better problem-solvers. However, if you’re simply not paying attention you need to focus on a difficult task, but when you want to come up
when you should be, that clearly isn’t beneficial. with ideas, try a little hubbub.
Creativity and Innovation
What do you remember about the article?
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Creativity and Innovation
Now read each paragraph and decide the best heading. There is one
heading you do not need
(write your answers on paper first)
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Creativity and Innovation
B ___________________________
A: ________________________________ Your teacher may tell you off for staring out of the
window at nothing, but having a wandering mind
In a recent experiment, scientists gave the same task
may be a sign of intelligence and creativity,
to a group of people who stayed sitting down and to a
according to a new study. The scientists recorded
group who went for a stroll outside. What they found
brain activity while people lay still, but not asleep,
supports what many people believe, that getting out
and concluded that daydreaming can help people
and about is very good for creativity. In fact, 100 per
become better problem-solvers. However, if you’re
cent of the group that went for a walk produced better
simply not paying attention when you should be,
quality ideas and produced them more quickly.
that clearly isn’t beneficial.
The researchers then compared a group walking on a
treadmill inside with those stretching their legs outside
and found that while being outside was good for Headings
creativity, even walking on a treadmill helped, which 1. Have a good laugh
suggests that it is the movement which is most 2. Sit down
important.
3. Get your legs moving
4. Noise
5. Daydream
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6. Think outside the box
Creativity and Innovation D_______________________
C __________________________ Believe it or not, more than one research study
has shown that people who watch a comedy film
Be willing to challenge things that you have always
are much better afterwards at coming up with a
done. A group of Japanese watermelon farmers had
creative solution to a problem than those who
an issue with the way that watermelons were difficult
watched a horror film. It appears that having a
to pack and store. Their round shape meant that
chuckle makes us feel more relaxed, which helps
they took up a lot of space, making their transport
the creative process. It is very difficult to be
more expensive. But why do watermelons actually
creative when you’re stressed, because the mind
need to be round? thought the farmers. They began
is too focused on survival.
growing the fruit in square glass boxes, thus creating
square watermelons. They just needed to think
differently to find the perfect solution. Headings
1. Have a good laugh
2. Sit down
3. Get your legs moving
4. Noise
5. Daydream
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6. Think outside the box
Creativity and Innovation
E___________________________
You might imagine that you will be at your most creative if you
are able to work in complete silence, but you’d be wrong.
Research shows that for most creative tasks, a low level of
noise, like the chatter that you get in a café, is best. Complete
silence is good when you need to focus on a difficult task, but
when you want to come up with ideas, try a little hubbub.
Headings
1. Have a good laugh
2. Sit down
3. Get your legs moving
4. Noise
5. Daydream
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6. Think outside the box
Creativity and Innovation
Answers…
Have you written your answers on a piece of paper?
Hold your paper up to the camera so your answers are visible
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Creativity and Innovation
Answers…
A: Get your legs moving
B: Daydream
C: Think outside the box
D: Have a good laugh
E: Noise
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Creativity and Innovation
You are going to look at each of the paragraphs again.
1. In each paragraph, find words and phrases that have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section.
2. Why do you think the author uses these, rather than repeating the word(s) in the
title?
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Creativity and Innovation
A: Get your legs moving
In a recent experiment, scientists gave the same task to a group of Find words and phrases that
people who stayed sitting down and to a group who went for a stroll have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section
outside. What they found supports what many people believe, that
getting out and about is very good for creativity. In fact, 100 per cent Why do you think the author
of the group that went for a walk produced better quality ideas and uses these, rather than repeating
produced them more quickly. the word(s) in the title?
The researchers then compared a group walking on a treadmill
inside with those stretching their legs outside and found that while
being outside was good for creativity, even walking on a treadmill
helped, which suggests that it is the movement which is most
important.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Answers
A: Get your legs moving Would this suggestion
be useful for you?
In a recent experiment, scientists gave the same task to a group of Why?
people who stayed sitting down and to a group who went for a stroll
outside. What they found supports what many people believe, that
getting out and about is very good for creativity. In fact, 100 per cent
of the group that went for a walk produced better quality ideas and
produced them more quickly.
The researchers then compared a group walking on a treadmill inside
with those stretching their legs outside and found that while being
outside was good for creativity, even walking on a treadmill helped,
which suggests that it is the movement which is most important.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
B: Daydream
Your teacher may tell you off for staring out of the window at Find words and phrases that
nothing, but having a wandering mind may be a sign of have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section
intelligence and creativity, according to a new study. The
scientists recorded brain activity while people lay still, but not Why do you think the author
asleep, and concluded that daydreaming can help people uses these, rather than repeating
the word(s) in the title?
become better problem-solvers. However, if you’re simply not
paying attention when you should be, that clearly isn’t
beneficial.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Answers
B: Daydream Would this suggestion
be useful for you?
Your teacher may tell you off for staring out of the window at Why?
nothing, but having a wandering mind may be a sign of
intelligence and creativity, according to a new study. The
scientists recorded brain activity while people lay still, but not
asleep, and concluded that daydreaming can help people
become better problem-solvers. However, if you’re simply not
paying attention when you should be, that clearly isn’t
beneficial.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
C: Think outside the box
Be willing to challenge things that you have always done. A group of Find words and phrases that
Japanese watermelon farmers had an issue with the way that have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section
watermelons were difficult to pack and store. Their round shape meant
that they took up a lot of space, making their transport more expensive. Why do you think the author
But why do watermelons actually need to be round? thought the farmers. uses these, rather than repeating
the word(s) in the title?
They began growing the fruit in square glass boxes, thus creating square
watermelons. They just needed to think differently to find the perfect
solution.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Answers
C: Think outside the box Would this suggestion
be useful for you?
Be willing to challenge things that you have always done. A group of Why?
Japanese watermelon farmers had an issue with the way that watermelons
were difficult to pack and store. Their round shape meant that they took up
a lot of space, making their transport more expensive. But why do
watermelons actually need to be round? thought the farmers. They began
growing the fruit in square glass boxes, thus creating square watermelons.
They just needed to think differently to find the perfect solution.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
D: Have a good laugh
Believe it or not, more than one research study has shown Find words and phrases that
that people who watch a comedy film are much better have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section
afterwards at coming up with a creative solution to a problem
than those who watched a horror film. It appears that having a Why do you think the author
chuckle makes us feel more relaxed, which helps the creative uses these, rather than repeating
the word(s) in the title?
process. It is very difficult to be creative when you’re stressed,
because the mind is too focused on survival.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Answers
D: Have a good laugh Would this suggestion
be useful for you?
Believe it or not, more than one research study has shown Why?
that people who watch a comedy film are much better
afterwards at coming up with a creative solution to a problem
than those who watched a horror film. It appears that having
a chuckle makes us feel more relaxed, which helps the
creative process. It is very difficult to be creative when you’re
stressed, because the mind is too focused on survival.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
E: Noise
You might imagine that you will be at your most creative if you Find words and phrases that
are able to work in complete silence, but you’d be wrong. have a similar meaning to the
titles of each section
Research shows that for most creative tasks, a low level of
noise, like the chatter that you get in a café, is best. Complete Why do you think the author
silence is good when you need to focus on a difficult task, but uses these, rather than repeating
the word(s) in the title?
when you want to come up with ideas, try a little hubbub.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Answers
E: Noise Would this suggestion
be useful for you?
You might imagine that you will be at your most creative Why?
if you are able to work in complete silence, but you’d be
wrong. Research shows that for most creative tasks, a
low level of noise, like the chatter that you get in a café,
is best. Complete silence is good when you need to
focus on a difficult task, but when you want to come up
with ideas, try a little hubbub.
[Link]
Creativity and Innovation
Test your creativity
1. Draw 18 squares on a piece of paper, as you can see below
2. When you have drawn the squares put your hands in the air to show you have finished
3. When your teacher says ‘Go!’, you have three minutes to turn each of the squares into a recognisable
object, e.g. a present or a house
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Creativity and Innovation
Test your creativity
1. How many squares did you complete?
2. Did you draw a lot of similar things, e.g.
different houses? Does this mean you are less
creative? Why/why not?
3. Did you join any of the squares together? Would
this be breaking the rules? Do you think creative
people should be rule breakers? Why/why not?
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TeachingEnglish lessons
Creativity and Innovation
Thanks for attending the lesson
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