Free implementation guide · K–2 / 3–5 / 6–8
Creative Problem-Solving
Math · Writing · Science · Social Studies · STEM
Creative thinking · Suggested readiness: DEEPEN
Editorial draft · Administrator review pending. General educational guidance; examples are illustrative, not student records. No research outcome or placement is guaranteed.
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What It Is
Separate generating possibilities from evaluating them: clarify a problem, develop varied ideas, then select and refine a solution against agreed criteria.
Why It Works
Delaying evaluation creates room for alternatives; explicit criteria then keep originality connected to usefulness and evidence.
When to Use It
Use for problems with several defensible solutions, not a task with one concealed correct answer.
Classroom Example
A fictional library wants a quieter reading area without buying new furniture. Learners generate layout and routine changes, then compare access, noise and feasibility.
Teacher Implementation Steps
- Clarify whose problem is being solved and what success means.
- Generate ideas without immediately ranking them.
- Ask for ideas from more than one category.
- Evaluate possibilities using shared criteria and stakeholder perspectives.
- Improve a chosen solution and explain the compromises.
Student Activity
Generate six possible solutions, group them by approach, compare two against your criteria, and revise one after peer questions.
Grade-band adaptations
K–2: draw possibilities and explain choices aloud. 3–5: use a simple criteria chart. 6–8: weigh constraints and competing stakeholder priorities.
Readiness is a planning suggestion, not a placement decision. Adjust support using current evidence; keep needed accommodations and teacher review.
Related #smithingifted resource
Global Innovation Lab — Academy program →This free guide does not include the program's premium lessons. Existing access requirements still apply.
Sources & further reading
The sources below inform the general guidance. Classroom examples and planning steps are original illustrative suggestions, not findings from a research trial.