Brainstorming Ideas: Creative Solutions

Active brainstorming helps students move beyond single solutions by practicing rapid idea generation in a low-pressure setting. When students sketch, list, or share aloud without early criticism, they build confidence in their creative abilities and learn to trust the process of gradual refinement.

• Year 2
• Technologies
• 4 activities
• 25 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Generate at least three distinct design ideas for a given problem using sketching and verbal descriptions.
2. Compare the quantity and variety of ideas produced by two different brainstorming techniques (e.g., listing vs. drawing).
3. Explain how incorporating ideas from multiple classmates can lead to a more complete solution.
4. Identify potential problems or hazards in a familiar environment (e.g., the classroom or playground).

Round Robin

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Round Robin: Playground Safety Fixes

Form small circles with a talking object. Each student shares one idea to fix a playground problem, like slippery slides; the group says 'thank you' and passes it. After two rounds, discuss and sketch top ideas. Vote with stickers for favorites.

Prepare & details

Design multiple distinct solutions for a single identified problem.

Facilitation Tip: During Round Robin, model one idea aloud before starting to normalize idea generation and reduce hesitation.

Setup: Chairs in a circle or small group clusters

Materials: Discussion prompt, Speaking object (optional, e.g., talking stick), Recording sheet

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Mind Map Merge: Eco-Friendly Lunchboxes

Students draw individual mind maps for lunchbox improvements, branching from the problem center. Pairs then merge maps on large paper, adding connections. Whole class shares one unique idea from each pair.

Prepare & details

Compare the potential effectiveness of different brainstorming techniques.

Facilitation Tip: In Mind Map Merge, provide colored pencils so students can visually track which ideas originated from which group members.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 25 min·Small Groups

Rolestorming Relay: Garden Tool Designs

Assign roles like child, parent, or gardener. In lines, students act as their role to suggest tool ideas verbally while passing a baton. Teams compile lists, then refine in pairs by drawing.

Prepare & details

Explain how diverse ideas can lead to a more robust final solution.

Facilitation Tip: During Rolestorming Relay, remind students to speak in the voice of their assigned persona, which often leads to unexpected and fun solutions.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Graffiti Wall

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

SCAMPER Sprint: Toy Upgrades

Set stations for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse. Groups spend 3 minutes per station generating ideas for a toy. Rotate and consolidate into a class chart.

Prepare & details

Design multiple distinct solutions for a single identified problem.

Facilitation Tip: In SCAMPER Sprint, display the SCAMPER prompts on a poster so students can reference them while upgrading their toy designs.

Setup: Large wall space covered with paper, or multiple boards

Materials: Butcher paper or large poster paper, Markers, colored pencils, sticky notes, Section prompts

• Remember
• Understand
• Create
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should create a safe space where all ideas are recorded, even if they seem impractical at first. Avoid praising individual ideas too quickly, as this can steer students toward pleasing the teacher rather than exploring possibilities. Research shows that delaying judgment leads to more original solutions, so keep the atmosphere open and encouraging throughout the process.

What to Expect

Students will generate multiple distinct solutions for a given problem, showing confidence in sharing ideas without immediate judgment. Their designs should reflect divergent thinking, with each idea building on or contrasting previous suggestions from peers.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Round Robin: Playground Safety Fixes, watch for students who dismiss their own early ideas as 'not good enough.'

What to Teach Instead

Remind them that the goal is quantity first; have them keep adding to their lists even if the ideas seem silly, as later ideas often improve on early ones.

Common Misconception

During Mind Map Merge: Eco-Friendly Lunchboxes, watch for students who assume only one 'correct' idea can emerge from the merge.

What to Teach Instead

Emphasize that the merge is about building on each other's ideas; model how to add arrows or notes to show how one idea leads to another.

Common Misconception

During Rolestorming Relay: Garden Tool Designs, watch for students who refuse to speak in character, limiting their creativity.

What to Teach Instead

Encourage them to lean into the persona; even exaggerated ideas can spark useful solutions when shared in the assigned role.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Round Robin: Playground Safety Fixes, collect students' idea sheets and check that each has at least four distinct solutions for the playground hazard problem.

Discussion Prompt

After Mind Map Merge: Eco-Friendly Lunchboxes, ask students which part of the merge process helped them think of more ideas: drawing connections, adding to others' ideas, or listening to peers. Listen for explanations that connect the collaborative process to idea quantity.

Peer Assessment

During SCAMPER Sprint: Toy Upgrades, have students pair up to present their upgraded toy design and receive one piece of feedback from their partner using the sentence starter 'I like how you... because...'

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to combine two of their ideas into one hybrid solution and explain how it works.
• Scaffolding: For students who struggle, provide sentence starters like 'What if we...?' or 'A problem could be fixed by...?' to prompt idea generation.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to rank their ideas by feasibility and creativity, then write a short reflection on why they ranked them that way.

Key Vocabulary

Brainstorming	A group creativity technique where people attempt to find a solution for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously.
Divergent Thinking	A thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It involves thinking broadly and exploring multiple options.
Convergent Thinking	A thought process used to narrow down possibilities and find the single best solution to a problem. This often comes after brainstorming.
Prototype	An early model or sample of a product built to test a concept or process. For Year 2, this might be a drawing or a simple construction.