How to Teach Creativity (Grades 6-12)

Digital download

A ready-to-teach creativity lesson for grades 6-12

Teens learn that creativity is a skill they can practice on demand, not a talent some people are born with. In this 120-minute module, students sharpen their observation, separate facts from assumptions and turn everyday constraints into product ideas. It gives every young entrepreneur the creative confidence that later lessons build on.

Grades: 6-12  |  Teaching time: 120 minutes  |  Format: digital download with lesson plans, slides and printables

What's included

• Facilitation guide: Setup steps, talking points and a supply list for a smooth session.
• Lesson plans: Classroom-tested instructions with teaching tips and flexible timing.
• Presentation slides: Visuals written for a teen audience.
• Printable handouts: Worksheets and frameworks students use during each activity.

What students do

• Play Stations: Students rotate through hands-on stations that loosen up their thinking.
• Wacky Inventions: Teams combine two unrelated objects and pitch the product they invent.
• Active Observation: Students practice noticing details most people walk past.
• Observation vs. Inference: Students sort what they see from what they assume.
• Observation Walk: Students hunt for problems and opportunities around campus.
• Consider a New Perspective: Students reframe a problem through someone else's eyes.

What students practice

• Students generate unconventional ideas without fear of judgment.
• Students tell the difference between facts and assumptions when they solve problems.
• Students shift perspective to understand the people they design for.
• Students rebuild the playful thinking that school often trains out of them.

Who it's for

Educators use this module in middle and high school classrooms, business and CTE electives, STEM clubs, makerspaces, afterschool programs, summer intensives and homeschool co-ops.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this lesson take?
Plan for about 120 minutes of instruction. You can teach it in one block or split it across several class periods.

Do I need a business background to teach it?
No. The guide walks you through every activity with step-by-step instructions, timing and teaching tips, so classroom teachers, afterschool leaders and parents can all teach it.

What supplies do I need?
The preparation guide lists every material. Most activities use paper, markers and other everyday classroom supplies.

Is the curriculum evidence-based?
Yes. VentureLab documents the research behind this curriculum in our ESSA evidence packet.

How do I get the files?
This is a digital product. After checkout, check your email for the link to download your files.

Can I share the files with other teachers?
The VentureLab curriculum license explains how you can use and share the materials.

Your purchase supports VentureLab, a nonprofit that brings entrepreneurship education to young people in San Antonio, St. Louis and classrooms across the country.