As a teacher, you want your students to learn a variety of educational content, but you also want them to develop their creativity and independence. That’s wonderful! It’s their creativity that will help them discover their interests and passions and develop their innovative spirit! Here’s how to plan a creative in-class project.

What is creativity?

Contrary to popular belief, creativity is not only reserved for the arts. It can be developed in several areas, and it is very beneficial for youngsters and adolescents to be encouraged to be creative in a school setting.

Basically, each one of us has to be creative on a daily basis, since creativity is the ability to invent, understand and act on ideas related to the context in which we find ourselves. It requires a certain amount of independence and initiative, as well as thought.  

Creativity can be developed in students through team or individual work, educational workshops or special projects.  

How do you create a school project that stimulates creativity?

• Provide a clear framework: In order to bring out creativity, teachers must create a relevant framework with clear instructions to follow. Then, teachers can let their students learn to be creative. Students should to be able to integrate their ideas into the project, while following the established framework.

• Create a climate of trust: During a creative project, the teacher’s role is to clearly explain the project and establish a foundation of respect and active listening, then allow students a certain amount of freedom. By giving them time to think, to talk to each other and decide what to do and choose alternatives, students will develop their creative abilities! By using trial and error, they will gain confidence in their abilities and often find innovative solutions!

• Don’t judge the results too harshly: A creative project’s goal is to inspire different results, that are not always perfect. Students have to be able to do things their way (suggest other ways of doing things) and see the results of their efforts. There are no winners or perfect work: there is simply a project where everyone did their best to achieve a good result.

• Have fun: Creative projects are fun, but require intellectual effort. Youngsters learn a lot through play from a very young age! By encouraging them to express themselves and take initiative, they will build their self-confidence and a collaborative climate will naturally develop.

The in-class hydroponic garden

Vireo’s connected garden is a project that fosters creativity and is designed to be easily integrated into the school environment. Students have a clear framework to set up and maintain the garden, while being able to work by trial and error. They learn how to choose, plant, water, maintain and harvest various types of vegetables, types of salad and herbs.  

The Vireo hydroponic garden is an indoor project that can be set up in any season. All of the materials needed to maintain the garden for a year are provided:

• Single-use consumables (including seeds selected for the year and substrates);
• Everything needed to clean and maintain the garden.

The project also includes a digital platform filled with educational tools related to hydroponics (gardens without dirt), but also several other educational topics. You can even test the platform at no cost right now.

What’s more, teachers can access support if they have questions about the operation and maintenance of the hydroponic garden, or about the digital platform.

Learn more about Vireo’s in-class hydroponic gardens

Do you think your students could benefit from an in-class hydroponic garden? Whether you are a teacher, special education technician, a member of the teaching team, or a principal, contact us for more information.

We will be happy to explain how this project works to promote creativity and develop self-confidence in students of all ages.