	Different By Design
	*Differentiated Curriculum Units for Mixed-Ability Classrooms*

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Critical Thinking and Creativity
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Critical Thinking and Creativity

Creating Problem Solvers and Innovators

Critical Thinking

When students learn to analyze information they are able to gain a deeper understanding of ideas.

Different By Design challenges students to think critically by learning to

compare and contrast ideas,
provide reasoning for their thinking,
evaluate situations,
evaluate other's ideas, and
think independently.

Creative Thinking

Creativity is much more than the ability to draw a pretty picture. Creative students exhibit fluency (generating many ideas), flexibility (shifting perspective easily) and originality (conceiving of something new).

Creativity is what our children need to become problem-solvers and innovators. Creativity is what sets apart those who are book-smart from those who are innovators, inventors and designers. Not every bright child is highly creative, but every child benefits from being taught to think creatively and practice creativity.

Different By Design encourages creativity by asking students to

apply ideas to different contexts,
create exciting products,
develop stories and personal narratives,
use their imaginations to answer mind-boggling questions,
think of unique ideas, and
think of inventive ways to solve problems.

Students are also encouraged to think "outside of the box", so that they can become better problem-solvers and inventors.

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