4 Tips for Organizing Brainstorming Activities in Elementary School

This first step is crucial! It will help ensure the brainstorming activity goes smoothly by keeping your students focused on their objective. At the outset, it is important to establish the problem you are aiming to solve, how long the activity will last, and whether any specific issues require creative solutions. You can also remind the class of your role as their leader and supervisor. To encourage spontaneity, it is best not to give your students the problem or question in advance. Brainstorming is most effective when the topic is one they have not seen before and that requires them to think about aspects they have not previously considered (without putting them in over their heads).

Another trick you can use to encourage spontaneity is to create a more relaxed atmosphere: try putting on some instrumental music, for instance, or even taking your class to the playground, the gym, or another room. You can also swap out the usual policy of raising one’s hand to speak with something more fun:

• Pass around a talking stick (or a squishy ball, pipe cleaner, stuffed animal, etc.)
• Have students write their ideas on Post-its and stick them on the board so that their contributions stay more anonymous
• Allow students to come up to the board in an orderly fashion to jot down their ideas
• Etc.

For a more controlled and participatory experience, you can ask your students to brainstorm in small groups before sharing with the rest of the class. When creating these groups, try to make them as diverse as possible. Part of the beauty of brainstorming is getting to hear a wide range of perspectives.

Brainstorms may be more casual than classroom debates, but you still need to lay down a few ground rules for them to work:

1. No censorship: Everyone is allowed to think freely. There should be no criticism or evaluation of ideas that might make students reluctant to contribute.
2. Equality: All ideas and people are welcome. It is absolutely essential for every student to feel that their ideas will be heard without being judged. At the same time, no one should feel pressured to contribute.
3. Courtesy: Respect one another and don’t judge. Ask your students to practice replacing “Yes, BUT . . . ,” which can be confrontational and demoralizing, with “Yes, AND . . . ,” which is more constructive and allows for building on each other’s ideas. Aim to keep the class relaxed and excited about the brainstorming process rather than simply the outcome.
4. Originality: Every idea deserves to be heard. That includes ideas that might be perceived as obvious, out there, funny, or silly, as these can lead to creative solutions.

As the teacher, your role during brainstorming sessions is not unlike that of the conductor of an orchestra. Your leadership is needed to enforce the ground rules and keep track of everyone’s ideas. The responsibilities of a brainstorm moderator include:

• Stating the rules and the main topic
• Facilitating the activity and encouraging students to participate
• Treating everyone equally
• Making sure ideas are shared one at a time
• Ensuring that no one judges anyone else’s ideas
• Giving everyone equal opportunities to speak
• Structuring the activity in a way that prevents arguments
• Writing everything down
• Etc.

Happy brainstorming!