We know you know the answer: sponge paint is always necessary.

Many educators believe that sponge paint (and its glitter glue counterpart) is one of a flock of useless activities built into young children’s school curriculum to give teachers a breather. After all, moms and dads need keepsakes to stuff into shoeboxes and never look at again.

Still, there are teachers who use creative assignments to foster authentic learning throughout the school years. Yes, even in high school.

So where to draw (or sponge) the line? Are there assignments where creativity is helpful? Is there a specific grade at which creative assignments ought to be scrapped for good?

Well, we sure as glitter glue aren’t going to just out and tell you the answer to these questions. What we will do is give you some Shmoopy facts that’ll dip your sponge deeper into the sponge paint.

Encouraging Creativity

Creativity means that you can turn imaginative ideas into reality. Think of creative minds like Walt Disney, Marie Curie, or Michelangelo. All of those folk had imaginative ideas, and all of them made their ideas into reality (of sorts).

Want some research to back it up? You got it. Researchers have found a correlation between creativity, intelligence, and humor. Usually where one is, the others are present. In one study, researchers tested comedians to determine if the funny bone meant any shared characteristics. Surprisingly, (okay, maybe not that surprisingly) intelligence (IQs above 110), humor production (wit), and—wait for it—creativity, were the top three characteristics that all comedians shared. And usually the wittiest among us are also the most intelligent.

Where do you suppose all this juicy wit and intelligence stems from? Oh yeah. It’s having a creative mind.

So there’s your food for thought. Encouraging creativity in classroom learning will not hurt your students. We repeat: Will. Not. Hurt. Your. Students. It might even make their goofy jokes a little more on point. And hey, including carefully organized creative assignments in the curriculum can end up being a source of motivation for students. Sometimes it is fun to utilize the ol’ noggin in a different way.

Be Intentional

But…

Oh, you know we’re not going to not give you a "but". Not a big "but," but a "but" nonetheless.

Assigning creative assignments just for the sake of doing something "artsy" (see: slapping sponge paint on a lab report) isn't beneficial for anyone. In other words: don’t risk getting glitter all over the carpet for nothing. Make sure creative assignments have a point.

For example, in first grade, students often create construction paper jack-o-lanterns during the fall. The point of these types of creative assignments is to give students practice following directions, cutting (coordination), identifying shapes (pre-geometry), and gluing (plain ol’ necessary). The point? Creating pumpkins is a good assignment for six-year-olds, but maybe not so useful for students who have already mastered the fine art of gluing.

Make sure the creative projects you use in your curriculum serve a purpose for learning—a purpose that matches the level and the lesson at hand.