1. Culturally Relevant Inspiration By Kristen Winzer EDU692: Creativity Culture and Global Contexts in Education Decision Making Dr.: Maureen Lienau

2. Hyde Park Elementary http://www.lengel.net/hp/home.html# The school is located in Hyde Park, VT. The student population is 95% white and 2% Hispanic. Hyde Park is innovative because it is apart of the program, Education 3.0. The students are grouped in mixed aged classes. The school has created a curriculum that is centered around themes. It has several hands-on projects that span across all subject areas. The 21 st century skills supported by the program or school learning and innovation skills, the 4cs, and information, media, and technology skills. Within Hyde Park, each learning experience is intertwined. A theme is selected and all activities are built on the theme. For example, the book they read is titled Root Cellar, the students work with an architect to build a root cellar. They discuss and ask questions about root cellars with children in China via emails. They plan for the planting of vegetables in the root cellar. Most of the information is kept and recorded on iPads and iPods. The schools promotes creativity through the use of technology and projects. Children from ages 7 to 11 use technology to create architectural plans, create presentations, exchange ideas with partner schools in China and France. Their lunch menu also relates to the themes and is written in various languages.

3. Walker Elementary School http://walker.wawm.k12.wi.us/staff/classroom_websites/excellence/ This is just one of the classes. http://walker.wawm.k12.wi.us/staff/classroom_websites/excellence/ The school is located in West Allis, Wisconsin. The student population is 73% white, 11% Hispanic, 7% multiracial, 6% black, and 1% Asian. The program is called The Next Generation Learning Classroom. This school has was is considered to be learning pods. Learning Pods are comprised of a team of teachers and multi-age students who work and learn together over multiple school years (Learning Pods, n.d.). The 21 st century skills supported by the program or school learning and innovation skills, the 4cs, and information, media, and technology skills. At Walker Elementary, the school has implemented the NxGLC. NxGLC is based on 6 pillars, one of which is a 21st century skill set. It has nine guiding principles. The multi-age classrooms allows students to share and learn from each other. Centered around students working at their own pace with personalized learning gives room for students to expand and strengthen within areas that they are interested in. This fosters creativity in an infinite number of ways. For example, students collaborate by using tools such as a Wikis, Blogs, and Skype (http://walkerteamexcellence.weebly.com/technology.html, n.d.)http://walkerteamexcellence.weebly.com/technology.html

4. Benjamin Franklin Elementary http://www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/schools/franklin/ The school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The student population is 82% white, 7% Hispanic, 6% multiracial, 3% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3% Black. The school follows Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Problem-based learning will enhance the opportunities our students have to be critical thinkers, to collaborate, to create, and to communicate their thinking (http://www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/d41pbl.htm, n.d). The school also has a dual language program.http://www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/d41pbl.htm The 21st century skills supported by the program are school learning and innovation skills, the 4cs, information, media, and technology skills, and life and skills. At Benjamin Franklin, teachers work with business, university, and industry leaders to present real-word problems for the students to find solutions. The students then present their ideas, justify their solutions, and receive feedback from the leaders and teachers. The school promotes creativity because they are requiring the student to think critically. Most classrooms ask for surface information, however, BFE, ask that student expand their thinking beyond the basic parameters.

5. References Glen Ellyn School District 41 :: D41 PBL. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2015, from http://www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/d41pbl.htmhttp://www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/d41pbl.htm Learning Pods. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2015, from http://walkerteamexcellence.weebly.com/learning-pods.html http://walkerteamexcellence.weebly.com/learning-pods.html Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2015, from http://walkerteamexcellence.weebly.com/technology.html