Creative Writing using Tony Ryan's "What if" Thinkers Key

Today, just for a little fun we did some creative writing/problem solving using Tony Ryan's Thinkers Keys.  I posed several problems which were:

*  What if Santa's elves went on strike and stopped making presents.

*  What if Santa's reindeer couldn't fly.

*  What if Rudolph's nose stopped glowing.

The children were asked to select one problem and come up with a creative solution to it.

Here are a few of the solutions the children wrote.

What if Santa's reindeer couldn't fly?

Santa's reindeer can't fly so I went on a journey to find something else to save Christmas.  I wen to the magic valleys, there were heaps of magic animals.  There were unicorns, fairies and other animals.  The unicorns were like reindeers, so I took some unicorns and went to Santa.  He used them and delivered the presents.

- Zoe


If Santa's reindeer couldn't fly then no one gets presents, but he could get helpers like unicorns, fairies and birds in the pond.  They need to fly fast like the reindeers in the clouds.

- Kayla


What if Rudolph's nose stopped glowing?

If Rudolph's nose stopped glowing Santa would put batteries in Rudolph's nose so it's working and Rudolph and Santa can fly fast with the presents.

- Angel


I would replace the glowing nose for a carrot so I can put inside it the golden pixie dust to make him fly and make the carrot glow.

- Te Karawhiu


What if Santa's elves went on strike and stopped making presents?

I would help Santa make all of the presents.

- Te Taupuhi.


I really enjoyed reading the children's solutions as they give such an interesting twist on things...who would have thought of pixies, fairies and unicorns?  I love Te Taupuhi's selflessness...she helps Santa so the children of the world have presents for Christmas day.

Such a special bunch of children that I have the joy of teaching.