ABSTRACT
Imagination gives rise to ideas for creative writing assignments, unique insights into literature selections, and applications or extensions of scientific principles. Imagination lets us look at not only what does exist or did happen, but what might have been or what might be possible. Imaginative behavior is pondering the many ‘what it’s’ in life. Students using their imaginations can consider things that are not necessarily possible, while curious thinking is generated from real possibilities. Imagination is speculating about things unknown or thinking about what might be possible. Students with vivid imaginations disregard the usual limitations and what really exists. It is a particularly useful skill when students are able to apply imaginative thinking to a real-life situation in order to generate new and original perspectives, understandings, and solutions. A teacher encourages imaginative thinking when he or she provides opportunities for stretching beyond our known world and guarantees a safe environment for the kind of risk-taking demonstrated by the imaginative thinker.
