The aspect of adventure is something that really deserves a session of it’s own. I include it here because it is a context that can be used to teach most, if not all, of the creative strategies I have presented, and several I haven’t. Adventure can be a learning and practice tool that you use in many contexts of learning. Adventure allows us to develop and hone the skills we learn on a path of mastery and creativity.

Adventures do not have to be rock-climbing or hang-gliding or mountain climbing. It can be adventures in the classroom, as part of a lesson, a project, or through the imagination.

Adventures are exciting to children.

Adventure stories provide a useful framework. I use them as a device to frame stories that I want to tell children in the context of teaching other skills. You can use adventure stories and experiences to teach creative problem-solving. Especially: overcoming obstacles, but also, allowing mistakes, redefining problems, encouraging sensible risk-taking, idea generating,

Adventure stories are always a hit with kids, they can relate to them, they create energy and enthusiasm and kids are almost always up for engagement with you when you begin to tell adventure stories. And, discussions based on the adventures of others can also serve this purpose. The discussions can lead to writing assignments, the creation of games, creating a storytelling culture, making videos, doing plays. The projects possibilities are endless and can be interdisciplinary.

When I use adventures, real or imagined, I like to keep these aspects in mind:When you are on an adventure you must do a few things:

• Going in to an adventure, You must prepare, plan, research, talk to others, predict what your experience will be and what you will need to insure your success.   And, you must practice if this adventure requires skills

• While you experiencing your adventure, you must realize that the very nature of an adventure is exploring and experiencing the unknown..  And, wrapped within that unknown package are varying degrees of risk, uncertainty, and dealing with chaos at times. You have a challenge to overcome. You struggle and keep trying because you want to succeed. And you must, at all times, OBSERVE yourself, others and the environment closely.

• Coming out of a successful adventure, you have hopefully dealt with overcoming fear, anxiety, nervousness. You can see how important it is to continue trying and not give up in the face of challenges. You realize that sometimes you fail, but the most important thing is to keep trying.

In terms of social and emotional issues, going on small adventures help gifted children to experience those kinds of feelings in a safer environment, so they can practice their responses, discuss them and normalize them. Then, the bigger unexpected events in life will not be quite so overwhelming.

Besides, life is an adventure, developing our own creativity is an adventure and teaching gifted children is an adventure.