Thinking Thursday Sparks Creativity at Vogelweh Elementary
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — On Thursdays, something special happens in first grade at Vogelweh Elementary School. Each week, AAPS teacher DiAnna Martinez teams up with first-grade teacher Denise Higgins to co-teach a lesson known as Thinking Thursday.
This dedicated time encourages young learners to stretch their minds through collaboration, problem-solving and creative and critical thinking. The challenges vary from week to week, but they consistently inspire full participation and enthusiastic engagement from students.
In honor of Thanksgiving, Thinking Thursday became Thinking Tuesday, and three second graders joined as buddy experts. The classroom buzzed with energy as students danced their way through a hands-on science experiment: turning a liquid into a solid by making butter. As they explored states of matter and physical change, the excitement was evident.
Students were also tasked with applying their English language arts skills to document their scientific process. Writing lab reports allowed them to reflect on their findings, blending literacy with science in a meaningful way.
At Vogelweh Elementary, Thinking Thursday is more than a lesson — it is an experience that nurtures curiosity, creativity and a love of learning.
