Brianne Wragg
Sometimes the simplest activities can turn into the most powerful learning moments. Recently, I introduced a new game Writers’ Workshop and what started as a basic challenge quickly became one of our most engaging and thought-provoking sessions. I got the idea from John Holt’s How Children Learn, where he talks about a categorization game for younger kids. It got me thinking: “What if I tweak this for older kids and really push their creativity?”
So, I did just that. I adapted the game into a divergent thinking activity, challenging the kids to come up with as many categories as possible for a single word. But here’s the catch: the more unique their categories, the better!
The rules were straightforward. I’d give them a word—something simple like “bean”—and they had two minutes to come up with as many categories as they could think of. They could either work alone or “bubble up” with a partner to brainstorm together. After time was up, we’d go around and share our categories, crossing off any that were repeated and keeping the ones that were totally original.
I wish I could bottle up the excitement and creativity in that room! Some kids instantly thought of the obvious, but it didn’t take long for them to start digging deeper. One of them shouted, “Bean! Like, spill the beans! That’s a category, right?” It was so fun to see them push their thinking beyond the usual.
The rules were straightforward. I’d give them a word—something simple like “bean”—and they had two minutes to come up with as many categories as they could think of. They could either work alone or “bubble up” with a partner to brainstorm together. After time was up, we’d go around and share our categories, crossing off any that were repeated and keeping the ones that were totally original.
I wish I could bottle up the excitement and creativity in that room! Some kids instantly thought of the obvious, but it didn’t take long for them to start digging deeper. One of them shouted, “Bean! Like, spill the beans! That’s a category, right?” It was so fun to see them push their thinking beyond the usual.
Planet
Tree
Ball
Ocean
At one point, some of the kids got so into it that they started offering up extra words because they wanted to keep playing! One of them called out “pizza,” while another suggested “clouds.” I could see their imaginations going full throttle.
But here’s where things got really interesting. I challenged them to think of a really hard word to subcategorize. After some thought, we settled on light. Now, I thought this might stump them for a bit—but these kids made it look easy. In no time, they were rattling off categories like:
By the end of the game, they were all smiling and (hopefully) feeling that kind of creative exhaustion where you know you’ve really stretched your brain.
What I loved most about this game was how it got them thinking differently. It wasn’t just about naming categories—it was about pushing past the obvious, digging deep, and finding connections that maybe no one else had thought of. The best part? The kids had a blast doing it.
I heard things like, “I didn’t know I could think of so many cool things about a planet!” and, “This is actually harder than it looks, but it’s fun!” And when we hit on “light,” they didn’t miss a beat—they dove right in and showed me that no word was too challenging for their creativity.
This kind of creative thinking isn’t just for the classroom—it’s perfect for the dinner table, too. If you’re looking for a fun, thought-provoking activity to do with your kids, why not set up your own categories game at home?
Here’s how it works:
Simple words like “moon,” “shoe,” or “pizza” can lead to some amazing and unexpected categories. You might be surprised at how creative your family can get!
So, the next time you’re sitting around the table, give it a try. Who knows? You might just discover new worlds of ideas—just like we did with “planet” and “light!”
About the Author
Brianne Wragg is a deschooled English teacher. She started as a copywriter, ghostwriter and editor for companies and individuals after leaving schools. She returned to education, working at Synthesis School before running a creative writing & mentorship program for kids aged 10-15 years old.
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