Using SCAMPER to Spark Creativity in Gifted Writers
I recently discovered a creative thinking framework that clicked right away for me as an ELA teacher, and it might become one of my favorite tools for working with gifted students! It’s called SCAMPER, and while it’s often used in business and design thinking, it has incredible potential in the classroom, especially for writing.
Gifted students love to explore “what if” questions, and SCAMPER gives them the perfect playground for that kind of thinking. It’s imaginative and playful, but it also has clear boundaries that help them channel their creativity in productive ways. When I first tried it with my students, I was amazed at how it unlocked their ideas—they were not only rewriting stories but reimagining how stories work, but also experimenting with meaning, structure, and voice.
What is SCAMPER?
SCAMPER is a framework that helps learners think creatively and critically about existing ideas by applying seven prompts:
Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Modify (Magnify or Minify)
Put to another use
Eliminate
Reverse or Rearrange
Each of these prompts nudges students to explore “what if” possibilities.
What if the villain became the hero?
What if the setting moved from the forest to space?
What if the ending came first?
Stories are full of flexible parts such as characters, settings, conflicts, and resolutions, and gifted students are naturally curious about how each one can be reshaped. By guiding them to pull stories apart and rebuild them, we help them see narrative as a living system, not just something fixed on the page.
SCAMPER gives just enough structure to focus their creative energy while still encouraging exploration and risk-taking. It becomes a safe space for students to stretch their imagination without fear of “getting it wrong.” And for teachers, it’s a powerful reminder that structured creativity doesn’t stifle innovation but instead often fuels it.
Why It Works for Gifted Students
Gifted learners thrive on novelty and challenge. But without structure, open-ended creative tasks can sometimes feel overwhelming. SCAMPER provides that balance. It sparks imagination while giving students a clear framework for exploration.
In one of my favorite classroom activities, students began with a familiar fairy tale and used SCAMPER to rewrite it. They might eliminate a character, reverse the sequence of events, or substitute the setting entirely. The result is a brand new story shaped by curiosity and critical thinking.
This process encourages far more than creativity. It builds analytical thinking. Students reflect on how each change affects character motivation, pacing, and theme. They begin to understand the craft of storytelling, not just the content.
“SCAMPER gives students permission to play with ideas, and in that play, real learning happens.”
Try the SCAMPER Story Rewrite Challenge
If you would like to bring this strategy to your classroom or homeschool setting, explore my SCAMPER Story Rewrite Challenge.
This downloadable resource includes everything you need to guide students through the process:
A SCAMPER brainstorming organizer
A story planning worksheet
A final writing rubric
Printable PDF and editable Canva versions
It is designed for grades 6 through 8 but can be easily modified for higher and lower grades and abilities. It works beautifully for gifted classrooms, enrichment programs, or creative writing units.
When gifted students are given tools that celebrate curiosity and structure, their creativity soars. SCAMPER helps them see storytelling as something flexible and alive, an invitation to wonder, question, and imagine what could be!
🌿Laura
