Once a week, a middle school teacher engages students in an activity that encourages consideration of various possibilities in a situation. This is likely to be most effective in enhancing students' ability to:

Engaging students in activities that encourage consideration of various possibilities helps to foster fluent thinking, which is the ability to generate a variety of ideas or responses to a given situation. This kind of activity stimulates creative thought processes by prompting students to explore multiple avenues and perspectives rather than sticking to a single solution or idea.

When students are encouraged to think about different possibilities, they practice brainstorming and problem-solving skills, allowing their minds to roam freely without the constraints of rigid thinking. This approach nurtures their ability to come up with innovative ideas, enhancing overall creativity and idea generation. As students participate in these activities regularly, they become better equipped to think divergently, which is a crucial skill in many academic and real-world settings.