Curious About the "Curiosity Box"

This idea came from one of my favorite bloggers:  Bill Ferriter, Author of the blog entitled:  The Tempered Radical.  His "Curiosity Box" grew out of the need to find a way to help his students think more creatively and the suggestion that creativity and innovative thinking comes from forcing oneself to make "metaphorical connections" between what one is doing and what seem to be unrelated objects or things. 

Here is how to create a "Curiosity Box."
1.  Get a box  (How are we doing so far?)
2.  Start collecting some of the weirdest objects you can find to go into the box.  You can ask your students to "donate" items as well.  Some suggestions are:  Happy Meal toys, Dollar Store "gems" or any item that you no longer have a use for.
3.  Put these in the box (Surprised you with this one huh?)

Next, you have your students go to the "Curiosity Box" after a particularly important lesson, introduction to a new concept or at the end of a unit.  The students will choose an item from the "Curiosity Box" and then find metaphorical connections between the object they chose and the concept or content you have just studied.  They can do this individually, in pairs or in groups.  You can even have a little more fun with this and have them present their connection to the rest of the class.

If you would like to read more about this idea, or download some handouts, use this link to The Tempered Radical blog.   http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2011/09/teaching-innovation-with-the-curiosity-box.html