Encourage tinkering with ideas, relationships, connections. Set up situations where students have to find information not readily available in school texts. Provide opportunity for students to design open-ended explorations of the concept. Provide multiple options so students can plan a unique "proof" of learning.

"Junk" boxes: work items into any classification.

Objective: To further extend concept of similarities, differences--classification through manipulation.

Activity: Give small groups of children "junk" boxes and ask them to sort the items into any common characteristic grouping. Play background music during this activity.

Assessment: Students' ability to find a common characteristic of items presented in order to form sets.