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.

Have the children draw a picture of what they might have described to the mice

Objective: To have the children put themselves in Frederick’s place.

Activity: Have the children draw a picture of what they might have described to the mice in the story if they had been Frederick. What scene would they have chosen to cheer up their fellow mice when they were cold and hungry? Have them write a poem to go with their picture.

Assessment: Quality of the descriptions, both visually and verbally.