LESSON 3.6
Brainstorm the Why

Grades 1 – 3

Let’s pretend the troublemaker is the tiny man made of mirrors.

In a chart, you have this side figured out.

What Statement Why Statement

It is made up of a left-hand idea (LH), a verb phrase (VP), and a right-hand idea (RH).

What Statement Why Statement
LH VP RH X X

The What Statement also looks like a barbell:

Why Statement

The Why Statement tells why the troublemaker is a problem.

It is made up of two parts:

  • The word because
  • The problem the troublemaker caused

Brainstorming the Why Section

Now let’s think about the most interesting problem the troublemaker caused. For example, you can’t say he sends people to the moon because that’s not believable.

Here are some ideas to brainstorm about:

  • He is so small he looks like a doll
  • He is covered with mirrors
  • He probably was buried by pirates
  • He has likely been buried for at least two hundred years.

so far, you may have brainstormed the 10 ideas below:

  1. His mirrors make people look fat or skinny.
  2. He doesn’t know what cars are and causes wrecks because the mirrors blind drivers.
  3. He turns everyone into pirates.
  4. He is a zombie.
  5. He needs to be reburied every night because it recharges his mirrors.
  6. He makes a lot of money.
  1. He causes a lot of trouble.
  2. His mirrors start fires.
  3. He is a pirate.
  4. He is short.

Delete Problems That Do Not Fit

After brainstorming, cross out ideas that don’t fit the story starter, like,

I had a problem with a little man made of mirrors because he was short.

That doesn’t relate to mirrors.

♦

Also cross out general ideas, like,

I had a problem with a little man of mirrors because he caused trouble.

We already know that.

Task 3.6.1 – Small Groups

Cross out four problems that don’t fit. Two have already been crossed out for you.

  1. His mirrors make people look fat or skinny.
  2. He doesn’t know what cars are and causes wrecks because the mirrors blind drivers.
  3. He turns everyone into pirates.
  4. He is a zombie.
  5. He needs to be reburied every night because it recharges his mirrors.
  6. He makes a lot of money.
  1. His mirrors start fires.
  2. He is a pirate.

Task 3.6.2 – Small Groups

Brainstorm at least five more problems the little man of mirrors caused. The team with the most ideas wins. Each team member must give at least one idea.  You will have three minutes.

Task 3.6.3 – Small Groups

Cross out any ideas that do not fit. See above for examples.

Task 3.6.4 – Small Groups

Grade the remaining ideas, using these grades:

A = B idea plus the readers say “Wow!”

B = Adult readers probably would not have thought of this.

C = Adult readers probably would think of this.

Hint: Dr. G. says that, of the original 10 ideas, there are 3 “A” ideas, 1 “B” idea, 2 “C” ideas, and 4 ideas crossed out.

Task 3.6.5 – Small Groups

Repeat Tasks 3.5.2 – 3.5.4 until you have at least five “A” ideas. 

Task 3.6.6 – Small Groups

Use a Decision Table to find the best idea. Add more rows if necessary.  Flip a coin if there is a tie.

A B C D
Idea You are most interested Adults likely most interested Total
1
2
3
4
5

And the winner is …