Brainstorm the Troublemaker

LESSON 3.3
Brainstorm the Troublemaker

Grades 1-3

Task 3.3.1 – Small Group

Decide if the RH ideas below are Old or New:

  1. I had a problem with a treasure chest I found.                                  
  2. I had a problem with gold in a treasure chest I found.
  3. I had a problem with jewelry in a treasure chest I found.

Funneling

As you learned earlier, funneling means finding a more specific idea.

O + O: I had a problem with dirt I found in a treasure chest.

O + O: I had a problem with brown dirt I found in a treasure chest.

O + O: I had a problem with ugly dirt I found in a treasure chest.

O + N: I had a problem with ancient Egyptian dirt I found in a treasure chest.

Task 3.3.2 – Tandem

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a green snake in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a poisonous snake in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a bracelet in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with shrieking dirt in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with an invisible snake in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a tiny flying house in a treasure chest.

Combining

Decide if the idea in the right-hand (hero) slot is Old or New

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a green snake I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a poisonous snake I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a bracelet I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with shrieking dirt I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with an invisible snake I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a tiny flying house I found in a treasure chest.

Combining

Combining ideas is an excellent way to brainstorm New Ideas.  For example:

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a man I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a tiny man I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a mirror I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a tiny man made of mirrors I found in a treasure chest.

Task 3.3.3 – Tandem

A. Combine the first two ideas into a third.

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a snake I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a bicycle I found in a treasure chest
I had a problem with ?

B. Combine the first three ideas into a third.

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a miniature pirate I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a miniature pirate’s parrot I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a miniature zombie I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with ?

C. Combine the first three ideas into a third.

Hero Verb Phrase Troublemaker
I had a problem with a ballerina I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with a box of chocolates I found in a treasure chest.
I had a problem with ?

Story Starter 

While using a metal detector at the beach, you find an old metal bottle in the sand. Inside is a treasure map.

The map leads you to a state park, where you dig up a treasure chest.

APPLICATION

In teams of 3-4, brainstorm the question your teacher asks. Each group gets a recorder (or use a phone). Say, “1 …, 2 …. 3…” so you can keep track of how many ideas you have.  You do not have to explain the ideas. You must have 20+ ideas in three minutes. To be eligible to win, each team member must give at least three ideas. Remember: there are no silly ideas!