101 Activities For Teaching Creativity And Problem Solving

75. Grab Bag Forced Association

Background

This activity is similar to Tickler Things [21], except Hall (1994) modified it for groups

instead of individuals. It is especially effective for people who respond well to tangible

stimuli and are good at visual thinking.

Objectives

• To help participants generate as many creative ideas as possible


• To help participants learn how to use the activities to generate ideas

Participants

Small groups of four to seven people each

Materials, Supplies, and Equipment

• For each group: markers, two flip charts, and masking tape for posting flip-chart
  sheets


• For each participant: one sheet each of three different colors of sticking dots
  (^1 ⁄ 2 ” diameter) and one pad of 4 x 6 Post-it®Notes


• For each group: one grocery sack containing various small items and toys such as lit-
  tle cars, funny glasses, balloons, corks, spinning tops, buttons, squirt guns, novelty
  items, and so forth (Novelty and toy stores are excellent sources for these items)

Time

30 minutes

Related Activities

• Idea Shopping [14]


• Tickler Things [21]

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