Gorilla Brownies and Ferret Farms

I'm taking my first intensive Master's course this week and it's been surprisingly refreshing. It covers foundations of creative learning and thinking. The idea is that in order for us to be able to inspire creativity within our kids, we need to be able to instill it in ourselves first. So, how does that get us to Gorilla Brownies and Ferret Farms?

At the beginning of each class, we do some creative warm-ups that can be applied in the classroom as well. Many are improv/theatre games. One was very similar to some of the things we see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway". It requires an interviewer and interviewee. The interviewee is the EXPERT on a particular topic.

Our teacher asked for volunteers and everyone immediately turned their gaze to the floor. Finally, one brave soul spoke up and chose the interviewer position. A minute later, I volunteered to be the expert, despite the screams of the introvert inside me. Within 30 seconds, I was the expert on gorillas and cooking. Basically, you have to agree and expand on everything that is asked. I actually surprised myself in coming up with a story involving an expedition to Africa, and teaching gorillas sign language and then brownie making. The final product involved a marketed product called Gorilla Brownies made by gorillas in biohazard suits who sometimes make mistakes like pouring Lysol into the batter, all to raise money for gorillas in Africa.

I'll leave ferret farms up to your imagination!

Peace and blessings,
Michelle