As an attempt to help satisfy writing across the curriculum Vince Heyser has had his students respond to a question each day. He found that students actually liked having the question each day.
Several questions
came from the
CONVERSATION PIECE
BOOKS BY: BRET NICHOLAUS and PAUL LOWRIE
It is recommended
that you purchase the books if you run out of questions below.
Think Questions
People Watching 1
As part of an assignment on the study of human behavior, you have been asked to do a couple hours of plain and simple “People Watching.” Where do you think would be the best place to go and conduct this entertaining research.
From the duct tape book (106)-Cover your exposed skin with duct tape for a sun block that allows you to stay out in the sun for days without being burnt. Too late for protection, duct tape removes peeling, sunburned skin in a snap.
Fictional
Character 2
If you could bring any character to life from any book, who would you bring to life?
Duct Tape- Hold eyes open during your boss’s boring speeches. (ALSO WORKS WELL DURING TEACHER’S LECTURES)
Invention 3
If you could “uninvent”any past invention, which one would it be? (consider all ramifications of eliminating this invention).
From the duct tape book: Are you a compulsive lawn mower or
snow blower? Enjoy worry free breaks by using duct tape to mark where you left
off. Also creates a non-stick surface for snow shovels.
Drive 4
What is the greatest distance you (or you and your family) have ever driven in one day (24 hours)
Duct Tape book: Repair hot air balloons.
Doing 5
What is something you enjoy doing that would probably surprise many of the people who think they know you well?
Duct tape: Bundle old
magazines for recycling. Eventually you can even build a garage out of bundled
magazines.
Class 6
Tell me how this class is going for you so far. Can you see any uses for CAD in your life up to this point?
Duct tape book: Cut costs on cosmetic surgery: Tape from chin, over forehead to back of neck for an instant chin lift (or face lift). Hide duct tape under wig.
Money 7
If you came into enough money so that you never had to work again, what would you do to stay busy or keep your mind occupied?
Duct tape: Use duct tape for removing nose hair, plucking eyebrows, and
eliminating unsightly toe hair. Or simply cover toes to hide the hair and make
a fashion statement.
Atlas 8
If someone put a world atlas in front of you for 15 minutes, what part of the world would you be most likely to study?
Duct tape: Protect the tip of your tongue so you can lick cold flag
poles in the winter without risk.
Quality 9
In your own not-so-humble opinion, what is your most likeable quality?
Duct tape book: Increase your on-base percentage: Distract pitchers by
taping small sculptures on your helmet.
Drive through 10
If you could create a drive through that would offer one product or service while you waited in your vehicle, what type of drive through would you create?
Duct tape: fill unsightly tooth gaps by expanding surrounding tooth surfaces with duct tape. It’ll also look like you have very expensive teeth.
Stock 11
If you were given $10,000 and had to divide it into 2 equal parts and invest it into 2 companies which ones would you choose and why?
Duct tape: line
bottoms of paper plates to prevent jello and baked
bean melt-through.
If you had to write a one sentence mission statement for your life what would it be?
Duct tape:Prevent saddle sores:
Just tape an 8 inch
foam pad to your bike seat.
New Subject 13
If you could add any course to our nation’s school curriculum, what would it be?
Duct tape: Hate
finding your mailbox clogged with junk mail, advertising circulars, and bills?
Duct tape you mailbox shut.
Fortune Cookies 14
What thought or sentiment would you like to put in one million fortune cookies?
Duct Tape: Obliterate that blinking “
TV Commercials 15
Suppose you could eliminate TV commercials but still had to fill the time slots. What would you choose to replace the commercials?
Duct Tape: Make instant snow pants, cover kids’ old jeans from ankle to
waist with duct tape.
Discovery 16
If you could go back in time to witness any invention or discovery, what would you choose to see?
Duct tape; Reinforce broken candles with the silver-gray wonder roll. Adds a special aroma when the candles burn down to the tape.
Empty duct tape rolls also make decorative holders for extra-fat candles.
Paper Clip 17
Besides its intended purpose, what’s the most creative way you can think of to use a paper clip?
Duct Tape: Wrap
sticky-side out around your hand to pick up fuzz, lint, and pet hair from
clothing and furniture-also picks up small pets from clothing and furniture.
Swimming Pool 18
If you were given money to build the world’s greatest swimming pool, what would it be like?
Duct tape: Why spend
money on hair wax? It works wonders removing nose hair, plucking eyebrows, and
eliminating unsightly toe hair. OR SIMPLY cover toes to hide the hair and make
a fashion statement.
Mail 19
If you were a mail carrier what type of weather would bother you most?
Duct tape: stretch duct tape across the top of baby’s crib for a
webbing that keeps baby in place.
The New ZOO 20
You’ve been asked to design a zoological park for the future. How will you design this park to be radically different from zoos of today? Be specific.
A duct tape center spool taped to your dashboard makes a fine beverage
can holder. Cut a notch in the side to accommodate the handle of your favorite
coffee cup.
What’s on your
mind 21
The New Season 22
If you could somehow control the weather and add an additional season to the year, what would your new season be like?
Auto body repair in a roll-covered rust goes into
remission. Why not cover your entire car to rustproof? You’ll never have to wax
again.
Best Conversation
Piece 23
What do you think is the best conversation piece in your home?
Duct Tape: Holds translucent red plastic over broken taillight.
Truck 24
If you had a truck what item would normally be lugged around?
Duct tape: Tire repair (Multiple layers may be required)
Self Improvement
25
List and EXPLAIN at least one improvement you can make on your character.
Duct tape: With duct tape who needs luggage racks? Simply duct tape your luggage to your car.
Character 26
What character trait do you value most in other people? Please explain. Also, do you posses this character trait yourself?
Duct tape: Hold
grandpa upright in his chair. (this hint not endorsed
by AARP)
Smile
27
How important is a smile to you? Explain.
Duct tape: secure kids’ stocking caps to
their heads to avoid loss while sledding. Secure kids to sled to avoid loss
while sledding.
Teacher
28
Being realistic, if you were a teacher what would you do better
than most teachers?
Duct tape: Massage your feet while you walk; just tape olive pipts to the insoles of your shoes.
Act of Kindness 29
What is one act of kindness that you will make a commitment to demonstrate TODAY?
Duct tape: Trap mice the humane way- simply lay a strip of duct tape on the floor sticky side up, like fly paper. To be extra nice, leave mice a piece of cheese to nibble while they wait to be removed.
Receiving
an act of kindness 30
What is an Act of Kindness that you appreciate receiving?
Duct tape: Perma-fix
holes in heels of socks. Better yet, prevent holes by taping them right out of
the package.
Friend
31
Define the word “friend”
Hinge-o-matic-
duct tape makes a quick, inexpensive temporary replacement for worn or broken
hinges.
Excuse
32
So what is your excuse for not doing better in school?
Duct tape: hold back epidermal layers during
difficult surgical procedures.
Relax
33
If you had one hour each day to relax completely, what would you want to do for that hour?
Duct tape: Press-n-yank loose teeth from
their sockets. Remember to dry tooth thoroughly before applying tape.
Yacht
34
If you owned a yacht, what would you name it?
Duct tape; Cover birthmarks
You can also create temporary birthmarks:
simply stick tape on desired area, leave it on five to ten minutes, then rip it off quickly.
Income? 35
What do you consider the ideal household income for a family of four?
Duct tape: Repair power tool housing- keeps
the inside in and the outside out. Quite honestly, duct tape replaces most
power tools.
Course
36
What is the most interesting course you have ever taken in school?
Duct tape: Be kind to animals, tape corncobs
to trees for birds and squirrels. Or, tape birds and squirrels to trees for
dogs and cats.
New
Year’s 37
Tell me about your new year’s resolution.
Button
38
If you had to wear a button with a maximum of five words on it describing your outlook on life, what would your button say?
Duct tape: mend patio furniture, duct tape
is less expensive and stronger than that plastic webbing stuff they’re
originally made of.
Spelling
Bee 39
In a spelling bee, what word would you hope you would not have to spell?
Duct tape: seal packages with duct tape so
even the postal service won’t be able to damage the enclosed contents. Triple
taping your return merchandise also irritates mail-order vendors.
Masked
man 40
You are walking alone on a suburban street and a mask man confronts you and demands your money. It does not appear that he has a gun but you are not certain. How do you respond?
Duct tape: Removes scabs with ease.
Interesting
glasses 41
If you could invent a pair of glasses that would allow you to see abstract things (e.g. the motives behind someone’s actions) what would you want to see?
Duct tape: write a book about duct tape’s
many uses.
Coping
42
When something bad happens how do you cope or deal with the problem?
Duct tape: Keep those nasty feas and ticks from infesting your poor little puppy.
Encase your canine in a layer of fresh duct tape. Your pet will look quite
handsome and be flea-, tick-, and burr-free all summer.
Words
of Wisdom 43
I once heard this statement: “The sooner we realize that we will never satisfy our hunger for money, power, and happiness the sooner we can begin to live our lives.” In detail, what do you think about that statement?
Duct tape: Create-a-kayak, Duct tape over
the top of your canoe and cut a hole over the middle seat. Plus make authentic
kayaking oars by duct taping two canoe paddles handle-to-handle.
Going
the distance 44
What is the longest steady relationship you have had with a member of the opposite sex?
Duct tape: Can’t keep your tie from flailing
all over your chest? Use duct tape as a real invisible tie tack. Or, if you’re
a real Duct Tape Pro, duct tape around the entire tie and display your love of
the tape.
Worst
Injury 45
What was your worst injury you’ve had?
Duct tape: Having trouble learning a sport?
Duct tape yourself to the nearest professional
athlete. When it comes to learning, nothing beats hands-on experience.
Job
46
What are the three most frustrating aspects of your current job?
Duct tape: we’ve heard that increased band
width will speed delivery of the internet. So how about duct taping a bunch of
phone cords together to create a wider cable for your computer.
Speaking
47
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” *How good are you at restraining your tongue in moments of anger? Do you wait and cool down to make rational decisions?
Duct tape: Toilet seat too cold? Duct tape a couple of hot water bottles to it to keep each cheek from freezing. Or, duct tape Beanies to your seat for warm, fuzzy cushioned seat.
Good
Person 48
What is a good person?
Duct tape: Find the Depth of a lake by
attaching a rock to the end of a strip of duct tape on a roll. Then unwind the
tape until the rock hits the bottom of the lake.
CLASS
WRITE 49
So how is this class going? What are your thoughts?
Do you have any realistic suggestions?
Duct tape: Save gas by duct taping your car
to the bumper of another vechical. Of course, the
driver may get irritated at you for tailgating, and you are pretty much at
his/her mercy as to where you can go.
The
big 50
Make up your own question for me and then answer it for yourself.
P.s. How many of these do you think we will reach by the end of the year?
Duct tape: Kids duct tape your head,
sticky-side out. This will help all that information your teacher throws at you
to “stick to your head through a process similar to osmosis.