Object: A pole about four feet long with a nylon rope attached to one end. The other end of the rope has a cat toy tied to it.

Lesson: Trust; problem solving.

"Would one of you hold this for me?" I extend a long plastic pole with a nylon line tied to one end. Something that looks rather like a rabbit's foot is tied to the end of the line. "What do you think this is?" I ask the fascinated children.

"A fishing pole!" comes their immediate response.

"Yes, a fishing pole. But it looks a little different than most fishing poles I've ever seen. What do you think I might fish for with this one?"

"A rabbit?" Obviously Maria has noticed the fake-fur item tied to the end of the line.

"Well, no, not a rabbit. But that's a close guess."

"Something blind?" That was certainly an intriguing idea. …