Teacher guide · Creative Lab · Harder · about 35 min

🧦 100 Uses for a Sock

Pupils practise creativity through "100 Uses for a Sock": How many wild ideas can you find for one ordinary thing?

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🧦 mission title and read the opening: "Pick your ordinary object.". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Pixel the Fox's line as your prompt: "Nice! That's an idea nobody else had."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 5 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used creativity today.

What was the hardest choice in "100 Uses for a Sock", and why?
Pick your ordinary object — explain your reasoning to a partner.
List 5 normal uses for it — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Now list 5 SILLY uses. The sillier the better — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use creativity outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Set the Challenge tier (1 extra steps) and ask pupils to justify every answer in writing.

National Curriculum: English: composition — planning and drafting ideas (KS1/KS2)
National Curriculum: Design & Technology: generate, develop and communicate ideas
PSHE: Health & wellbeing: self-concept, strengths and interests

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Pick your ordinary object.
☐ A sock
☐ A paperclip
☐ A cardboard box
☐ A spoon
2. List 5 normal uses for it.
3. Now list 5 SILLY uses. The sillier the better.
4. Combine it with another object. What new invention do you get?
5. Which idea are you proudest of?
☐ The silliest one
☐ The most useful one
☐ The one nobody else would think of