Perplexity is the goal of engagement. We can go ten rounds debating eggs, broccoli, or candy bars. What matters most is the question, “Is the student perplexed?” Our goal is to induce in the student a perplexed, curious state, a question in her head that math can help answer.

via dy/dan » Blog Archive » Ten Design Principles For Engaging Math Tasks.

For me, that question is simply: “How does this work?”

But I have to figure out a couple of better ones.  Right now, I’m building wind chimes, building rooms in Google Sketch Up, constructing an Art Car and maybe assembling a few tables.  I know, deep in my soul, the hands engage the mind which engage the heart – but how do I make students perplexed?

Make it safe & keep the rubber side down.