Purpose:
This creativity PET forces people to think about something familiar in a new way. Use Cognitivity to stimulate creativity, break paradigms, or to energize a group that has been analyzing a situation in depth and is burned out. Note: This PET can be the basis of an entire workshop if the purpose of the workshop is to generate new ideas. 
Objectives:
- To stimulate creativity by looking at something familiar in a new way.
- To open up new ways of thinking.
Do the following:
- Select an object that has a simple geometric shape: ball, cylinder, cone, etc. You can use any sized object. Examples are: a role of tape, a glue stick, or a small cardboard box.
- Hand the object to the first person.
- Explain the rules:
- The shape remains the same, but it can be any size, color, material, solid or hollow.
- Each person has to say one idea about the shape - how it can be used.
- Record the ideas on a flip chart in two columns: New and Old.
- Old ideas are things that already exist in that shape - example: a cone represents an ice cream cone.
- New ideas are new uses for that shape - example: a cone can be a new shape for soft drinks - the tip replaces the need for a straw.
- Record the ideas on a flip chart in two columns: New and Old.
- In order for a new idea to be recorded, the person must present at least one advantage, as in the example above.
- Explain the rules:
- Pass the object around to the next person until all have participated.
- After one go-around, you can:
- Continue if the people want to continue.
- Reflect on the change in energy of the group if you are using this to energize the group and use the new energy to better accomplish the task.
- After one go-around, you can:
- Repeat the PET, only this time; replace the object with what they are struggling with. At the end, discuss the new ideas in detail. These become possible solutions.
Debriefing Questions:
- What did you learn about the topic that you didn't know before?
- Are there any surprises? What are they?
