What We Keep

A way to understand ourselves and others can easily be seen through the things we hold closest to us. Throughout this lesson and challenge, we will uncover the things that we hold on to--what they are, why they mean so much, and how the stories relate to them. And once we've finished examining the things we hold dear, we will explore what others hold dear, as well.

Try New Things

Asking questions, making connections, and trying new things are the essence of this science of human beings. But I have found them to be much more than that. They are also the foundation for being the best human you can be.

- Dr. Michael Wesch

Exploring the Stories

Authors Bill Shapiro and Naomi Wax created the book "What We Keep: 150 People Share the One Object That Brings Them Joy, Magic, and Meaning" based on the idea of exploring why people hold on to certain things and its value to their own personal stories, beliefs, values, and identities.

They wondered why they still held on to a pair of shredded blue jeans from high school....or why they still had a hitchhiking sign from a trip to Germany years ago....or leftover concert stubs from 30 years in the past.

As the authors became curious about their own stories, they wondered about the objects that others kept over the years. Check out some of the stories collected from their journey as researchers. Click on the picture to access the full story.

Exploring Our own objects

Using your Writer's Notebook (in your Google Drive or spiral notebook), create a list of objects that you would consider to be treasured items. In addition to this list, jot/brainstorm/think about the untold stories behind those objects. While the above writing showcases full narratives around objects, think about this writing exercise as a brainstorm - use keywords and bullet points to help with your thinking.

Use the example table below to help you formulate your thoughts for this part of the lesson. Try to outline at least 5 objects and use the above examples to think about those specific objects that create such personal meaning.

Exploring talking to others

For this part of the lesson, check out the TED Talk "Why You Should Talk to Strangers" by Kio Stark. For your challenge work, you'll not only be responsible for narrating your own personal objects and untold stories but you'll also have to go out into the world to listen to someone else's story as well.

Using your Writer's Notebook (spiral notebook), jot down some thinking points from the TED talk. I recommend using a 3-2-1 strategy....3 big ideas, 2 takeaways that mean something to you, and 1 question you still have as a result of watching this speaker.

The object YOU keep

Go back to your brainstorm list from Part 2. Review your list and choose the one object that holds the most meaning to you. Remember this meaning could come in the form of memories of others, personal places/moments/milestones that speak to your identity, connect you with your talents/capabilities, or even the best you've seen in others.

Once you've identified your object, construct your story. At this point, you have some prewriting created around your object but you haven't told your story connected to your object yet. Use the stories from Part 1 as a mentor text to your writing. Formulate this writing in your Writer's Notebook (spiral notebook).

Writing tips:

Try using a tablet or phone as a recording device. Many of the stories constructed above in the Lesson come from informal conversations and interviews. Why not interview yourself? Use the recording devices to record your thoughts and then go back and listen to your story. From that recording, formulate your story into written words.

Think about the questions the authors of "What We Keep" would have to use in order to get others to tell the stories about their objects.
- What object brings you the most joy? or creates the most meaning?
- Why is this object significant? What's the story of your object?
- How does this object connect to you personally? For example, does it remind you of something/someone?

Use some sentence starters to help build your personal narrative:
- The object that means the most to me is...
- I selected this object because....
- The unique story behind this object starts with...and then...and finally...
- This object reminds me of...or This object reminds me that...

Need help structuring your writing? Click here for a writing graphic organizer

Authentic Photography

One of the things that makes this experience so unique is that all of the storytellers in the "What We Keep" book also take their own photographs of their personal objects. Using your object, create an authentic photograph that shows your object in a unique way. Add this photograph to your narrative created in Part 4.

Video resource from

Reuters' photographer, Damir Sagoli

Photography tips:

While Reuters Photographer, Damir Sagolj, provides helpful insight to the storytelling process, he does talk about photography on a global level. As you view the resource to the left, focus on the images he has been able to take and how any of his specific tips can help you shape your work.

These tips include:

Play and Shoot: Play around with picture taking, using different angles and positions

Research and Plan: Similar to your Prewriting Part 1, research and understand the meaning of your photos.

Reach Out: Allow others to help formulate your pictures

Prioritize: Again, think back to your Prewriting Part 1 as a path to help your focus

Practice: Practice taking several photos around the specific photos you want to capture.

Interact: Seek feedback on the photos you're collecting

Be Invisible: To capture true candids, conceal yourself

Interviews + Objects

Using steps 1 and 2 from this challenge, go speak to someone about his/her/their treasured object. As you seek people to talk to in our community, be mindful that they may not have their specific object with them at the time of the interview. You may want to ask about the objects they have with them currently (like carrying with them in the moment) that bring them joy OR you may want to use something that represents the object (stock image, etc.)

What you'll need to do:

Find someone you would consider a stranger - *meaning you don't know them very well; and, they are NOT in our school buildings
Use the questions from step 1 "Writing Tips" to talk to this person
Take pictures of your person and the object - *remember to ask for permission before doing this
Listen and collect the stories that come with the person and object *I would recommend using a recording device so you can listen to the interview later
Create a personal narrative similar to your own narrative about this person's object. Include the photograph of the object as well.

Need help structuring your writing? Click here for a writing graphic organizer

Publishing Your own Pages

Using a publishing tool like Canva, create your own pages that represent your personal narrative around your object as well as the narrative you created when speaking to your stranger. I would recommend using templates from Posters, Newsletters, or Flyers to help give the same look and feel of our mentor text.

Remember, you'll be creating 2 pages on Canva:

Your page will show your object using authentic photography and your personal narrative writing to capture the untold stories of your object.
Your stranger's page will have the same look and feel of your page - the picture of the object as well as the narrative that captures the meaning behind the object. You may also want to include a picture of the person the object belongs to as a way to give credit to the storyteller.

Once you're finished with your Canva creations, email your 2 pages to Mrs. Bonner (bonners@husd4.org) as we'll be creating our own "What We Keep" book...the Heyworth edition!

Submitting your work

In addition to emailing Mrs. Bonner, it's important that you publish your challenge to your Student Blog page. You can either screen shot your writings and add them to your page or you can simply link your work (*remember to check your link to make sure it works for others to access!)

Along with your pages, construct a 1-2 paragraph reflection that addresses the following questions:

What are the BIG discoveries you made as a result of this experience?
How did your experience connect to asking questions, making connections, and trying new things?
How did your experience impact your thinking moving forward?

Unit 2