Finding Hope in Kansas. Falling Off the Map.

Today I did a project with the kids that involved Google maps.
And I'm looking at this map and I see Kansas.
"Look," I said,"Kansas."
This was a non sequiter, which is kind of taboo in Education, which is one of the reasons for creativity decay.
"You know, I have entire weeks where I forget Kansas exists. Then I'll be looking at a map and--Bam!--there's Kansas."
They laughed. And we took a break from creating screen shots and making them into .jpgs and talked about Random Kansas facts.
I told my students that their ability to step up with Random Kansas facts on demand was an example of critical thinking in action, and everyone got a million points and was merry and productive for the rest of the period.
Just when I think I've fallen off the map, it turns out that I actually never left it and it didn't stop.
There's no place like falling off the map.
Kansas.