Hidden Heroes is a fascinating interactive site that allows the user to create an exhibit of "ordinary" objects from among 40+ items available. Once items have been selected for an exhibit, the user can examine the items chosen to learn about their origins, unusual uses, and often about how they have been altered or improved upon over time. These "hidden heroes" run the gamut from chopsticks to lipsticks, and from flip-flops to bottle caps. It's fun to learn quirky facts about these everyday items, as well as learning about their inventors. Once students learn about the backgrounds of these simple objects, they might be challenged to come up with simple solutions to everyday 21st century problems. The site is available in German, Spanish, and Chinese as well as English.
courtesy of Knovation
