Learning Environment: What items or objects promote curiosity, conversations, and creative learning in a classroom?

      I recently read a blog on Edutopia- http://www.edutopia.org/blog/does-your-classroom-tell-story-stacey-goodman, about what items or objects teachers have in their classrooms that promote
curiosity, spark conversations, and encourage student's to be creative thinkers.  The most wonderful part about the post, besides all the wonderful ideas, is that it points out that there should be objects/items in your classroom that are not so obvious, thus helping the teacher to reach his/her student's in unexpected ways, as well as, creating a learning environment where the student's are learning but they don't even realize that they are learning.
      One interesting post was about getting to know your students better by offering them the option of "show and tell" ANYTIME they want.
      Does anyone remember doing "show and tell" in school? I remember it was a certain day, at a certain time, and everyone had to participate! One right after another, we would all stand up in front of the class, talk about what we brought for less than five minutes, and then sit down. I don't really remember ever taking the time to have a discussion about what we brought or to answer questions from fellow students. Also, I seem to remember that there was lots of anxiety from most students about what to bring because if it wasn't "cool" then you would probably be laughed at (I attended a K-8 school in a small, rural community). What a blow to your confidence and self-efficacy! I think I remember that there was one student that always forgot to bring something and would end up choosing something from their desk to show, which would always bring laughter from fellow students (the student enjoyed that attention). In other words, for some students (not many), it was a time to show the class something that truly interested them and that they felt passionate about and for others, it was just a time to goof off.
       What a wonderful and creative idea to offer "show and tell" anytime student's want! The teacher states that they would stop whatever they were doing and give the platform over to the student who wanted to show and tell. What a sense of empowerment and a great boost to your confidence, knowing that the teacher really wants to know about your interests that they would stop a lesson to listen to what you have to say about something that interests you! In my opinion, it truly is a great way to get to know your student's better!