A student is instructed to collect 20-50 small objects from an unfamiliar place like an attic or garden shed. The student then takes photographs of the collected objects and considers how to sort and organize them, looking for connections between the objects and clues about the environment or historical context. The student documents their collection through other mediums like sculptures or drawings, transforming it based on the work of artists like Mark Dion and Lisa Milroy who create cabinets of curiosity.