Triplets Too Here’s a second helping of a puzzle challenge I learned from the Thiagi  Group newsletter (see the complete details HERE). If you want the first helping, see my 2016 blog post HERE. 

Thiagi is well known for creating activity simulations to enhance learning experiences for corporate populations (the claim is, to stay sharp, he creates at least one new simulation a day!!). If you follow the link above you will see how he uses Triplets as a way to enhance a particular educational concept (As he states in the description of Triplets, “When you have solved all the triplets, make a word out of the first letters of the link words to discover the secret of effective training.) FUN stuff!
 
After learning about Triplets I came up with a more hands on version and made it a bit more challenging as well). In the PDF below you will find a set of eight Print-N-Play Triplets (24 Words) – the Triplet Words are in the fancy print. The last page of the document includes the “Link Words” (8 Words) - one Link Word will go with one set of (three) Triplet Words (I suggest you read Thiagi’s excellent description of Triplets play for a better understanding of this puzzle challenge).
 
Again, one of the Link Words will connect (either before of after) with three of the other words in the set (hence, Triplets). Look at the Triplet sets in the header graphic above. Can you figure out what "Link" word goes with each of the Triplet sets? (Find the answers in the Print-N-Play document.)
 
Here’s how I’ve used Triplets Too so far:

Moderate Challenge: Hand out the Triplet words evenly among your group of 10 to 14 players. Then hand out the link words – one each to eight different players (these players  can also be holding Triplet words). Ask the group to match the link words to each set of Triplets without any player ever being without a word in his/her possession. Also, I don’t let my group set down the words – all words have to stay in hands.
 
Tough Challenge: Only hand out the Triplet words. Have the group determine what Triplet words go together and what link word goes with each set of Triplets. Again, all words must stay in hands and everyone must have at least one word in hand at all times.
 
In Program Challenge: The group earns (in some way) the link words during program challenges – maybe they earn them all, maybe not. Then, at some point the group receives the Triplet words. They have ten minutes to put the Triplet sets together with a link word. Every correct set earns the group a “Pass” or “Redo” or “Mulligan” to use in future challenges. (For example, if someone touches the Spider Web on the way through the group can use one of their passes to void the touches.)

Here's the Print-N-Play document: 

Let me know how you use the Triplets. And, of course, share your Triplets Too sets with me and I’ll pass them along to the FUN Followers.
 
Have FUN out there!!
 
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Set Up: Put down your game spots (e.g., poly spots, index cards or carpet squares) as shown in the diagram above. The diagram is a set up for up to 24 players. The gray spots in the diagram indicate the "head" of the each line - you don't need to have different colored spots for the head of the line in your set up, I just need these in the diagram for my explanation. When setting up your spots include the same number of spots in each line. 

Before you're ready to start you also need to organize your cards. Consider that smaller cards will make the activity a bit more challenging. Larger cards will be a bit easier. Put all like ranks of cards together starting with the four Aces on top of the deck (face down), then the twos, threes, fours, and so on. Okay, your ready. 

Process: Gather your group together off to the side of the spot configuration you've set up. Hand out a playing card to each person in the group starting with the top of the deck (Aces, then twos, then threes and so on). Ask the players not to look at their cards just yet. 

When everyone has a card ask them to do a "blind shuffle" - exchange cards with five different people and then stop moving. Again, ask your participants not to look at their cards just yet. 

Now ask everyone to stand on one of the spots you've set out on the ground/floor - lines of people should have equal numbers, or no more or less than one. For example, lets say I set out my 24 spots on the ground and I only have 22 players. There should be two lines of six players and two lines of five players standing on spots - you don't want three lines of six players and one line of four players.

Objective: Each line of players will end up with the same suit of cards running in sequential order starting with the Ace at the head of the line (where all the lines meet) and ending with the highest card of the suit at the tail of the line.  

When the lines are all set, you're ready to play. Here are the rules you can share: 

• This will be a timed activity. Time starts when "GO!" is called and stops when all the cards are in the right order. 
• When "GO!" is called you may look at the card you are holding. 
  
• All players must have one foot on their spot during play (when time is running). Spots may not be moved. 
• A player may not have more than two cards in their possession at any time - one card in each hand. Two cards may not be held in one hand and it's okay not to have any cards in your possession.
• A card can be passed to a player in front of you or behind you if they have a free hand to accept a card. You may not skip over a player to pass a card to someone else in your line. 
• The players at the head of each line can pass a card to anyone at the head of another line if they have a free hand to accept a card. 
• Only the head of each line can pass a card to someone in another line - again, only the person at the head of each line.  
• When each player in every line is holding one, and only one, card and the cards in each line are the same suit and in sequential order from Ace to the highest card in the suit, time stops. 

So far I've tried Card Quad Jam with three different groups. Each time I let them make three attempts at their "best time". This one is bringing up behaviors similar to TP Shuffle and the Windmill activity (if you know that one from Affordable Portables). There tends to be less action at the ends of the lines and more chaos in the area were the lines come together. I'm seeing lots of possibilities for learning - leadership, planning, roles & responsibilities.... So far  a good paradigm shift can be when the group decides to step off of their spots and plan "together" instead of staying in the "linear" communication model. When they are ready everyone simply goes back to their spot so they can make an attempt. 

Let me know what you think!! Leave me a comment below. 

Have FUN out there!

Chris Cavert,, Ed.D.