Last week I posted an activity (Consensus Line Ups) that works well with smaller groups. Here's another one that works with smaller groups of six to eight participants. Now, with that said, you could divide a larger group (say 50 people) into smaller groups of six to eight to play this one. Then, challenge all the groups in play to "merge" their small group puzzles together into one massive puzzle without changing any of the small group puzzle words.
The overall idea of Name Letter Opener, for me, is to emphasize that individuals bring different "resources" (metaphorically the letters in their name) to a group. These resources can be used in a variety of different ways to help each other move through challenges together. Before you read through the activity description below, jump down to the Discussion Questions to see what destinations for which you can be aiming.
Needs: Get a bunch of 3 x 5 Index Cards and some fun colorful markers. You'll need to cut each index card in half before the activity. (Every participant in the group will be writing their first name using these half index cards – each letter of a name will be written on a separate half index card. So, plan to have enough for all the letters in everyone’s first name. Get some help cutting if there are a lot of names!!)
Numbers: Plays well with six to eight in a group. (Multiple groups can play at the same time.)
Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Process: You’ll want to play this one at a table or a comfortable place on the floor. Give everyone enough half index cards so they can spell out their first name – one half index card for each letter of their name. For example, if someone is spelling out Linda, she needs five index cards. Peter needs five index cards as well. Michael will need seven. (You get the idea!) Ask everyone to print out their letters with the half index cards in 'portrait' mode (see graphic above) so they will be able to work with the puzzle challenge a bit easier. NOTE: If someone has a given name like Christopher, he can use 10 index cards or go with five for Chris.
When all the cards are ready, challenge the group to create a 'scrabble-like' puzzle using all the half index card letters they have created. Scrabble rules apply: No proper nouns (things that are capitalized), no abbreviations and no acronyms. Words are spelled left to right or top to bottom and all words formed, after the first word, must be connected to at least one other word in the puzzle.
After the group has successfully created their puzzle you can stop at that point and move into some of the discussion questions below. If you have more time continue the challenge. Write down the words that were used in the first puzzle. Now, challenge the group to create a different puzzle without using any of the words they used in the first puzzle. If the group can create a second, can they create a third puzzle without using any words from the first or second puzzle? How far can their resources take them?
Discussion Questions:
Numbers: Plays well with six to eight in a group. (Multiple groups can play at the same time.)
Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Process: You’ll want to play this one at a table or a comfortable place on the floor. Give everyone enough half index cards so they can spell out their first name – one half index card for each letter of their name. For example, if someone is spelling out Linda, she needs five index cards. Peter needs five index cards as well. Michael will need seven. (You get the idea!) Ask everyone to print out their letters with the half index cards in 'portrait' mode (see graphic above) so they will be able to work with the puzzle challenge a bit easier. NOTE: If someone has a given name like Christopher, he can use 10 index cards or go with five for Chris.
When all the cards are ready, challenge the group to create a 'scrabble-like' puzzle using all the half index card letters they have created. Scrabble rules apply: No proper nouns (things that are capitalized), no abbreviations and no acronyms. Words are spelled left to right or top to bottom and all words formed, after the first word, must be connected to at least one other word in the puzzle.
After the group has successfully created their puzzle you can stop at that point and move into some of the discussion questions below. If you have more time continue the challenge. Write down the words that were used in the first puzzle. Now, challenge the group to create a different puzzle without using any of the words they used in the first puzzle. If the group can create a second, can they create a third puzzle without using any words from the first or second puzzle? How far can their resources take them?
Discussion Questions:
- (Frontloading) As you see the names spelled out in front of everyone, what do you see? What else do you see? What else do you see? (Dig deeper into this as much as appropriate.)
- What do the cards represent to you? (Before and after the activity)
- Find the letters of your name (after the puzzle is completed). How many different “words” are you a part of? What does that mean to you?
- What were you thinking when you were challenged to make a different puzzle? How did you “enter into” the challenge?
- With the resources you have at your disposal, what is possible for you?
As noted above, if you have a larger group of people, divide them into smaller groups of six to eight players. Have each group work through the process above on their own. Then, bring everyone back together, when appropriate, and challenge them to merge all the small group puzzles into one big puzzle without changing any of the words in any of the puzzles.
Have FUN out there my friends. Keep me posted.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
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