Category: Puzzles

ICON Circle Puzzles (mini kit 3)

6/23/2024

ICON Circle Puzzles are the second evolution of Word Circle Puzzles (the first evolution was Picture Word Circle Puzzles).

On a recent flight back from a summer camp training, I was motivated to find another ICON puzzle to add more to our set of challenging options when showing this version. I also found another 8-ICON puzzle from a virtual training. So now, our Puzzles sizes, with these two, now include: two 8-card puzzles, a 9-card, a 10 card, a 12-card, and a 13-card.) This third Mini Kit has another 8-card and a 12-card, as well as another HELP Cards page. As I've shared before, I like to print the HELP cards on green colored paper so I can easily identify them in the crowd (of course, the ICON cards are not printed on green paper).

For Your Reference:

ICON Circle Puzzles Mini Kit 1 - this first post has the play details and Word Circle Puzzles links, as well as a link to the second evolution of circle puzzles - Picture Circle Puzzles.
ICON Circle Puzzles Mini Kit 2 - two more ICON puzzles and link suggestions to more of the traditional Word Circle Puzzles.
TheNounProject - This is where I get my ICONS (free for some of the ICONS, pay $40/year for unlimited).
Circle Puzzles Print-N-Play Kits - Check out the Circle Puzzles Kits, both Word and Picture Word Circles Kits at the FUNdoing store. PDF downloads ready to print and play!

ICON circle Puzzles – Kit 3

iconwordcirclepuzzles_set3_kit.pdf
File Size:	336 kb
File Type:	pdf

Have fun out there!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Double-Sided Word/Picture Circle Puzzle (Print-N-Play Share)

3/1/2024

Here's a quick share from my friends Jon and Brandon. Thanks Guys!

They created this combo-circle puzzle to use during their table top teambuilding programs. There is a 13-word circle puzzle on one side of the cards (along with a direction card), and a 14-picture circle puzzle on the other side. Jon told me they designed the puzzle this way to manage the 'solving time' issue. (If you don't know about Circles Puzzles, there are links below to get you started.)

When working with a lot of table groups, I, for one, have told groups to call me over to check their puzzle solution and then I would give them another puzzle. Often times groups are waiting for me to check their puzzle so they can play again. To solve this wait, Jon and Brandon hand out this one puzzle, and when a group agrees to the solution of the word circle puzzle they simply turn over the cards and work on the picture word circle puzzle.

I was so excited about this new mental model I didn't ask Jon any questions (maybe he'll tell us more in the Comments). So, I'm guessing there will be some questions about the picture word circles, but walking around answering questions will go a lot faster than checking a puzzle answer. And, when I use this version, I will play until one table solves the picture puzzle, give everyone else 60 seconds to try and finish before I stop playing (or, I would stop playing when the allotted time was up – say, 20 minutes?

Here are some questions for you (and Jon and Brandon). Would you check the word circle puzzle before table groups move on to the picture circle puzzle? Is it necessary in relation to the purpose of the activity? What is the purpose of the activity? What can groups learn from it? What about giving hints? Would you give groups hints and will they keep the hints to themselves?

Don't know about Word Circle Puzzles and Picture Word Circle Puzzles? Check THIS post and THIS post. And, use the 'Search' feature on this page – type in Word Circle Puzzles to find lots of FREEbies.

Here's the PDF. Print the file 'double-sided' then cut and laminate for long-lasting fun.

word_picture_circles_jonbrandon.pdf
File Size:	3049 kb
File Type:	pdf

Answers? We're going to give you a couple weeks to work on puzzles. I'll bet you can figure them out!

Have fun out there!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

And So It Goes (Tabletop Tangram Teambuilding)

2/2/2024

Tangrams are my favorite brain-break (my wooden set is right behind me). Recently I was spicing up a tangrams activity and came up with this tabletop teambuilding experience for three to seven people around a table (of course you can have lots of tables in play at the same time). Let me know what you think about it – additions, variations, or other stories we could tell?

And So It Goes

Needs & Numbers: You'll need one traditional seven-piece tangram puzzle (seen above) for every three to seven players. You'll also need something to create the Frame for each group like a short rope (e.g., 5 feet) or some masking tape. Finally, you'll need one Story Sheet for each group (at right). You'll find this PDF download below.

Time: 15 to 20 minutes.

Set-Up:

This activity is designed to be played on a floor, table, or desktop.
Create a frame for the characters in the story using a short rope (shown above) or masking tape. The frame can be a square or a circle that has a diameter of about 18 inches.
Scatter the seven puzzle pieces around on the inside of the frame.
Your group(s) will be sitting around the frame close enough to reach in and move the pieces.

Directions:

Have the group(s) help set the Frame. Provide them with the materials (rope or tape) and the seven pieces of a Tangram puzzle.
Tell them the parameters of the frame (see Set-Up) and what to do with the pieces of the puzzle when the frame is complete – scatter them around inside the frame.
Hand them a copy of the story ‘And So It Goes’ (PDF Download below). Once it’s time to begin, each group, working independently, will read the story. When they come across a BOLD word, they are required to use all seven pieces of the puzzle, staying inside the frame, to build the character on the page the word is referring to.
Building: To build each character as it shows up in the story, participants take turns reaching into the frame to move one piece on their turn. Only one hand is allowed inside the frame at a time. When a participant is satisfied with how they have situated their piece, they remove their hand from the frame and may not reach in again until it’s their turn – everyone taking a first turn before anyone takes a second turn. Everyone takes a second turn before taking a third turn, and so on.
Once a character is complete, the story continues until the next character needs to be built. Participants take turns reading the story lines.
Participants are free to talk to each other as they see fit until they arrive at the horse and rider (Together) and the sleeping (laid to rest) characters – these two characters are built without talking. These characters are marked ‘Build Silently’ on the story sheet as a reminder.
If you need to, set a time limit (e.g., 15 minutes) to get as far into the story as they can. Or let the group(s) take as long as needed to get through the whole story. If more than one group is in play, you can limit the time by stopping everyone after one group finishes the story. (If you would like every group to finish their story, have a bunch of extra tangram puzzle cards to distribute that a group can work on while others are finishing – tell them about the 'Free for All' method described below to solve the puzzles.)
When you've answered all the group's questions that you can, let them get started.

Here's the Story:

andsoitgoes_tangrams_strorysheet_cavert.pdf
File Size:	322 kb
File Type:	pdf

Possible Reflection Questions:

When you found out what we were going to be doing, solving puzzles, what was your first reaction? Where do you think you acquired this response?
When it was your turn to move a piece, what do you remember thinking about?
How were you influenced by others when it was your turn to move a piece?
What part of the story resonated with you the most, and why?
Think about this for a moment before responding…what did it take from your group to solve the character puzzles? What did you do and say to be successful?
Think about the idea of diversity. How did your diversity play a part in this activity?
Was there any point during the story and building that diversity might have been a problem? What did you do about it? Is there something you want to do about it right now?

Ultimately, you’ll be solving a lot of puzzles in your life. What do you want to remember from this experience that might help you solve these everyday puzzles?
Let's take a moment to read the story again [read the story]. What does this story mean to you in relation to everyday life?

Variations:

Free for All Build: Use this with the story build (this version usually does not take as long) or use this after the story build when groups are working on additional tangram puzzle cards. When a group gets to the part in the story where there is a character to build, each person in the group can have one hand inside the frame at any time. So, together, they can be moving pieces around simultaneously until the character comes to life. This dynamic can lead to a wide-ranging discussion about the behaviors that took place. Some groups can be calm and end up taking turns. Other groups simply love the energy and chaos of all the hands building together.

Tangram puzzles can be pretty tricky. I love using them with groups to bring up the concept of perseverance. On that note, I'll give you a few answers. Your challenge is to figure out the other three. Get good at solving the tangrams you're presenting. Eventually, you get the knack of 'seeing' how the pieces work together.

Here's a traditional tangram puzzle template. Print it on card stock for a bit more durability – cut along all the black lines.

tangramstemplate_traditional.pdf
File Size:	262 kb
File Type:	pdf

Have FUN out there. Keep me posted!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Word Circle Puzzles: January 2024 (Print-N-Play)

1/19/2024

It's been a while since I've posted some Word Circle Puzzles. Here are a few newer ones and a Print-N-Play PDF of all three puzzles! (If you're new to Word Circle Puzzles, see more below for LOTS of details.

The Word Sets below are scrambled so you can take a little break for some synapse development. The 13er and 16er are a bit tricky. Don't forget your resources. (See the PDF download for the answers.)

10 Words: CRACK, EDGE, PUT, BEAT, POCKET, OFF, BACK, WISE, KNIFE, SHOT...
(2 - Word Combination Distractors)

13 Words: MAT, NEST, LIGHT, CALL, PLACE, END, WAITING, EAR, SOME, EGG, ROOM, UP, ROLL...
(4 - Word Combination Distractors)

16 Words: DOWN, PIKE, CONE, ADE, CHAIN, DRILL, KEY, LINE, CELL, LIE, LOAD, MASTER, STORM, BLOCK, STAR, STAFF...
(1 - Word Combination Distractor)

NOTE: There is one answer for sure (included in the download) – maybe more. If you can find the paired combination on the Internet you can use it. (I use the App WordBook to verify 98% of the combinations when I make the puzzles.)

Print-N-Play Word Circle Puzzles

fdblog_wcp_setc_jan24.pdf
File Size:	311 kb
File Type:	pdf

Here are a few FUNdoing posts with more WCP details:
Good Details and a Presentation Variation
January 2017
April 2019

And for TONS more, type 'Word Circle Puzzles' in the Search box above – presto!

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Rope Shape Challenges

9/15/2023

Identify Quick Challenge: 1 Pentagram, 2 Heptagrams, 1 Octagram, and 1 Nonagram.

I participated (and learned) Blind Polygon in 1991 at a Project Adventure training. We all donned blindfolds before our facilitator dropped a big pile of rope (tied at the ends) somewhere in the field of play. Our first task together was to find the rope (I don't remember out strategy). Once we found it the facilitator called out (two-dimensional) geometric shapes we were challenged to form - still blindfolded (e.g., rectangle, square, equilateral triangle). To this day I remember how focused I was at listening for someone to tell me what to do. It was, and still is, a great experience to open conversations about detailed communication, listening and leadership. (NOTE: A new preference to 'unsight' participants is to simply ask them to close their eyes. This adds to conversations about integrity, trust, and choice.)

In the mid-90s I participated in a workshop lead by Sam Sikes, author of Feeding the Zircon Gorilla and Other Team Building Activities (Sam and I have since written books together). At that workshop I learned 5-Pointed Star (pentagram). Groups of five to eight players are given a long activity rope (e.g., 50 feet) tied at the ends. The group starts in a circle formation holding the ropes in both hands - the circle of rope opened as large as possible. The task (challenge) is to form two-dimensional 5-pointed star (see diagram) without anyone completely letting go of the rope - a participant's hand(s) can slide along the rope.

It's a great cognitive challenge, bringing to the forefront participants who live more in their logical brain. (Over the years I added 'Shooting Start' after a group solved the puzzle - "How fast can you make the 5-pointed star?" Increased risk, clear roles and responsibilities, and competitive (lower the time). NOTE: To date I've clocked groups at under five seconds.

All that being said (and you know I love diving into "all that"), I'm now playing with other gram-shapes. The first new one I tried was this heptagram (at right). It has a wonderfully simple solution, just like the pentagram: From a (rope) circle the group moves to a figure eight, then folds over the figure eight and pulls the five points (pentagram). Look at the diagram of the heptagram and discover how you can 'unfold' the lines into a figure eight. (Pull down the top point or vertex.) The main difference will be the need for seven vertex's. So, play with a group of seven to nine participants.

The only other one I've tried is another version of a heptagram. This one took longer to solve and with all the crossing intersections our 50-foot rope shape got pretty small (tighter fit between players). When I try this one again, I'm going to go with a 100-foot rope (two 50-footers tied together). I'm guessing it will change the communication dynamics a bit?

While researching geometric shape names I came across a couple more I want to try. How about this octagram (right)? Again, with more vertex's, I'll use a longer rope (e.g., 75 to 100 feet). Thinking through - we'll need at least eight, no more than 10 participants. NOTE: When there are more people than vertex's the 'non-point' players find a place along a line to hold the rope. They need to understand their role and responsibility just like everyone else.

And then there's one I found I'm really excited to try - specifically when I have three groups working on the challenge. The Nonagram (I'm thinking of calling this the "No-Way-Nagram"). Each group has a 50-foot rope with nine to 12 participants. After giving the challenge (and a diagram of the nonagram), I'll let them work on it. Then, maybe 10 to 15 minutes in, I might drop some suggestions about collaborating with other groups. How they interpret collaboration is up to them.

Before reading on, can you see a super-easy solution (and maybe the only one), for the three groups to create the nonagram? (Pause for dramatic suspense....) Each group creates one triangle and then the three groups overlap the triangles. No-Way-Nagram!

Let me know what you think and tell me how it goes when you try these challenges! (I'm now working on the idea of three-dimensional rope shapes??)

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D

Word Circle Puzzles: Self-Guided

2/15/2023

(About a 7-minute read, but then there's a little work to be done.)

If you're a Word Circle Puzzler, you'll pick up on this 'self-guided' version quickly. If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles I suggest you, at least, jump over to the Silent Word Circle Puzzles: Variation FUNdoing Blog post to pick up the basics.

(If you get hooked and want to explore, work through the links below. You could also pick up the Print-n-Play Word Circle Puzzles Starter Kit at the FUNdoing store with 18 ready to print puzzles, 12 ways to use the puzzles during team building programs and detailed directions about everything Word Circles.)

Self-Guided Word Circles
I like to use this self-guided process with large groups (and it can be done with one small group as well). For example, say I have 118 participants. I ask them to get into groups of 9 or 10 people - no more, no less. Then I ask that every group send me one person to pick up their supplies "for the next activity."

Supplies: One Word Circle Puzzles kit for each small group (or grouplet). Each kit contains at least three Word Circle Puzzles sets and the self-guided directions sheet (PDF download below). So far I've used a small plastic bag to contain the puzzles sets and directions.

wcpuzzles_selfguidedhandout.pdf
File Size:	129 kb
File Type:	pdf

After the supply pick up, each person returns to their group. Someone in the group opens the kit, removes and reads the directions to their group and the adventure begins.

WC Puzzlers, that's all the info you need to carry on as long as you have some numbered puzzles ready to go.

Need Puzzles?
If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles I'm going to set you up with everything you need. Use the links below to access lots of free puzzles from previous FUNdoing Blog posts. When you get to the puzzles you'll need to make the sets. The easiest way to make your sets is to pick up some index cards (any size will work) in a variety of colors. Using a marker of your choice write out one puzzle per color and put the 'number' (of words in the puzzle) down in the bottom right corner. (Imagine the example in the header above is made with index cards.) Put three or four puzzles (of different lengths and colored index cards), into small zip lock bags and your kits are ready.

Answer Cards You will also need to make an answer card for each circle puzzle set. When groups believe they have the answer to a puzzle they will come to you for the answer card (as noted in the Directions handout).

If you have a bit more time to invest you can create a digital document of Word Circle Puzzles and then print, laminate and use over and over. (The Circle Puzzles Starter kit - mentioned above - has sets ready to print.)

There's a little leg-work up front, but then you're set to play for years and years!

Word Circle Puzzles on the FUNdoing Blog
Word Circle Puzzles: January 2013 (Need to figure out the Answers)
Word Circle Puzzles: June 2013 (What's Missing version)
Word Circle Puzzles: December 2013 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: June 2014 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: December 2014 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: July 2015 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: February 2016 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: January 2017 (Answers Provided)
Word Circle Puzzles: April 2019 (Answers Provided)

Advanced Circle Puzzles
Picture Word Circle Puzzles - Collaboration (Answer Provided in the Download)
ICON Circle Puzzle 1 (Answer Provided in Download)
ICON Circle Puzzle 2 (Answer Provided in Download)

Please reach out to me if you have questions.

Have FUN out there. Keep me posted!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Image Changing (with ZOOM or Image Cards)

1/27/2022

I tried this communication activity for the first time using the ZOOM Book pages (I do love ZOOM Book variations: ZOOM: On the Spot, ReZOOM the Order). NOTE: We're not talking ZOOM virtual meeting software. (Don't know about the ZOOM book team builder - GO HERE for the basics.)

This one can also be done (I'm imagining - since I haven't tried it yet) with any deck of image cards (e.g., Chiji Cards or Climer Cards). I've included the Frontloading for image cards after the ZOOM Book pages version.

I wanted a fairly quick activity to present to an adult group of 25 that could help me observe their initial behaviors around leadership and how the group communicated with each other - who was doing the talking and who wasn't. Another program objective (from the group) was to address how they handled change. Something the group members would be experience throughout their jobs. The long story short, we tried Image Changing.

Programming Note: Right now, I'm thinking this one, for the complexity desired, will work with 20 to 30 participants (there are 30 good usable pages in the ZOOM Book). I also believe we can go as young as 5th graders - I think they could do it if there are a few leaders in the group.

Directions Using ZOOM Book Pages

Prepare a sequence of ZOOM Book pages equal to the number of people in the group - each person will need a ZOOM Book page.
Shuffle up the pages. TIP: Wait until the last minute with your group to be sure you have the correct number of pages before you shuffle them up.
Deal out one page to each person with the image side down. Ask everyone not to look at the image on the page s/he is holding until instructed to do so.
Tell your group this activity will be played out in a number of different rounds. There will be quiet-shuffling rounds and talk-solving rounds.
The Objective: Solve the challenge within the time limit of a talk-solving round.
Tell the group: "The pages you have in your hands go into a particular sequential order. Your challenge is to put these pages into that order with each person in the group holding on to one page."
During a talk-solving round, participants can only look at the images on the pages of everyone else in the group - they may not look at the image on their own page.
Start out with a quiet-shuffle round. No one is allowed to speak during the quiet-shuffle round.
Ask everyone to move among the group and exchange their image page with five different people - still, no one looking at any of the image sides. After exchanging with five different people a person is required to stop moving.
It is okay to exchange more than five times. However, a person should stop moving after s/he has exchanged five times.
When everyone has stopped moving (they should not be in a circle if they followed the directions), the group will move into a talk-solving round.
When you say, "GO!" (you start your timer), the pages can then be held up so others can see the image sides. (Remember, a person may not look at her/his page image.)
A challenging talk-solving round is 60-seconds long. However, you can go longer (e.g., 90-seconds) if you believe it will benefit the group. (I'm thinking maybe younger groups get a bit more time.)
When the talk-solving round time is up, call, "Pages down." This means participants are required to again hold their pages with the image facing down towards the ground/floor.
At this time, you can call, "Quietly exchange your page with five different people and then stop moving."
When moving stops, you can go right to, "GO!" to start another talk-solving round.
This rotation between quiet-shuffling and talk-solving rounds continues until the challenge is solved.
When someone in the group states something like, "We got it!" during a talk-solving round, stop the time and check their result. If they got it, game over. Process the experience.
If they don't have it, start the time back up and say, "Not yet." Have them continue their work.

Using Image Cards
Preparation: When I end up trying Image Changing with image cards, I will pick out the images that are a bit easier to name versus the more esoteric cards - I think you'll know what I mean when you look at the image cards you have. A logical sequence will be alphabetical by the name of the image - if they choose this sequence. Have enough cards so each person in the group receives one.

Frontload

"The cards in your hands can be arranged in a logical sequential order - there will be a beginning and an end to the order. Your challenge is to find and then circle up in that order during a talk-solving round."

NOTE: This Frontload leaves it open for some creative sequencing. As noted above, alphabetical order is one possible sequence - which might be tricky with all the changing going on. What other possible sequences are there for the group to discover?

All the remaining directions above stay the same (I imagine?!).

What I Like About This One

It is ever-changing. What were the reactions to these changes?
How is time spent? Taking time to help everyone understand what is going on (being on the same page) versus always trying to be 'solving' is a great skill to practice. (Taking a breath.)
Leadership must emerge, as well as followership. Too many leaders might slow success.
Listening is vital to understand ones 'place' in the solution.
Helping and the willingness to accept help is necessary.
Sharing detailed information IS NOT always necessary. It might slow you down when you need to go fast.

Let us know in the Comments how this one goes. Especially if you try the image card version (we need some data).

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Collaboration with Picture Word Circle Puzzles (Reprise) Print-N-Play

9/30/2021

Back in December of 2016 I shared the first set of Picture Word Circle Puzzles (PWCP) and noted that I had yet to try them with a group. (You can find links to more information about Circle Puzzles at the 2016 post.) Fast forward almost 5 years now and I can tell you, this particular set of PWCP is one of my go-tos when I'm working with a group on collaborative behaviors. I've used this one with 8th graders on up.

When I first started using PWCP, I felt the need to show my groups how Word Circle Puzzles (WCP) worked (the first iteration of Circle Puzzles). We would play out one or two WCP as a big group, then I would divide the larger group into smaller groups of three or four participants to solve this picture puzzle. Recently, I've chosen to skip the WCP introduction, adding a little more challenge to the cognitive aspect of the task - struggling a bit with the big 'picture' so to speak.

Set Up and Play
Each group working around a table (or a group of desks) is ideal, but they can all work the cards around on the floor or ground if you don't have the table/desks option.

First you'll need to print out the PWCP (find the PDF download below). Each small group of three or four participants will need a puzzle (this puzzle includes 16 picture cards). NOTE: I laminate my puzzle cards for long term use. The card set also includes eight Help Cards.

Choosing the number of Help Cards to put in play will determine the level of challenge. If you put 12 Help Cards in play the puzzle will be pretty easy to solve - if the group collaborates by sharing information and not 'waisting' the Help. Putting 10 Help Cards in play is a little more challenging, groups have to make more educated guesses (ideally together,) and they can still collaborate without using Help Cards. Putting eight Help Cards in play makes it a pretty difficult challenge, but the puzzle can be solved if all the small groups work together by sharing information and strategically using Help Cards.

An Example of Play: Let's say you have 24 participants. You divide them into six groups of four and direct each group to move into an area away from other groups (separating the groups with some distance - when possible - is purposefully done so it's a bit more challenging to see and share information - look up 'activation energy' for some psychological connection.) You give each group the Picture Word Circle Puzzle saying:

"I'm now going to give each group a puzzle to solve. Each puzzle has a set of pictures. Your objective is to first name each picture using one word. Then, figure out how to connect each word, picture card, with another word, picture card, so that all the picture card words form one circle of connections. For example....." (If needed, you'll want to do a little research on Word Circle Puzzles in order to explain how to describe the process - intro info to Word Circle Puzzles is HERE. BTW: There are TONS of FREE Word Circle Puzzles at the FUNdoing Blog - use the Search feature - put in Word Circle Puzzles - to find them.)

You've decided to use 10 Help Cards - five of each kind (see the header picture above for the two kinds). You distribute two Help Cards to four groups and one Help card to the remaining two groups (the distribution of resources is not always 'fair'). Explain that the groups can use the Help Cards to ask you the question on each card at any time during the challenge.

Be sure to provide time for the groups to ask you confirming and clarifying questions before getting started. Be careful not to solve any problems for them at the onset. You can use my favorite response when appropriate, "I'll leave that up to the group to decide." If they ask the 'Golden Question' right off the bat, they're ahead of the game: "Can the small groups work together on this?" I respond, "That is not against any of the rules."

Be sure to set a time limit for the task to add a little pressure. I believe it can be solved in five minutes or less if all groups work together and share resources. However, I've yet to see this occur. Giving them 20 minutes is a good length of time to pull out a lot of learnings.

A Nudge
Solving this Picture Word Circle Puzzle is very difficult without 'Help' or sharing ideas with other groups. I'm still fascinated by the resistance of the participants to use their resources in order to move ahead. The resistance to working together with others is fairly common in team building activities when there is a perceived notion of competition - we see it all the time.

This leads me to a tool I use as an educator whenever the groups are still struggling after 15 minutes of working on the task and have yet to share ideas with any of the other groups. I take a countdown 'time-break' to get their attention. I ask a few questions about how it's going, what's working, what isn't. Then, I start up the time again and share, "You are all working on the same puzzle." Sometimes this turns on lightbulbs, other times it doesn't.

Processing
As always, be observant of behaviors and make note of the questions related to the groups' behaviors. Here are some that always seem to surface for me:

What were the resources available to you during the task?
How well did you utilize the resources you knew about?
How long did it take you to utilize your resources?
What prevented you from using your resources?
Once you heard you were working on the same puzzle, what, if anything, changed?
What advice do you hear about on a regular basis? Who gives you this advice? What influences your decision to follow, or not follow, someone's advice?
What resources in your life are useful to you right now? Which ones are you not using? What resources might you be overlooking?

Extension
Here's something I'd like to try in the near future. After the groups have gone through an enlightening processing session over this first Picture Word Circle Puzzle (??!!), I want to give them another attempt. I'll set up the same task, in the same way, with a different Picture Puzzle. Will they use their recently acquired information/knowledge to successfully complete the task in less time? (Want to try it? You can find the Picture Word Circle Puzzles Kit, with six more Picture Puzzles at the FUNdoing Store. Let us know how it goes.)

Here's The First-Ever Picture Word Circle Puzzle:

picturewordcirclepuzzle_set1.pdf
File Size:	6000 kb
File Type:	pdf

All the best!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Quadistinctions (with Playing Cards & Chiji Cards)

6/18/2021

In one of my recent FUNdoing Fridays emails I shared a link to a Free Experiential Learning Manual from RSVP Designs (free as in, give them your email free - but I like this group, fantastic tools for team building). I recommend the manual as a useful tool for training new team building staff.

As I often do during my activity searches, I took an image capture of an activity shared in the manual in order to explore the idea at a different time. They call it, Making Novel Connections - an exercise in creative thinking (I'm calling it Quadistinctions). When I went back to explore, playing cards and Chiji (Image) Cards jumped to the front of the line. Here are the first several pieces of information for the activity from RSVP:

Take a pack of assorted picture cards that is divisible by 4 - we suggest a pack of 32 to 48 cards.
Lay the cards out on the table and ask the learners to sort them into sets of 4. Each set of 4 must have something that connects all the cards (e.g., animals)
The task is easy to begin with but becomes more difficult as fewer cards remain. It may be necessary to break up existing sets in order to fit existing images into sets.
Insist that the group's members 'force' all cards into sets of 4.
You can share that finding novel connections is a key skill when it comes to creative thinking.

NOTE: There are some other educational points shared in the manual if you want to dive in deeper.

Okay. I love the simplicity of the exercise. It's a good one for small groups (and larger groups divided into smaller groups - How will the different groups approach the problem and will answers be the same or different, or both?). It's nice for quiet cognitive engagement and can certainly be considered problem solving.

Now, since a deck of Chiji Cards has 48 images, I was ready to try it out (my 'out'come is below). However, since more team builders have access to playing cards I thought I'd try them first. Here's my thinking/idea right now (help me sort it out):

Quadistinctions with Playing Cards
NOTE: This is a different approach to the challenge suggested by RSVP Designs.

Give each group (of 3 to 5 learners) a set of playing cards that include the Aces through the eights (put aside the nines through Kings).
Challenge the group to discover the 12 different 'distinct' groupings (all cards organized into sets of 4 cards meeting the distinction) on the Master List (below).
The distinctions for the groupings must be 'arguable' - groupings that are clear and obvious (you, as the facilitator may need to explain your expectations when necessary).
After forming the sets of 4 to make the distinction, groups may not use these formed sets as another distinction - may not name the formed sets more than one thing.
If a clear and obvious distinction is discovered by a group, one that is not on the list, it can be written onto the list and categorized as a 'creative discovery' - but will not count towards completing the challenge.
Be sure to set a time limit for the challenge (e.g., 20 minutes) or end it when one group finds all 12 distinctions.

As with any Beta testing, let me know how this works for you. And let me know if you have any questions about the distinctions I've come up with (some might not make sense or could be the same as another distinction). Here's the Master List (so far):

quadistinctions_playingcards.pdf
File Size:	29 kb
File Type:	pdf

Quadistinctions with Chiji Cards
Well, I gave myself 30 minutes for my first attempt with Chiji Cards following the RSVP Directions for Image Cards. I almost made it...I'll be making another attempt soon. Here's what I came up with creating 11 out of the possible 12 sets of 4...

I would be super-excited to find out about your success - with whatever deck of image cards you have available. (The next deck I'm going to try is Climer Cards.) Send your discovery to [email protected] Thank you in advance!!

Have fun out there my friend!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

The Bank Robbery - A Who Done It? Challenge (Print-N-Play)

6/5/2021

Here's another fun share from Karen Whittaker. (THANKS Karen!) She shared this one with me a while back as a Virtual problem solving challenge. Now that we are starting to meet face-to-face again with groups, I thought I'd get this to you ready to print, cut and play.

Karen developed this deductive challenge for up to 13 participants (there are 13 clue(s) cards to cut out). (Another good small group team building activity.) I also made another level of challenge for us. Karen numbered the clues cards. If read in order it's a little easier to follow the story/facts in chronological order. I took the numbers off the clue cards for another level of challenge - groups will need to sort out some of the chronological details. (So, there is a numbered version and an unnumbered version below.)

I'd say, this challenge is good for older middle school age and up. Again, for up to 13 participants. If you are working with larger groups, divide them up into smaller groups - each group getting a set of 13 clues cards. I wonder if they will collaborate?

NOTE: If you want to attempt to solve the crime, know that the Answer is on the final page of each PDF document.

bankrobbery_whodoneit_numbers_kwhittaker.pdf
File Size:	70 kb
File Type:	pdf

bankrobbery_whodoneit_nonumbers_kwhittaker.pdf
File Size:	68 kb
File Type:	pdf

If you try this one out, do let us know how it goes - we love feedback. Leave a Comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.