During an AEE conference (The Association for Experiential Education) someone asked if I've ever created a Word Circle Puzzle set using only pictures. I had to say no, but accepted the challenge! (I can't remember who asked the question, but I do want to say THANK YOU for the idea). 

So, here it is friends. As far as I know, this (PDF Print-N-Play below) is the first Picture Word Circle Puzzle Set. Now, you will notice some pictures are pretty straight forward (like the ones in the header picture above), others will lend themselves to more subjectivity. I'm assuming the picture versions of WC Puzzles will have a bit more challenge to them. With this in mind you will find eight Help Cards included with the set your group can use for assistance if needed (the cards indicate what kind of help they can ask of you). 

​Full disclosure. I have yet to try out the set with a group (I intended to the other day but my group wasn't ready for the challenge). Let's test them out together. 

​If you have no idea what I'm talking about (new to Word Circle Puzzles?) you'll need to do a little homework. Here are two blog posts - one HERE and another HERE - that should give you the idea. The puzzles in these posts are traditionally made up of words that connect together to form a circle. 

​Here it is. The first Picture Word Circle Puzzle Set: ​

Triplets Too Here’s a puzzle challenge I learned from the Thiagi  Group newsletter (see the complete details HERE). Thiagi is very (very) 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!
 
As many of you know, I can’t leave well enough alone. So I came up with a way to get more hands on the Triplets (and make it a bit more challenging as well). Attached (below) you will find a set of eight Print-N-Play Triplets (24 Words) – the Triplets are in the fancy print. The last page of the document includes the “Link Words” (8 Words) for each of the Triplets (I suggest you read Thiagi’s excellent description of Triplet play for a better understanding of this puzzle challenge).
 
Basically, 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 Triplets in the header graphic above. Can you figure out what word goes with each of the Triplet sets? (Find the answers in the Print-N-Play document.)
 
Here’s how I’ve used my set of 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 what other ways you come up with to use the Triplets. And, of course, share your Triplet sets with me and I’ll pass them along to the FUN Followers.
 
Have FUN out there!!
 
Chris Cavert, Ed.D. ​

Here are a few puzzles to add to your collection. Or, your "Table of Torture" as Sam Sikes likes to call his collection of puzzles. Sam puts out his puzzles on a table for his participants to tackle before his program starts (the "soft" start) and during program breaks. In a programming sense, puzzles can provide another level of challenge and they also bring people together during down times (and of course they are fun to solve!). 

I've been using puzzles more and more lately with some of the (respectfully) competitive programs I've been leading for Group Dynamix (I'm one of their contract facilitators - we run Team Olympix events for groups that want a more competitive experience). Puzzles are a nice complement to the more physical challenges - reaching different learning styles or "kinds of smarts." 

Scramble Cards This Puzzling post was inspired by my last post - Name Card Scramble. After saving the cards from a few programs I realized I had a great set of puzzle cards (some of my participants were even able to anagram their name - so cool!). On the back of each scrambled name card I wrote the "name-answer" using a yellow highlighter so it would not be easily seen through the front of the card. A group working together (or an individual) can self check their guess/answer by flipping the card over. Score each correct answer OR time how long it takes to guess all the scrambled names - add five seconds to the overall time for each incorrect answer. Here's a little list for you to work with if you want to make a quick set of (index) cards to try out (spoiler alert - answers are below): 

1. Warned
2. Kyceb
3. Hrsic 
4. Bybed
5. Nave
6. Krafn
7. Riagoeg
8. Theehar 
9. Vani
10. Fienjern
11. Nivke
12. Araul

(How long did it take you to recognize the pattern? What name were you on when it clicked?)
(Answers: 1. Andrew, 2. Becky, 3. Chris, 4. Debby, 5. Evan, 6. Frank, 7. Georgia, 8. Heather, 9. Ivan, 10. Jennifer, 11. Kevin, 12. Laura) 

The "T" Puzzle If you are a Tangram fan (and haven't seen this one), you'll like the T. It's easy to make (paper or wood) but tricky to solve. And, like Tangrams, you can create a bunch of other shapes/images with the pieces. I like to give points (e.g., 50) to my groups for solving the "T" and then (e.g., 10) points for each of the shapes they can solve from the (self-scored) handout I provide. Here's a GREAT PDF from WoodPuzzles.com that includes a nice handout. (If you search "T Puzzle" in Google Images there are a few patterns you can download for cutting assistance.) 

Word Games and Puzzles by Joan Acosta (from bestofthereader.ca). I've been getting some great milage from this PDF BOOK. Easy to print and laminate the pages. Provide  some small tipped dry-erase markers so participants can write in answers on the page - self score or make a quick check before giving a score. Wipe off the answers from the pages so you can reuse the puzzles for another program. 

Have fun out there!

​Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

What are you favorite puzzles? Share in the comments below.....

Jeremy uses a free online QR Code generator (here's the one I use) and goes to Dictionary.com to put in his words for the puzzle. Once a word is defined Jeremy copies the URL for that word and pastes it into the generator. When a QR Code is generated he has a document template for Avery printable business cards set up - he copies and then pastes one QR Code per business card and then prints out the page when it's full. You could easily make cards in a Word document like I do - I can get about eight rectangle images on one page. From there I can drop in a word, or now a QR Code, into each rectangle and print them out after I make a set of cards. 

Jeremy did warn us to label our QR Code puzzle card sets in some way so that if we make a number of different QR Code sets you know which cards go together. In the picture above you see Jeremy has outlined the QR Codes in green. With a little effort you too can produce a very interesting puzzle challenge that brings tech and face-to-face together! 

Here are some new Word Circle Puzzles for your team building adventures. (I've mixed them up of course so you can figure them out on your own if desired (write out each word on an index card so you can shuffle them around to solve), The answers are included after the puzzles. (New to Word Circle Puzzles? Go Here. After more WCP? Use the Search box in the right side bar on this page - type in Word Circle Puzzles to find other installments and presentation ideas.)

SOME, HIT, NIGHT, GOING, TIME, ON, SWITCH, OVER, LIGHT, HER...(10 Words)

HOLD, NECK, CARD, STAGE, SMART, LACE, BACK, STREET, CREW, HOUSE, OFF, WORK...(12 Words)

​STREET, POWER, PLANT, CONE, SMART, FLOWER, PITCH, PLAY, MONEY, BACK, STAND, PINE, FAST... (13 Words)

​BOTTOM, STAMP, GAME, COACH, SCHOOL, MAN, LINE, LESS, DATE, PAYMENT, BELL, DOWN, BOARD, LAW, PLAN, ON...

SPOILER ALERT - ANSWERS BELOW
10 Words: NIGHT, LIGHT, SOME, TIME, SWITCH, HIT, HER, ON, GOING, OVER...
12 Words: STREET, SMART, CARD, HOUSE, HOLD, BACK, STAGE, CREW, NECK, LACE, WORK, OFF...
13 Words: PINE, CONE, FLOWER, POWER, PLAY, BACK, STREET, SMART, MONEY, PLANT, STAND, FAST, PITCH...
16 Words: GAME, LAW, SCHOOL, BELL, BOTTOM, LINE, COACH, MAN, DATE, STAMP, DOWN, PAYMENT, PLAN, LESS, ON, BOARD...

Have fun out there!

​Chris Cavert

Many people are fascinated by lists of things - the challenge is to see how many of the items on a list you can get right. Lately I've been using this first List Play experience to fill some time between activities (waiting for the space in our program rotation to open up). Below is a "list" of twelve lists. See how you fair before looking up the answers. You can use your smartphone or computer of course, or I've posted a handout you can print out and carry with you on the FUNdoing Resources page - go down to the Activity Tools to find List Play #1. 

Give it a go!

• The Dynamic Duo
• The Three Musketeers
• The Fantastic Four
• The Five Great Lakes
• The Six Senses
• The Seven Dwarfs
• Santa's Eight Reindeer
• The Nine Hands in Poker
• The Decathlon Events (for Men)
• Eleven Adam Sandler Movies (he's up to 57)
• The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac

What lists do you like? Share in the Comments below!

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

(Updated: 4/23/21)

Years ago I was working with a training company that used an activity called "Colourblind" (see activity details here) with their corporate programs. After leading the activity I wanted to have one for myself (very clever, well designed activity) - however, it was a bit out of my price range (actually still is - but some day!!). 

When I ran into the table-top game Qwirkle, I found a tool that could be used to work on a few of the behaviors emphasized in Colourblind (still, Colourblind is a powerful tool for working through communication skills and assumptions - get it if you can). 

The table-top game of Qwirkle (a great game, in and of itself, by the way!), comes in family size and travel size wooden pieces, as well as Qwirkle Rummy Cards - regular and Color-Blind Friendly cards. Every Qwirkle game comes with three sets of six different shapes and six different colors of each shape (wooden pieces shown to the left and HERES a write up with the cards version). 

Needs & Numbers: You will need one set of colored shapes from a Qwirkle game (the picture above is one set - remember, there are three complete sets of pieces in a Qwirkle game). Plays well with 4 to 18 participants (you can actually play with 34 people, each person receives one piece, but know that this version involves more waiting time). 

Directions: Place all 36 pieces (or cards) of one set, shape-down, on top of a table (or setting them out on the floor works out as well). You (the facilitator) pick up two pieces off the table - be sure the group sees you pick up the pieces, but make sure they don't see the colors or shapes.

Than ask each person to pick up one piece without letting anyone else see what they picked up. If there are extra pieces, ask for volunteers to pick up one more piece. If there are still extra pieces, ask for more volunteers to pick up another. Repeat this process until all the pieces have been picked up.

SMALL GROUP NOTE: If you are working with a group of 4 to 8 participants, you can make the activity a bit easier by taking out one (or two) complete sup-set of colors (e.g., take out all the reds, leaving 30 pieces to work with) or by taking out a complete subset of shapes (e.g., all the circles - again, leaving 30 pieces).  

Challenge: Once everyone has at least one game piece and understands they are not to show their shape and color to anyone else, their challenge is to figure out, and then tell you, the color and shape of each piece you picked up. They are allowed to say anything they want about their pieces, but, again, they can't show anyone what they have.

Variations: ​

• Don't allow the players to move around during the activity - they must remain in the place they are standing once the game begins. 
• After everyone has one piece, place all the extras off to the side, shape down. Limit the number of times the group (one person) can view the extra pieces. Or, maybe each person in the group can go to view one of the pieces once. 

What's Missing? is a great lead into ZOOM. HERE are the details. And HERE is a variation of ZOOM including a video. 

Let us know how What's Missing? works for you. And, if you find a fun way to present the challenge please let us know in the Comments below. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles you can get the gist of play at one of my previous posts - click here. And then be sure to check out the Puzzles Category for other Word Circle Puzzle installments. 

Presentation Idea: I tried a new way to present the Word Circle Puzzles at a recent training. I put down a whole bunch of game spots in a big circle formation that included one spot for everyone in the group (at the training I have 22 people) and I also included three extra spots. In other words, when all the participants in the training each stood on a spot there were three left open (placement of open spots does not matter). 

After everyone was comfortably standing on a spot I went around and gave everyone at least one word card from a 25-card set - three people were given two word cards. Here are the rules I gave: 

• Each person must have at least one word card in his or her hand at all times - cards can be exchanged as long as this rule is followed. 
• One person can move at a time to an open spot - players are not allowed to exchange spots.
• Players are allowed to show their card(s) and speak freely during the activity. 
• You are allowed to ask two questions of the facilitator during the activity - other than "What is the answer to the puzzle?" 
• You have 15 minutes to complete as much of the puzzle as you can. 

I thought this presentation version was actually pretty interactive. (Of course you are free to change or adapt any of the rules to meet your goals.) Players standing next to each other worked in small groups brainstorming ideas but then had to address the large group when movement took place. Do let me know how this one works out for you. 


Here are the next half-dozen puzzles - words mixed up - for your adventures (spoiler alert - the answers are at the bottom of the post. So, if you want to play first to see if you can solve the puzzles don't read down too far):

10 Words: PARK, DOWN, LITTER, DRAFT, BALL, MARK, COPY, BASKET, BENCH, CAT...

14 Words: FIGHT, CATCH, FAST, SHINE, FAIR, HOLD, ALL, FOOD, SEASON, BOOK, UP, TICKET, OUT, OFF...

14 Words: CREW, HOLE, PLAY, DYE, CONTROL, TRICK, STAGE, SHOT, CENTER, GROUND, CARD, TIE, NECK, STUFF...

18 Words: DOCTOR, WALL, CHAIR, GUN, BOOK, BLIND, BRIDGE, FIRE, CHECK, TENT, HAND, FLY, EAR, EASY, SPOT, LIFT, END, SPEAK...

20 Words: FARM, SUIT, PLAY, GLASS, APPLE, KNIFE, HORSE, CANDY, BACK, CASE, FIELD, BLADE, PACK, FREE, BIT, FALL, EYE, FAT, TREE, ANIMAL...

21 Words: TONE, WHEEL, HEAD, SKIN, SATION, DEAF, WHERE, SHARK, FORE, HOUSE, COLOR, NURSE, CAMP, SOME, US, BREAK, RING, FIRE, HER, WAGON, AID...




Spoiler Alert - below these words are the answers to the puzzles. 

ANSWERS
10 Words: DOWN, DRAFT, COPY, CAT, LITTER, BASKET, BALL, PARK, BENCH, MARK...
14 Words: OUT, SHINE, UP, HOLD, FAST, FOOD, FIGHT, OFF, SEASON, TICKET, BOOK, FAIR, CATCH, ALL...
14 Words: PLAY, GROUND, CONTROL, CENTER, STAGE, CREW, NECK, TIE, DYE, STUFF, SHOT, HOLE, CARD, TRICK...
18 Words: FIRE, WALL, TENT, FLY, BLIND, SPOT, CHECK, BOOK, END, EAR, DOCTOR, SPEAK, EASY, CHAIR, LIFT, BRIDGE, HAND, GUN...
20 Words: SUIT, CASE, KNIFE, BLADE, BIT, FIELD, GLASS, EYE, CANDY, APPLE. TREE, FARM, ANIMAL, FAT, FREE, FALL, BACK, PACK, HORSE, PLAY...
21 Words: NURSE, SHARK, SKIN, COLOR, WHEEL, HOUSE, BREAK, CAMP, US, HER, RING, TONE, DEAF, AID, STATION, WAGON, TIRE, SOME, WHERE, FORE, HEAD...

Have Fun Out There!

Chris Cavert 

Browsing around Half Price Books in Dallas Texas I found "Fabulous FUN with PUZZLES" by Joseph Leeming. (The capital FUN jumped out at me.)

Keeping with my portable and versatile activity theme, here’s some puzzling FUN with the eight letters PLAY TIME. (The picture above is a computer generated set of letters. You can also just write the letters out on eight index cards.) Make multiple sets of PLAY TIME cards for multiple-group play - a little respectful competition is a good thing.

Okay, once you have the eight letter cards ready, puzzle away.

A. Pick and arrange cards to spell the five-letter words that fit these clues:

1. A kind if tree

2. Enough

3. Without any contents

4. A Southern European country

5. Subtly suggest

6. Pants crease

7. Coin material

8. ______-mouthed (wishy-washy)

9. A flower part

10. Having a lot of substance

11. Hair braid

12. A dish




B. Spell these common first names for people:

1. Four (or up to 12) three-letter names (twelve are listed in the answers below.)

2. Two common names that together use all eight cards.




C. Spell the four-letter words that fit these clues:

1. Send out

2. Small news note

3. Device that gives light

4. Brewery grain

5. That which is sent by post

6. Companion

7. Horse-race distance

8. Part of the hand

9. Too of the head

10. Sound, as bells

11. Trapper's prize

12. A feeling of compassion

13. Request for aid

14. Story

15. Race's finish line

16. Sports group

17. Hobbling

18. It's set by a printer

19. An Ivy League university

20. Puppy's cry

21. Heap

22. Ashen

23. Thaw

24. A green fruit



D. And finally, spell the six-letter words that fit these clues:

1. Punctual

2. Pierce with a point


Have fun out there!

Chris Cavert
(Blogger Note: This post was done completely with an iPhone!)



ANSWERS

A. Five-letter words: 
1. Maple   2. Ample   3. Empty   4. Italy   5. Imply   6. Pleat   7. Metal   8. Mealy 9. Petal   10. Meaty   11. Plait   12. Plate

B. Names:  
1. Ali, Amy, Eli, Lea, Mat, May, Mel, Mia, Pam, Pat, Pia, Tim (and others)
2: Emily and Pat

C. Four-letter words:
1. Emit   2. Item   3. Lamp   4. Malt   5. Mail   6. Mate   7. Mile   8. Palm   9. Pate   10. Peal   11. Pelt   12. Pity  13. Plea   14. Tale   15. Tape   16. Team   17. Lame   18. Type   19. Yale   20. Yelp   21. Pile   22. Pale   23. Melt   24. Lime

D. Timely, Impale

Here is another bi-annual installment of Word Circle Puzzles. If you are new to these tricky team building tribulations, check out the initial FUNdoing blog installment HERE. And, you can find more Word Circle Puzzles and presentation ideas by searching "Puzzles" under the Categories. 

Spoiler alert! I've posted the answers to these puzzles in small print at the bottom of this post. So, if you want to take a crack at solving these puzzles first, don't look!!

Directions: Choose a puzzle below and write each word of the puzzle on a small piece of paper or index card. Give a word to each person in your group. The challenge is to connect all the words together so they end up in a circle - each word connects in some common (searchable) way to the word before it and the word after it (see the picture for a short example). There are a number of different ways to present this type of puzzle challenge. Make sure to explore the other Word Circle Puzzle post here at the FUNdoing blog for ideas. Here you go.....

12 Words: MONEY, TIME. FORM, SPEED, ORDER, ONCE, WARP, PRIZE, DOOR, OVER, AT, TRAP...

13 Words: GRASS, TRUCK, MASS, PORT, DEAD, LAND, PLAN, GENT, AIR, ACTION, STOP, EEL, FIRE...

14 Words: BOX, LACE, BLOCK, HORSE, BELT, BEETLE, WORK, ROAD, LETTER, SHOE, BARK, SEAT, OFF, OUT...

15 Words: WALK, BACK, WAX, DOWN, SIDE, SCALE, DISH, WASH, UP, HILL, IN, PAN, SHAPE, PAPER, CAKE...

17 Words: SPACE, LINE, SPEECH, CASE, CLOUD, STUMP, STREAM, TREE, SHOE, SUIT, UP, WORK, PATTERN, OVER, LOAD, MAKER, STORM...

18 Words: WARE, OVER, RID, HOUSE, SHOT, GREEN, SOME, DEN, BRUSH, EVER, WORK, CHIP, TIN, HOW, CORN, PAINT, PUT, AWE...

Have fun out there!

Chris Cavert




Spoiler Alert - below these words are the answers to the puzzles. 


ANSWERS
12 Words: OVER, TIME, WARP, SPEED, TRAP, DOOR, PRIZE, MONEY, ORDER, FORM, AT, ONCE...
13 Words: AIR, PORT, LAND, MASS, ACTION, PLAN, GENT, EEL, GRASS, FIRE, TRUCK, STOP, DEAD...
14 Words: HORSE, SHOE, LACE, BARK, BEETLE, OFF, ROAD, BLOCK, LETTER, BOX, SEAT, BELT, OUT, WORK....
15 Words: BACK, WASH, DOWN, HILL, SIDE, DISH, PAN, CAKE, WALK, IN, SHAPE, UP, SCALE, WAX, PAPER...
17 Words: TREE, STUMP, SPEECH, PATTERN, MAKER, SPACE, SUIT, CASE, WORK, LOAD, UP, STREAM, LINE, STORM, CLOUD, OVER, SHOE...
18 Words: OVER, AWE, SOME, HOW, EVER, GREEN, CORN, CHIP, SHOT, PUT, RID, DEN, TIN, WARE, HOUSE, PAINT, BRUSH, WORK...

My recent travels back to Texas for the holidays inspired some Word Circle Puzzle creation time - plane time goes by quickly when in the creative mode. I also thought of another way to use WCPs. (If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles find some earlier posts describing the concept in the FUNdoing Blog post's Puzzles category.) 

I like communication exercises that help bring out both the positive and negative behaviors related to talking with others. This simple WCP variation (I have yet to try) might lead to some great discussion around effective communication. I'm calling this version…. 

Solve & Repeat
Give everyone 1 or 2 word cards from a Word Circle Puzzle set. During the solving process everyone must have at least one word card in his or her hand at all times. Ask the group to solve the puzzle - connecting all the words together to make a circle of words. Players can show each other the words on their card(s). Time how long it takes the group to initially solve this task. (Asking for help is acceptable - maybe give the group 3 or 4 questions they can ask you to help them complete their task.)

Once they solve the puzzle tell them how long it took. You might want to spend some time talking/processing the activity to highlight some learning points. When ready to continue, have everyone turn his or her word card(s) face down (hold them so they can't see the words) and shuffle the cards around throughout the group - exchanging cards with at least 5 other players. When you say "GO!" (start the time), everyone can turn his or her card(s) over and then proceed to solve the puzzle (yes, the same puzzle). When I do one of my Line Up activities using playing cards in the same manner I see behaviors related to brainstorming, sharing ideas, agreements, negotiation, compromise, confusion, success, failure, frustration, and celebration. I'm guessing that using a Word Circle Puzzle in the same way will create the same experiences. Give it a try and let me know how it goes (I will too and report back in a later post.)

Word Circle Puzzles (In the spirit of play, this time I will give the puzzles to you all mixed up so you have the opportunity to solve them if you are so inclined. If not, the answer to each puzzle will be provided at the end of this post.)

9 Words: ACID, KIT, STEP, LIFT, RAIN, UP, TEN, DANCE, ANT

11 Words: PIPE, DOWN, OUT, STORY, GRADE, BACK, SCHOOL, BAG, PASS, BUS, BOOK

13-1 Words: 
FAIRY, BULB, CAR, CLUB, STORE, LET, WIND, FRONT, PET, TOOTH, DOWN, FARM, LIGHT

13-2 Words: (There is also an 8-word puzzle in this one as well.)
BIRD, GLASS, PIPE, CALL, DRAIN, NUMBER, FENCE, BRAIN, RAIL, PLATE, ORGAN, SNAKE, ON

16 Words: MAN, FACTOR, SOME, WORK, HUSBAND, LOAD, SCHOOL, BREAK, STORE, OUT, BOOK, HOUSE, GLASS, HAND, DAY, HOUR

17 Words: PANT, TOP, OVER, RING, BACK, DOWN, HILL, AWE, LET, COAT, PLACE, HER, STAND, FLIP, SOME, WATCH, KICK

19 Words: LESS, BEAM, WHEEL, QUEST, DOWN, CLUB, PAINT, LIST, ION, SCALE, SODA, MAP, BALL, HOUSE, OR, HORSE, BIT, FLY, DRAFT 

Have fun out there!!