Word Circle Puzzles: January 2017

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My friend and fellow teambuilding activity developer, Dr. Jim Cain, created and shared some Word Circle Puzzles with us. (Be sure to head over to Jim's WEBSITE and check out his "Downloadable" page - some great free resources.)

If you are new to Word Circle Puzzles HERE is a link to one of my first blog posts about them - along with a couple puzzles. (Be sure to expand the picture to reveal the five puzzles in the header.) And I've posted lots of Word Circle Puzzle sets over the years - use the 'Search' tool here at the blog site to find more. Type in Word Circle Puzzles and you're off. AND once you get hooked be sure to download the first Picture Word Circle Puzzle set - taking the puzzles to the next level. 

Here's the basic idea (if you need the gist). Using index cards and a marker, write each word of a set (see below) on a different index card. After mixing up the index cards hand them out to your group and ask them to put the words (cards) together so each one connects to the card before it and the card after it in a meaningful way. (Be sure you have the answers to the puzzles handy.)

For example, here's what can work: compound words, common terms or phrases, or two known words, with their own meaning, that go together to make a new word and meaning. Like DOG and HOUSE each has its own meaning - putting them together into DOGHOUSE changes the two words into another word and meaning. In the end, the words can be laid out (or held up by players) into a circle with no beginning or ending - it becomes a Word Circle. 

Here are 10 Word Circle Puzzles from Jim in correct order:
(Shorter puzzles are good to use as examples when groups are learning about them.)

• Switch, Yard, Light...(Switch)
• Man, Power, Line...(Man)
• Book, Mobile, Phone...(Book)
• Board, Foot, Ball, Game, Over...(Board)
• Office, Party, Time, Out, Post...(Office)
• Time, Travel, Log, Book, Shelf, Life...(Time)
• River, Bank, Note, Book, Mark, Down...(River)
• Game, Over, Time, Out, Field, Goal, Post...(Game)
• Street, Light, Post, Game, Day, Time, Out, Side...(Street)
• Race, Car, Seat, Belt, Buckle, Up, River, Rat...(Race)

Here are four longer puzzles with the words mixed up in case you want to play a bit. Write each word on an index card, then connect them together into a circle. The answers are below so don't scroll down too fast.

11 Words: BOOK, TRAVEL, POOL, SETTING, TIME, SMART, GUIDE, DOWN, CAR, PLAY, TABLE...

14 Words: KEY, DOOR, LUNCH, PLAY, LIGHTNING, MAN, TIME, CHAIN, POWER, STORM, BREAK, OFF, FRONT, DOWN...

20 Words: SHELF, SEAT, FENCE, ROAD, WEATHER, OVER, TAKE, GUARD, WAY, POST, BACK, WARMER, BOOK, CHANNEL, TIME, GAME, OFF, LIFE, GUIDE, OUT...

​21 Words: WEEK, WASH, BREAK, SOFA, YARD, PACE, STORE, SPRING, NOTE, WORK, CAR, SLEEPER, BOOK, DAY, TEAM, FAST, DREAM, END, LIGHT, FRONT, BED... 

BONUS: We've included PDF print-n-play cards for the four longer puzzles. If you want to play out the puzzles don't look at the PDF – it includes the answers. And you can get 18 more print-n-play sets and 12 presentation descriptions from the Word Circle Puzzles Starter kit. Everything you need to know and how to use them!


Thanks Jim! You're the best...


Here they are. Have fun!  

jim_cain_wcps.pdf
File Size:	105 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Word Circle Puzzle Answers:
11 Words: Book, Smart, Car, Pool, Table, Setting, Down, Play, Time, Travel, Guide...
14 Words: Front, Door, Man, Power, Lunch, Break, Down, Play, Time, Off, Key, Chain, Lightning, Storm...
20 Words: Off, Road, Way, Back, Seat, Warmer, Weather, Channel, Guide, Book, Shelf, Life, Guard, Fence, Post, Game, Over, Time, Out, Take...
21 Words: Spring, Break, Fast, Pace, Car, Wash, Day, Dream, Team, Work, Week, End, Note, Book, Store, Front, Yard, Light, Sleeper, Sofa, Bed...