WORK THOSE NEURONS!

(TOPIC: PROBLEM SOLVING AND TEAMWORK)

 

Instructions

A SHORT RIDDLE OR PROBLEM CAN HELP TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION BEFORE A LESSON. THIS ACTIVITY ASKS STUDENTS TO REALLY CONCENTRATE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WITHIN A TIME FRAME, PROMOTING MINDFULNESS AND ENGAGEMENT.

EQUIPMENT: THE FOLLOWING RIDDLE DISPLAYED WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN READ IT (UP ON THE WHITE/BLACK/SMART BOARD)

                  YOU HAVE A FOX, A CHICKEN AND A SACK OF GRAIN. YOU MUST CROSS A WATERFALL WITH ONLY ONE OF THEM AT A TIME. IF YOU LEAVE THE FOX WITH THE CHICKEN HE WILL EAT THE CHICKEN; IF YOU LEAVE THE CHICKEN WITH THE GRAIN SHE WILL EAT THE CHICKEN.

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • ASK STUDENTS TO READ THIS PROBLEM SILENTLY.

  • ONCE EVERYONE HAS FINISHED READING THE PROBLEM, ASK STUDENTS TO GET INTO GROUPS OF FIVE.

  • TELL STUDENTS THAT YOU ARE SETTING A TIMER FOR FIVE MINUTES AND THAT WHEN YOU START THE TIMER STUDENTS HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO TRY AND SOLVE THE MYSTERY IN THEIR TABLE GROUP.

  • ONCE THE FIVE MINUTES IS UP GET THE GROUPS TO SHARE THE ANSWERS THEY CAME UP WITH AND SEE IF ANY GROUPS GOT IT CORRECT!

ANSWER:

  1. TAKE THE CHICKEN FIRST AND DROP HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER FALL.

  2. GO BACK AND BRING THE GRAIN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER FALL, DON’T LEAVE THE CHICKEN WITH THE GRAIN, BRING THE CHICKEN BACK WITH YOU TO THE FOX.

  3. LEAVE THE CHICKEN THIS TIME AND TAKE THE FOX OVER TO THE GRAIN.

  4. FINALLY GO BACK AND GET THE CHICKEN.

 

 

ACTIVITIES FOR PASTORAL CARE & WELLBEING CLASSES

 

All activities have been adapted by Unleashing Personal Potential from www.improvencyclopedia.org, www.reachout.com,  www.playmeo.com, www.tom.edu.au, and through years of practice in education. Thanks to the many educators who have contributed to this list of tried and tested activities.

 

For more activities like this (and much more), check out THRIVE Online Lesson Modules for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing.