I led this version of the activity for a class of about 30 students from grades 9 - 12. It was very well received and the teacher told me the students asked to play more the next day.
Since I've written at length about these activities elsewhere, I will just link to the new resources below and explain this updated process.
The creativity exercise is based on a game system I designed with my friend, Kory Heath. The lesson follows this outline:
- Talk to the class about the importance of creativity for success in today's world.
- Lead into the creativity game Why Did the Chicken...?
- Show them how the game works. Ideally this will include tips on how to make creative answers.
- Run at least one round with a group of students from the class.
- Show how students will use the spreadsheet when they play on their own.
- Let them play the game in small groups of 3 - 5.
- Have them complete a reflection sheet.
Resources: (Most of these are Google files that will open as a copy in your Google Drive.)
- This is the presentation I used. Read the speaker notes for details, as I explain what I talk about for each slide.
- Here is the spreadsheet students will use to play the game. It's a sample way to generate random riddles without printing and cutting out tons of cards.
- This video shows how to use the spreadsheet to make riddles.
- Here is the reflection sheet students should complete at the end of the lesson.
Other Notes:
- I used to provide a lot more time to practice making good answers. The problem was we didn't have much time to play the game. After presenting it this last time, I plan to put a maybe five to ten minutes more practice and practical advice in the talk next time.
- There's no doubt students will find it difficult to come up with answers. Remind them that they're probably trying to get an answer that makes perfect sense. Sometimes the key is just coming up with the answer that makes the judge laugh!
- There are just over 50 words in the spreadsheet, but ideally it should be well over one hundred. Feel free to add to it. The best lists contain things from the students' school or community.
- Remind everyone to keep answers school appropriate and to be kind to each other! Everyone needs to feel safe writing down a dud response. This is an important lesson for working creatively with a group.
- Make sure students understand the role of judge passes from player to player each round. (See the detailed rules below for the flow of the game.)
Here are the steps to playing Why Did the Chicken...? this way:
- Each group of 3 - 5 students will need:
- One device to open the spreadsheet and make a copy. (I suggest sharing the link with them through Google Classroom.)
- Pencils
- Several slips of paper.
- Pick a judge for the first round. The judge will use the spreadsheet to generate a random riddle.
- The judge reads the riddle to the other members of the group.
- They get two minutes to write as many possible answers as they can think of. Each answer should go on a separate slip of paper. After writing an idea, they put it in the center of the table face down.
- After two minutes, no new answers can be started. Anyone can finish writing their current idea if still writing. Then all slips are gathered by the player to the left of the judge.
- That player reads each answer to the judge. We like to have the judge read the question aloud each time, then hear the answer. It adds to the fun of the riddles.
- After hearing all the possible answers, the judge must pick a favorite (or two favorites if they want).
- The player(s) whose ideas were selected get a point.
- The judge passes the device to the player on his or her left and the process continues.
- Play until everyone has been the judge at least twice.
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