Putting Pieces Together

This activity is fun and works for all ages! Objective: To "break the ice" To encourage working as a group To encourage natural conversation Procedure: Cut one large square(about 8 in. x 8 in.) out of colored cardboard for each student. Cut each square into 8 smaller pieces of various shapes (rectangles, triangles, pentagons, etc.) Each square should be unique. Divide the class into groups of 5 and give each group the scrambled pieces for 5 of the squares. Each member of the group must be given 8 pieces. Their job is to put the squares together again without talking. Students cannot ask for someone else's piece. They can only take another student's piece without asking and give that student one of theirs. Students continue giving and taking pieces until everyone in the group has made a square. This should take about 5-10 minutes. When they finish they can talk about what they just did. And they will have a lot to say! If the activity is successful and moving along quickly enough, have groups swap squares and repeat the activity. Elizabeth Nieuwsma Zeeland Community Education Zeeland, MI USA

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