Problem Solving Games
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton
I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
YiS
--
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton Scouts
http://www.WiganScouts.org.uk/1stAshton
--
Horler, R
Just in the middle of a team development course at the moment for my PhD.
Some ideas from what we have done today:
1) Two decks of cards mixed, group must sort them out silently, repeat but
give 2 mins planning time (but then change the order a minute after they
have started - most normally sort Ace-King in each suit so have 8 piles but
then changed to collect the 4 suit cards together (ie 13 piles))
2) Lego model in another room, team has bricks which they must use to build
replica, but you can only go one at a time for 30 seconds then must return
once you start building your not allowed to look at the origanal again
from prevoius team development course:
3)Long peice of rope knotted, blindfold the team they must get equally space
ont he rope in the shape of a square, works best for teams of 4,8,12 etc.
4) Tower of hanoi
If you want more ideas or better explanation respond and I'll give you more
info, got to go grab some lunch before I have a presentation skills
training.
Regards
Richard
SL 2nd St Thomas Scouts
Owen Morris
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> typed:
> Hi all,
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme
> for spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of
> 'toxic' liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set
> distance.
>
> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
>
There is a book available from Davies Sports (http://www.daviessports.co.uk)
called Hunting the Griz. It costs about £12 but is well worth it for ideas
on team building/problem (OAA) games. I have used it several times both in
school and with the Cubs.
--
Owen Morris (ow...@devnull.farndonscouts.org)
1st Farndon Scout Group (http://www.farndonscouts.org)
ScoutLink Network Administrator (http://www.scoutlink.net)
Pete
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme
> for spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of
> 'toxic' liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set
> distance.
>
> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
Not so much a game, but can be done as in inter-patrol challenge. Also
doesn't take the brain of Britain to work out, however it also slips a bit
of lashing practice and team work in ...
Place a brick & a tea light candle a distance away from the patrol. Give
them staves or canes, something suitable for lashing them together. & some
matches Tell them they have to light the candle without getting any closer
to it.
The idea is to lash the staves togther (tightly!), then lash a match to the
end. This can then be used to strike the match on the brick (don't use
safety matches!) and then light the candle.
I have done it with my Troop, they all got the match alight, but by the time
they'd manouvered to the candle the match was burning out. Next time I'll
ensure the candles have been used before so the wick is already burnt (and
so lights easier). The other problem with the ones my Patrols constructed
was that they didn't do the lashings tight enough so it flexed too much to
light the match (so they had to rebuild it!).
HTH,
Pete
--
Peter Maley
ASL, 3rd Whitstable
Tom Oldershaw
<CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> wrote:
>Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
(Hope that comes out OK!). Don't know why I remembered about that...
--
Tom Oldershaw
DESC, Bedford
mailto: t...@bluegreen.org.uk
http://www.bedfordexplorerscouts.org.uk/
John McMahon
"Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton" <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> wrote in message
news:sacKb.8378$K41....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
the standard kit which is checked as part of inspection in my Troop). Then
hold that coin high and ask another PL for one.
Give the 1st coin to the 2nd PL and vice versa.
Ask the troop "who gained". Financially ,of course, neither. "But what if
I'd asked their opinion?"
..............
Jigsaw.
Prior to the event take a print off your PC and rip it into a few pieces.
Jumble them up and separate into the number of teams. Put them into
envelopes and seal them down.
On the evening call for the PL's. Give each an envelope with the
instruction that it holds pieces of a picture which they need to build.
They can hold the envelope but may not open it or touch the contents. Their
Patrol may not touch the envelope or the contents.
The answer, of course, is to pass the envelope to another PL ........... see
how long it takes! Don't use a jigsaw, there are too many pieces. Likewise
don't rip it up too small.
##
Pioneering
2 barrels or similar with a plank across the top (the wall).
1 barrel standing upright (the task).
various ropes, tackle and spars.
The wall is "infinitely long", so they can't go round it and they can't go
through it. Task is to get the barrel from one side of the wall to the
other without touching it. Team may start on either side of the wall, but
must stay there.
Time starts when you touch the first piece of equipment.
I held the record at less than 5 seconds!
##
Frog pond
"lily pads" - can be chairs or blocks.
Builders planks.
The pads should be set up so that the planks can just reach sideways, but
the next row is offset so that the planks won't reach and so on for the next
row.
The idea, when the penny drops, is to place one plank sideways and a second
halfway across to the next row etc. Need to work out how to recover the
planks as they go, as well.
Can complicate by adding something that needs to be conveyed (water filled
balloon).
##
Obstacle course
Set up an obstacle course. Need to get a balloon full of water from one end
to the other without encasing it in anything and without it bursting. Each
team member may only hold the balloon for a set length of time before they
have to pass it on.
##
"Reef not" (yes, I've spelt it the way I want!)
Each Patrol has a length of rope placed on the ground in front of them.
The PL cannot touch it and he is the only one who can talk. Anyone who
touches the rope is instantly "glued" to it and cannot let go (if they try
to cheat use a clove hitch to attach it to their hand).
To make it more difficult the Patrol can be blindfolded.
The Patrol have to tie a reef knot, fastest Patrol wins. Make sure you
bring a camcorder and that your PL's know how to do one first !!!!!!
As this can involve some members not participating, you could use the APL's
as well.
Other knots are, of course, available ........
#########
Loads more, but I'll need to think.
If you collect some good ones here I may add a section to our District Web
site ................
John.
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
> spring '04.
> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
Had some great suggestions so far, I've put them all into a text file for
future ref. If anyone would like a copy then just let me know. I will wait
for a few more days however to see if anymore ideas are posted.
John Kennaugh
Gaskell, 1st Ashton" <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> writes
>Hi all,
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
>spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
>liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
>
>Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
Not quite what you asked for but a useful quickie - tie a reef knot
without using your thumbs.
--
John Kennaugh
GAGS
"Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton" <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> wrote in message
news:sacKb.8378$K41....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
> spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
> liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
>
> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
>
Problem solving games should IMO be a core activity of any Scout training
programme. They provide opportunities for yp to cope with unusual
situations. To be successful problem solvers, they must show initiative and
be resourceful.
The best problem solving activities usually involve a range of stages:
planning & designing; considering alternatives; working as a team; using
skills & knowledge; persevering; testing; modifying & adapting; tidying up;
reflecting on the activity and learning from experience/mistakes. (IME I've
found that "working as a team" and "persevering" are the two most important
aspects.) If you can build as many of these into the activity then problem
solving games can be a really useful tool in developing yp.
Here are some simple ones I've tried, indoors and outdoors, at various
times, on camp, on residential weekends, on incident hikes, and at weekly
troop meets. These all are straightforward enough to be attempted with
minimum planning and organisation.
1. Obstacle relay - problem: to design and construct an obstacle course.
Equipment: (various, what have you got?) outdoors you can use - bamboo
canes, string, scissors, poly sheet, tent pegs, mallet, watch, blindfold,
etc. Each team should construct about 15 "problems" in their course
including: steeping over, squeezing through, crawling under, changing
direction, steeping between, picking up items, carrying items, etc. Each
course to be designed so that a blindfolded member of the team can
successfully move along the course, with a member of his/her team giving
instructions from behind a line. Swap over course, assign a judge to mark
down penalty points for each fault or do as a timed relay.
2. Mini Assault Course. Best done on camp. Problem: to design and attempt to
complete a miniature assault course, using only the natural features that
are present, e.g. balance along a fallen tree, jump over a hollow, climb
up/over a branch (less than 6 foot high!) or swing/crawl along, zig-zag
through trees, crawl through hollow, use stumps as steeping stones, etc.
Needs strict rules. Not meant to be difficult.
3. Flying Message - problem: to send a flying message (without throwing)
over a line which has been raised above the ground (8-12 feet is high
enough) and recover a reply. Equipment could include: overhead line, bendy
stick, smooth straight sticks, long length of string, elastic, garden canes,
polystyrene cups, baloon, tape, card, blu-tack, paper and pen (for message),
etc.
4. Shoot a line. (Similar to 3 above) - problem: shoot a line (string)
through a small window (say a 1 foot sq. opening) in a piece of hardboard
from the other side of a (imaginary) chasm Additional task could be to send
something along the line. Equipment - as above in 3.
5. Read a message round a corner - problem: read message around a 90 deg
corner. Equipment: card, tape, small mirrors (plastic ones better than
glass), some large hardboard pieces to make a corner, something to cover up
the message to stop peeping, etc.
6. Make a sling to support a person. Use length of material used in climbing
harnesses and when testing do not hang the person more than a foot or so
from the floor from a secure hanging point. Make sure that yp do not
construct sling that goes round anyone's neck!
7. Candle lanterns (best done at this time of year when it's windy) -
problem: design and construct a lantern, containing a candle, using: pencil
and paper, several short canes (bamboo or garden) plus some longer canes,
poly sheet, scissors, string, tape, thin bendy wire, wire cutters, matches,
candle, junior hacksaw (to cut canes). Lantern to be designed so that the
lighted candle will not blow out in windy conditions, can be seen from at
least 50 m away, and such that none of the shield materials catch fire.
8. Stiles - problem: design and build a temporary stile to get over a fence
(imaginary electrified) or wall using strong wooden poles and lashing ropes.
No design or person to touch fence or wall.
9. (Another pioneering one.) Hammocks using main support ropes, strong
lashing ropes, wooden poles. Low height off ground! Leaders should check all
knots and lashings before use.
10. Conveyors - problem: design and build a conveyor to transport a tennis
ball (or a potato if you want to make it harder!) to roll down by gravity
across a (imaginary) chasm. Inter team timed event. Include some changes or
direction and a sudden drop. Equipment could include: canes, poly sheets,
string, scissors, tape, etc, and don't forget the ball or potato. As a
variation you could use cheap plastic piping (as used in plumbing), angles
and unions, etc. Task then is to transport say 5-10 gallons of water. Best
done outside in the summer for obvious reasons!
11. Water transporter (another outside one) - problem: transport a bucket of
water across a small stream (use a real one if you're at camp) at a height
of say 6 feet. No one to touch bucket as it crosses gap. Equipment could
include: overhead rope, protective wrapping if you use trees to support
line, twine, scissors, bucket, small container for filling bucket (with
holes in to make it harder), krab to hang bucket, etc.
12. Ping pong ball in pipe - problem: recover a ping pong ball from the
bottom of a vertical plastic pipe. You'll need a bit of plastic plumbing
pipe say 2-3 in dia which is sealed at one end. Drill some small holes in
the pipe around and along its length. How many depends on size of team,
about 15-20 is usually okay. Teams given bucket of water and some card (one
person). Idea is for teams to make a cup from card to transport water from
bucket to pipe. Pipe to be held vertically by team members. First one to
float ping pong ball from pipe is the winner. At first only one or two
members will be needed to cover holes in pipe (using their fingers only!)
while the rest can relay the water, however, as more water goes in then more
holes come into play. The last few inches can be quite demanding with one
person runnig back and forth carrying the water (in a soggy card cup by now)
and the rest of the team in a mass of fingers and thumbs trying desperately
to plug the holes. Outdoor one I think!
13. Make a burglar alarm pad - problem: construct a device to be placed
under a rug so that it can detect anyone walking on it. Equipmet: large
card, baking foil (aluminium!) croc clips, wire, tape, small battery,
buzzer/light bulb in holder.
14. Carry seats - problem:design and construct a contraption with a seat for
carrying a person. Must be safe to carry a person in a race. Two teams of 5.
Equipment could include: 4 strong poles, strong lashing ropes, old car tyre,
etc. You make like to add a crash helmet if your yp attack the race with
some gusto.
15. Signpost - design and construct a signpost. The finished article should
point to at least 10 places of interest, towns, cities, features, local or
far away. Equipment: poles, string, card, paper, pens/felts, appropriate map
(e.g. local OS for local features), compass, other "decorative" items. The
completed singpost must point accurately to all the places, give comapss
directions (e.g. NE rather than 45 deg) and give clear indication of place
names and distance (use km if using an OS map).
16. Construct a shelter - problem; construct a shelter so that one person
can lie down in it using newspaper, thin light poly sheet, tape and
scissors. It may help to have the newspaper tightly rolled into "poles"
first.
17. Fry an egg using only one match. Equipment: thin bendy wire, cutters,
baking foil, a little cooking oil, one match, a whole almond nut (allow 2/3
if you can only get small ones), blu-tac, tape, and an egg.
18. Walk a word - problem: spell out an unknown word on the ground using
capital letters by following instructions given in the form of compass
directions (or bearings) and paces. Use a long length of string for each
letter if outside or floor chalk if inside/on hard surface. Good for
introducing younger scouts to the compass. Start facing N.
Example 1. Using compass directions
Letter 1 - NW x 6 paces; SE x 6 paces; NE x 6 paces
Letter 2 - NE x 6 paces; SE x 3 paces; W x 3 paces; E x 3 paces; SE x 3
paces
Letter 3 - N x 5 paces; SE x 7 paces; N x 5 paces
Example 2. Using bearings
Letter 1 - 30 deg x 5 paces; 150 deg x 5 paces; 30 deg x 5 paces; 150 deg x
5 paces
Letter 2 - 90 deg x 4 paces; 270 deg x 4 paces; 0 deg x 2.5 paces; 90 deg x
4 paces; 270 deg x 4 paces; 0 deg x 2.5 paces; 90 deg x 4 paces.
Letter 3 - 45 deg x 6 paces; 125 deg x 3 paces; 270 deg x 3 paces; 90 deg x
3 paces; 125 deg x 3 paces.
Letter 4 - 0 deg x 5 paces; 270 deg x 2 paces; 90 deg x 4 paces.
You can even set the problem in reverse - how would you spell out your name
in capitals using directions/bearings.
Teams can design for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 letter words say and set challenge for
other teams to find the word.
19. Cross the Hut (swamp, chasm, etc) - problem: get all your team from one
end of the HQ to the other without touching the floor. Equipment various
depending on circumstances: e.g. 2 small benches or say 4 chairs for a
patrol of 6. Race between teams. 15 s holding penalty for rule
infringements. Could set up some string across width at different heights:
you must go over the first one, under the second, etc. First team all to
touch the other side wins. Then go back again!
20. Build a flagpole/beacon, etc - problem: build the tallest possible
structure using only a pile of old newspapers and tape such that it will
support a small weight (or flag) hung from the topmost point without it all
falling over.
There's a score to be going on with. There are loads more. Enjoy!
As with all games like these make sure that they're fun to do as well as a
learning exercise.
HTH
GAGS
P.S. Maybe someone could assemble all the ideas in this thread and archive
them in ukrsa?
No I'm not volunteering! :-(
GAGS
A volunteer to put them all onto ukrsa?
Well done that man!
GAGS
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton
> them in ukrsa?
>
> No I'm not volunteering! :-(
No problem as long as I can find my username and password!
fa...@reply-address.com
I made up a sheet of riddles for the Scouts to solve
cross words
word searched.
Derek Biddle
<absolutec...@craplineone.net> writes
>
>"Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton" <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> wrote in message
>news:sacKb.8378$K41....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
>> Hi all,
>> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
>> spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
>> liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
>>
>> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
>>
>
>Problem solving games should IMO be a core activity of any Scout training
>programme. They provide opportunities for yp to cope with unusual
>situations. To be successful problem solvers, they must show initiative and
>be resourceful.
And they are so much better than the games which say 'if you are big and
strong , you win - if you are not big and strong, you lose'
Too much (or even exclusively) of the other type can risk giving a
perception of bullying - even if there is no real bullying - and that
perception can cause big problems.
I liked the games for two teams which advises that if they attack it
with gusto, a crash helmet would help. Which team gets the helmet?
;-)
Some of the real initiative ones you can't use very often.
One I have done is to give them a load of elastic bands and they are to
see which team (at lest four in a team) can get a linked set across the
hall. They are told to take five minutes to think about it, and offered
the advice that a convoy moves at the speed of the slowest member - but
a team can move faster than the fastest member.
Only once has a team come up with the idea of each member joining sets
together, and then joining the sets together.
Another is a nest as high as possible to take the weight of an egg (
free-standing for at least two minutes) using only newspaper and
sellotape. No sticking to walls , floor or egg.
The incredible works or art using the contents of an entire newsagents
and 3M's stockroom to get about 2 feet off the floor - compared to what
can be done with six sheets of the Times (around 5 feet)
<Snip>
--
Derek Biddle
GAGS
"Derek Biddle" <De...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1TgiOrB$AI$$Ew...@pinnacleprojects.demon.co.uk...
> In article <3ffa9...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com>, GAGS
> <absolutec...@craplineone.net> writes
> >
> >"Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton" <CGas...@WiganScouts.org.uk> wrote in
message
> >news:sacKb.8378$K41....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> >> Hi all,
> >> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
> >> spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of
'toxic'
> >> liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
> >>
> >> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
> >>
> >
> >Problem solving games should IMO be a core activity of any Scout training
> >programme. They provide opportunities for yp to cope with unusual
> >situations. To be successful problem solvers, they must show initiative
and
> >be resourceful.
>
> And they are so much better than the games which say 'if you are big and
> strong , you win - if you are not big and strong, you lose'
>
> Too much (or even exclusively) of the other type can risk giving a
> perception of bullying - even if there is no real bullying - and that
> perception can cause big problems.
And likewise, too many games which demand mental agility rather than
strength or athletic prowess can also cause big problems.
I'm sure you'll agree that there always needs to be a balance.
The range of games I posted hopefully has something for everybody.
>
>
> I liked the games for two teams which advises that if they attack it
> with gusto, a crash helmet would help. Which team gets the helmet?
>
> ;-)
>
>
That's part of the problem they have to solve!!
;-)
> Some of the real initiative ones you can't use very often.
>
> One I have done is to give them a load of elastic bands and they are to
> see which team (at lest four in a team) can get a linked set across the
> hall. They are told to take five minutes to think about it, and offered
> the advice that a convoy moves at the speed of the slowest member - but
> a team can move faster than the fastest member.
>
> Only once has a team come up with the idea of each member joining sets
> together, and then joining the sets together.
>
> Another is a nest as high as possible to take the weight of an egg (
> free-standing for at least two minutes) using only newspaper and
> sellotape. No sticking to walls , floor or egg.
>
> The incredible works or art using the contents of an entire newsagents
> and 3M's stockroom to get about 2 feet off the floor - compared to what
> can be done with six sheets of the Times (around 5 feet)
>
A lot of scrambled eggs to be cooked afterwards no doubt?
IIRC, 5'8" was one of my previous troop's record plus also the record of
breaking 9 eggs in their attempts to set this record!
>
Good games.
GAGS
Ian Wilkins
Taken directly from a challenge night we had a few weeks back...
....only trouble is, I haven't got the equipment list, but it should
be
self explanitory...we were given an hour to do as many as we wanted.
Jenga Tower ? 5pts per 10cm
Build the tallest tower you can using only the Jenga blocks provided.
The blocks may be placed at whatever orientation you see fit. The
tower must be free standing for enough time to measure its height.
Logical Puzzle ? 10 pts
Bob is twice as old as Bill but Ben is the same age as double Bob?s
and Bill?s ages added together but Ben had his 21st birthday in
nineteen twenty eight, so how old are each of the boys? By the way,
Bill is Bob?s baby but Bob is Ben?s baby.
Card Tower ? 10pts per layer
A childhood classic! Build a card tower from the cards provided ? I
shall say no more.
Glasses and Knives ? 10 pts
Three glasses must be arranged in an equilateral triangle with a knife
length between them (so a knife cannot span between any two glasses).
Your challenge is to balance the 4th glass above the table using only
the knives. The knives cannot touch the table and the 4th glass
cannot touch any of the other glasses or be directly above any of
them.
Jenga Bridge ? 10pts per 5 cm
Build the Jenga blocks out as far as you can over past the line on the
paper. No Jenga block can touch the table beyond the line and the
bridge must be free standing. You can only use the blocks provided.
Two Circles ? 5pts
Draw two circles (one large & one small) on the large sheet of card
provided without taking your pen-nib off the card. The small circle
must lie inside the large circle and the circles cannot touch. Easy
points.
[Ians note] We couldn't actually work out how to do the above!
Spaghetti Mayhem ? 350 pts max
HUGE scores to be had here! The object is to suspend the balls
provided above the table using spaghetti alone. The balls must be at
least 5cm above the table.
Points will be given for each ball depending on its weight. The
points for each ball will then be multiplied by a factor depending on
the height of support for that particular ball. The points are as
follows:
Pts Height (cm) Factor
Ping pong ball 2 0-5 Zero
Big hollow plastic ball 4 5-10 1
Tennis balls 6 10-15 2
Bowls balls 8 15-20 3
20 + 5
Spaghetti may not be supported from or by the balls and the spaghetti
must support the full weight of the ball or balls.
Cooking the spaghetti is not an option and you are only allowed one
packet.
The height of support is defined as the height at which the spaghetti
supporting the ball contacts the ball.
Balls may be stacked but a ball may only be stacked on a ball of
higher value. For a stacked ball, the height factor will only be
awarded for the spaghetti supporting the ball (or balls) at the base
of the stack.
Bonus points will be awarded for artistic impression!
The spaghetti mayhem rules were difficult to word, so ?twisting? of
the rules is strictly prohibited. The judge?s decision and ruling is
final.
The Small Print!
Challenges still in progress when the time is up will be measure or
counted etc and points will be awarded accordingly.
A tip: divide your team up to do the separate challenges and keep an
eye on the time.
The judges reserve the right to change or alter the rules and points
scored for any of the challenges at any time. If changes are made,
they will apply to all teams.
The judge?s decision is final!
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton
you can get it at http://www.WiganScouts.org.uk/1stAshton and click
resource, but if you take a copy of it or any of the other resources please
sign the guestbook! I've added some more Scouting activities up there too..
YiS
--
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton Scouts, Wigan & District
http://www.WiganScouts.org.uk/1stAshton
--
Shaun Joynson
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
> spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
> liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
>
> Does anyone have anymore problem solving games?
>
I note that you have put my Scrapbox Challenge on your website. I
suppose I ought to put my name on it.
Have you tried it yet? Did it work?
--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Shaun Joynson
message news:sacKb.8378$K41....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk
> Hi all,
> I have included some problem solving in the Scout programme for
> spring '04. However the only game I know is moving a jar full of 'toxic'
> liquid with only canes and elastic bands across a set distance.
One other thing. That PP presentation on map references is brilliant.
As you may (or may not know) 6 figures is part of Nat Cirriculum
geography.
I shall shortly be starting work as a trainee secondary teacher and
that's a complete lesson without the teacher having to say a word, so
I'll use that (if I may). Don't worry though, I shall make sure its got
your group's name all over it.
Chris Gaskell, 1st Ashton
>suppose I ought to put my name on it.
I changed a couple of the items in the challenge to work with what we had
and it was brilliant. Also apologies for no reference of origin, if you look
now you'll see I've added your name to the file :-)
> One other thing. That PP presentation on map references is brilliant.
> As you may (or may not know) 6 figures is part of Nat Curriculum
> geography.
>
> I shall shortly be starting work as a trainee secondary teacher and
> that's a complete lesson without the teacher having to say a word, so
> I'll use that (if I may). Don't worry though, I shall make sure its got
> your group's name all over it.
Bout time the Nat Curriculum had something useful in it! But if I had my way
schools would just be Scout Troops anyway! Probably best I stick with IT
then! Feel free to badge it anyway you feel fit, if it helps kids then it's
achieving what it was intended to do.
YiS
--
John McMahon
> snip <
> Bout time the Nat Curriculum had something useful in it!
Did a session on a County Incident Hike where we asked the YP to measure the
distance between 2 fixed points - on either side of a straight stretch of
canal!
As a hint we reminded them that they had a compass and we gave them a
measuring stick.
Amazing how few knew how to use Pythagorus Theorem, even though it is part
of the NC.
Another one for the list?
John.
GAGS
"John McMahon" <john.m...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:pSxMb.5295$OA3.1...@newsfep2-win.server.ntli.net...
Actually it isn't that amazing. Many kids don't see the revelance or use of
maths outside of the classroom. Many just wouldn't see the need to use
something they've been taught in school, Pythagoras' Theorem, to come up
with a solution.
What sort of approaches did they try? Get in the canal and then use the
ruler!
Kids even have a problem using maths in other subjects in school. I remember
setting a simple physics homework Q to a y10 double-science, higher tier,
class that caused them no end of problems. Q: A bogey loaded with 100kg of
coal sits on top of an incline on a railway track 50m long. If it's allowed
to roll freely down the slope and loses 20% of it's potential energy to
friction (sound and heat), what is it's velocity just as it reaches the
bottom of the slope? The bottom of the slope is 40m laterally distant from
the point where the bogey begins to fall. Assume there is no wind resistance
and g = 10 N/kg. What would be it's final velocity if the bogey only
contained half the amount of coal?
A's: Impossible to calculate! Dunno! This is too hard! Fast! It wouldn't get
to the bottom! Depends on how hard (?) someone pushed it! What type of coal
was in it? Etc.
Out of a class of 27 there were only 3 correct answers.
You do have to remember that some very young scouts may not have met PT
depending on the curriculum schedule in their schools (certainly by y8 they
should be familiar with it).
However, the sort of skill challenge you describe is one for Scouting;
probably included in an "estimation" programme item. Certainly I would
expect many scouts to have a reasonable grasp of simple estimation
techniques by the time they are 12-13, some maybe even earlier.
I always used to get the PLs to teach scouts these skills in their (the
scouts) second year in the Troop (11.5-12.5 age) because at that time they
were generally beginning to enter into district and county competitions and
there was always a good bet that in at least one of the competitions some
form of estimation/measurement etc would crop up. I also made sure that each
scout knew his own "body" measurements - stride length, shoe length, cubit,
span, etc. (And checked them from time to time as they were growing!)
Always came in handy! I remember one pair of my former scouts relating an
incident in a county hike competition where they had to estimate the number
of buckets of water needed to fill a canal lock. (The checkpoint was right
beside a canal lock.) They were given a bucket full of water and a spring
scale that weighed in pounds (not kgf or N!). No measuring sticks and only
20 mins allowed! When they had their estimate they had to tell the base
controllers an outline of the method(s) they used and the number of buckets
(for IIRC 70% and 30% of the marks)
Most competitors had a go but some just purely guessed and even those that
had an attempt in the end were guessing. Mine? Got within roughly 100
buckets - 73,200 compared to the correct answer of 73330. I recall the
figures because it was such an amazing feat!
Method IIRC was:
Weigh the water = 10 lbs
Now 10 lbs water = 1 gall.
And 1 gall = 4.5 litres
Measure the length of the lock using stride length and/or foot length.
Measure the width across the lock gates in the same way (or measure one gate
and double).
The lock was empty and it was brick-lined. Measure the height of one brick
(finger length/span). Count number of bricks from present level to water
("tide") mark when the lock was full and multiply by brick height to find
depth of lock.
Multiply length x width x height to find volume.
(IIRC they worked their lengths in cm and then converted to litres).
Divide number of litres by 4.5 to find the number of buckets.
I wonder how many Scouts could do this?
Not many I guess, but they should be able to have a good go at it and have
some idea of the approach to take.
> Another one for the list?
>
Yes problem solving challenges should also have some estimation challenges.
GAGS
John McMahon
news:4002c...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
>
> Yes problem solving challenges should also have some estimation
challenges.
>
I have a wonderful memory of the year that my Troop entered a team in the
County incident hike and blitzed it!
Only happened once, but I was ecstatic!
They finished an hour and a half before anyone else, completing all
incidents in the allotted time and getting maximum marks on most.
When they arrived at their last check point it was chucking down with rain.
I read out the task and stepped back, allowing my colleague (from another
Troop) to mark them on his own. At that point all the other teams had gone
through in bright sunshine and had been unable to complete the task.
They had to light a fire and boil sufficient water to make a cup of tea.
Allotted time 15 minutes.
1 match and 3 minutes later they had achieved it with full marks - as the PL
said "you don't need a bonfire for a brew".
John.
Derek Biddle
McMahon <john.m...@ntlworld.com> writes
Two six figure grid references and get them to find the distance
between the points using Excel.
Extend it.
Using sine and cosine, get them to find the angle between the points -
lead them (not tell them) about how negatives between the Northings and
the Eastings affect the angle to make it a bearing.
For the really interested, get them to do a route card where entering
the GR's and the heights will give the basic detail for the route card.
When I first did a route card this way, I was told it was cheating. If
you do it yourself, it isn't. It actually demonstrates that you have
understood how it all works.
If you use someone else's - that it cheating.
>
>John.
>
>
--
Derek Biddle