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BANK ROBBERY Age group: 14-18 Keywords: Cooperation, Problem Solving, Group Work, Communication, Logical Thinking. Time required: 45 minutes Number of people: 14-28 Equipment, materials, and space needed: Middle-sized to large classroom or outside space, pieces of paper with clues (instructions below). Activity explored and suggested by: Zaklad Doskonalenia Zawodowego w Kielcach - Poland.
Aim of the method: The aim of this method is to strengthen communication and teamwork, to stress the importance of each team member's contribution, and to reinforce the fact that each person's opinion, information, or idea should be respected and considered when solving a problem. It is also aimed to improve problem solving skills and logical thinking, as well as increasing the ability to make inferences, draw conclusions, and organise and analyse information. Preparation: The facilitator prepares the clues to be distributed among the participants. They should be on separate pieces of paper. The chairs should be arranged in a circle to ensure effective communication and good teamwork. No special equipment or materials are needed.
DESCRIPTION INTRO The facilitator welcomes the participants and explains that they are going to participate in an activity that is aimed at improving their communication skills, by making them work together and rely on each person's input for the solution of a mystery crime they are about to investigate. CREATING COMFORT The facilitator asks the group what information is crucial for a detective to solve a crime. A group discussion follows. The participants give examples of questions any detective has to answer when working on a case. For example: What time did the crime happen? Who are the suspects? What motives might each suspect have had? Were there any witnesses? GETTING INTO THE TOPIC The facilitator explains that the participants are a team of detectives whose task is to investigate a bank robbery that happened in their town the previous night. He or she sets up the scenario:
