EINSTEIN’S RIDDLE Age group: 14-18 Keywords: Logical Thinking, Problem Solving, Deduction, Linguistic Competences, Group Work, Content and Language Integrated Learning. Time required: 60 minutes Number of people: 8-30+ Equipment: Laptop/computer, internet access, projector. Materials: Pens, copies of the riddle grid, picture of Einstein, and copy of Einstein’s bio. Space: Inside room. Activity explored and suggested by: Zaklad Doskonalenia Zawodowego w Kielcach - Poland.
Aim of the method: To promote logical thinking and problem solving skills especially using the elimination strategy, to increase the ability to communicate in English, to foster group work, to inspire the participants to use the Internet’s educational resources and exercise their brains in order to strengthen their cognitive skills and boost their memory and concentration. Preparation: The room should be arranged in such a way as to ensure effective teamwork, i.e. the tables should be pushed together in a way that enables the facilitator to move freely among the groups and offer individual help whenever it’s needed. It’s both important to support participant interaction and enable participant-facilitator communication. The facilitator should prepare copies of the riddle grid to be distributed among the participants and a print out of the picture of Einstein (below — preferably a bigger format) together with one copy of Einstein’s bio to read out to the group. He or she should also find examples of 2-3 simple riddles to use as a warm-up (examples are given in the description).
DESCRIPTION INTRO The facilitator welcomes the group. CREATING COMFORT To bring in an element of fun and surprise and get the participants’ interest, he or she can start off by telling them a simple logic riddle. This should not be very complicated to make the participants feel motivated and encouraged to face another challenge of this kind. Two or three minutes should be given before the participants are allowed to give the right answer in order to give everyone a chance to work out the solution.
EXAMPLES OF SIMPLE RIDDLES: ■ A grandmother, two mothers, and two daughters went shopping together and everyone bought one purse each. How many purses did they bring home altogether? ■ If four women can bake four pies in four hours, how many pies can eight women bake in eight hours?
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