Better Than BingoActivity slides
Better Than Bingo · Activity Slides
The Mystery Supply Build
Use ordinary classroom supplies to build a tiny solution to an imaginary school challenge.
15–22 min4–50 peopleSmall groups
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Facilitator prep · Do not project yet
Set the room up for success.
Materials
- Paper
- Sticky notes
- Tape
- Markers
- Optional cups, index cards, or craft sticks
Before you begin
- Place a similar small supply pile at each table
- Choose one imaginary design challenge
- Set an eight-minute timer
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Facilitator language · Do not project yet
What to say
“Your table has eight minutes to build a tiny solution to a completely unreasonable school challenge. It does not need to work. It does need a name and one feature you can defend.”
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Facilitator notes · Do not project yet
Keep it comfortable and useful.
Make room for everyone
- Offer roles such as idea generator, builder, label writer, timekeeper, and presenter.
- Do not require standing or fine-motor work from every participant.
- Allow a drawn design instead of a physical model.
Watch out for
- Do not turn the activity into a contest for artistic skill.
- Avoid waste by reusing clean supplies and dismantling builds afterward.
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For the group
Here’s what to do.
- 1
Reveal the design challenge and supply limits.
- 2
Give teams one minute to generate ideas without touching the supplies.
- 3
Start the eight-minute build.
- 4
At halfway, announce an optional plot twist such as ‘It must now fit in a backpack.’
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For the group
Keep going.
- 5
Ask each team for a 30-second share: the name and one feature.
- 6
Invite the room to applaud useful absurdity rather than rank the builds.
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Prompt 01
Build a device that prevents Sunday-night school dreams.
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 02
Design a machine that returns every missing pencil.
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 03
Create a tool that makes the copier work on the first try.
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Prompt 04
Build a model of the world's most welcoming staff room.
Take a moment to think. Passing or writing instead is always okay.
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Wrap it up
One last thought.
- What helped your group begin before it had a perfect idea?
- What feature improved because someone built on another person's thought?