[LM_NET] HIT: problem-solving stories for students to play/solve

[Kathy Berg <Kathy_Berg@BISMARCKSCHOOLS.ORG>]

Thanks for all the great ideas! 

 

I suggest George Shannon's books, Stories to Solve: folktales from
around the world. He followed this up with More Stores to Solve and
Still More Stories to Solve. These are great to share - my students love
them!

 

2 Minute Mysteries
5 Minute Mysteries
Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
Lateral Thinking Puzzles

There are many books called Lateral Thinking Puzzles, but the ones that
are by Sloane are my favorites (many of them are published by Price
Stern Sloane)  These are pretty short, but I make the kids ask only
yes-no questions.   I used them as class starters quite a bit when I
taught science.  Kids loved them, and, I think, became better
questioners in the process.  Sometimes I had to cut them off because it
was cutting into class time too much and we hadn't solved it yet.

There are some other books with longer scenarios that I can't remember
the names right now.  One I've purchased, and one I got at the public
library.  THe first two above have even been in our bookfair, and the
lateral thinking puzzles are sometimes at Borders or Barnes & Noble.

I couldn't find my favorite Sloane puzzle book on amazon, but if you
search by "lateral thinking puzzles" you get a lot of examples there.

 

I have been reading "The 39 Clues" series, which is a 10 book series
that has a main mystery to solve, each book by a different author, along
with some factual history thrown in.  The books need to be read to solve
the puzzle, but online there are more puzzles, games, critical thinking
type adventures to obtain more codes and clues to solve the puzzles.  I
have about a dozen boys into it right now and I have spent about 10
hours on it this last week!  The books are not very long, but will take
some time to read.

 

I wondered about the George Shannon stories TRUE LIES STORIES TO SOLVE,
etc.?

 

There are two organizations that really focus on problem-solving and
team-building activities.

 

The first is Instant Challenges from Destination Imagination.  Just
Googling those four key words gives 5- 10 minute activities that can be
acting based, activity based (they make something out of household items
like envelopes, paper, and mailing labels), or a combination of both.

 

The other is Project Adventure.  Some key books about Adventure
Education (think Outdoor Ed, or high ropes courses moved into the
classroom)

 

The bottomless bag again by Karl Rohnke. ISBN: 0-8403-8757-1 (pbk.)

 

Silver bullets : a guide to initiative problems, adventure games,
stunts, and trust activities  by Karl Rohnke.  ISBN: 0-8403-5682-X

 

The first thing that comes to my mind is the ever-popular Encyclopedia
Brown series. They are a compilation of short mysteries that readers
must solve (Solutions for each case are in the back of the book)

 

The other is a series Pioneer has called "Whodunits Dr. Quicksolve's
Mini-Mysteries" by Jim Sukach

 

I'm sure most have heard of the Donald Sobol books: Two Minute
Mysteries. They are fun and very thought provoking. There is also a game
called Mind Trap where participants have to "solve" short mysteries to
move on the board. The cards could be used for discussion starters in
small groups if the teacher didn't want to actually play the game.

 

Have you considered "Red Herrings"?  They are word puzzles similar to
Lateral Thinking Puzzles.  The teacher reads the situation.  The
students ask yes and no questions.  My students really respond well to
these and have a ton of fun as well.  I also use the game "Mind Trap" in
a similar manner.  Some cards in "Mind Trap" are number problems or word
situations that require the students to see the card. I just skip those
cards and read the problems.  They really like the murder questions
where they have to figure out how the person was murdered based on very
bare facts.  Like the one about a man who died in his bed by drowning
and it has to do with his bed being a waterbed.

 

 

 

Kathy Berg

Horizon Library Media Specialist

SLAYS Chairperson

http://www.horizon.bismarckschools.org/horizon/library/
<http://library.educ8.org/horizon/> 

 


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------