The space shuttle has broken down, but it contains oxygen desperately needed by the Moon base! Communication is by text only, can the Moon base communicate the fix to the shuttle before they run out of air?
Both teams will be lost forever if they cannot communicate and get the shuttle moving again!
Inside the engine room of the space shuttle a critical part, the propulsion regulator, has broken, exploded into lots of tiny pieces. There is no spare part on board but the crew do have lots of components that they could use to make another one, if only they knew how.
The Moon base crew have a spare propulsion regulator in their repair kit but they have no way to get it out to the space shuttle. Instead the Moon base crew needs to explain to the shuttle crew, using only old fashioned text communication modules, how they can build their own!
(That probably isn't enough time, but should give you an idea of how this game works.)
Step 1. Examine the propulsion regulator part. Pay attention to what it is made of and how the pieces are put together.
Step 2. Using your text communication device send messages to the space shuttle crew telling them how to build an identical version with the pieces they have. You cannot send them any images, only words.
Make your instructions as clear as possible, the shuttle crew have more pieces than just what they need to make the part.
Step 1. Look through the box of pieces that you will use to make a new propulsion regulator part.
Step 2. Follow the instructions sent to you through your communication device. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you are not sure what their text is saying.
Step 3. When you think you have the part built correctly you can send someone in a space suit over to the Moon base to check. If they text you to say you got it right hooray you have succeeded and the space shuttle lands safely on the Moon.
Step 4. If your device is not built correctly the person who went to the Moon base cannot get back out to the shuttle, now your smaller team must keep trying to build it properly with more instructions.
You can only check your build twice before you have failed so be careful!
Team 1: Three players on the shuttle
Team 2: Three players on the Moon base
A burner phone with lots of credit, or one of a pair of walkie talkies.
A box of equipment needed to build the fix, Duplo, playdough, wires, battery box, two AA batteries, some LEDs and other stuff.
A completed version of the structure, created using Duplo, playdough, wires, battery box, two AA batteries, some LEDs.
The amount of time and the complexity of the propulsion regulator can be changed depending on the age and skills of the players. Similarly the method of communication and the size of the group can be varied to encourage teamwork and collaboration over written communication skills.