Blue Square Challenge

• Handout (optional)

• Solutions (Teacher Resource)

• This slide deck where rules for the game can be displayed while the game is in play

• Blue painter's tape to construct one game board on the classroom floor for each student group

1. Prepare for the activity by laying down blue tape to match the Game Board as shown. 

2. Divide students into teams of at least eight.

3.  Project the Blue Square Challenge Game Board and Rules. Have each team choose four students to be “1’s” and four students to be “2’s.”

4.  Then, have them arrange themselves accordingly, as shown in the starting position on their Blue Square Challenge Game Board and Rules.

5.  Inform students of the game’s goal, which is for all of the teams to accomplish the task of swapping the location of Team “1” and Team “2,” while following all of the rules of the challenge.

6.  Project the following rules for students:

   1. • You can only move forward.

      • Only one person can be in a square at a time.

      •  You cannot pass anyone on your own team or more than one person at a time.

      • You can move into an empty space right in front of you or around a person facing you into an empty space (i.e., a person on Team “1” can “leapfrog” one person on Team “2”).

      • There is no talking for the first 10 minutes.

      • In order to prove your mastery of the game, you have to complete the puzzle three times.

      • Once you have mastered the challenge, you should observe other teams. You can only help if asked to, and you can only respond by asking questions.

7.  Continue the activity until all of the teams have accomplished the task or until there are approximately five minutes left in class.

8.  Close the activity with a verbal or written debrief using a few of the questions from the Stage 2 Debrief Prompts.

To increase rigor: 

To increase rigor, after each time that a team successfully completes the challenge, take away one sense for their next attempt (e.g., “No speaking,” “Eyes closed,” etc.).

To increase scaffolding:

To increase scaffolding, allow students on each team to serve as coaches and help their team with solving.

To integrate technology: 

To increase technology, use a timer to give teams a defined amount of time to complete the challenge.