DrawToast is a Wicked Problem Solving™ design exercise by Tom Wujec that unlocks our ability to solve complex problems through visual thinking.
Link to toolbox description
Draw how to Make Toast
Pie-/Cake-/Camembert-Method
Brainstorming method useful to analyse and focus on single aspects/topics/barriers in detail, without getting lost in complexity.
Number of People: 4–30
Place/Space: Indoor, classroom
Equipment:
- Flipchart
- Pen
Link to description (doc): Pie-Cake-Camembert-Method
Your Reputation Preceeds You
Easy ice breaker game for remembering names.
Link: Your reputation preceeds you
Photocredit: public domain
Who Am I?
Tower Construction
Marshmallow Contest
Marshmallow_contest
The lesson in the marshmallow challenge is that we need to identify the assumptions in our project – the real customer needs, the cost of the product, the duration of the service – and test them early and often.
6-3-5 Brainwriting
Groups-structured brainstorming technique, generating a multitude of ideas in a very short time: 6 minutes – 3 ideas – 5 people.
Number of people: any, groups of five (or 4, 6 or 7)
Time: 45 minutes
Place/Space: indoor, enough to give each group room to work
Equipment:
- Pen and paper
Link to description (pdf): Brainwriting-6-3-5
Draw (how to Make) Toast
DrawToast is a Wicked Problem Solving™ design exercise by Tom Wujec that unlocks our ability to solve complex problems through visual thinking.
Number of Persons: 6-30
Place/Space: indoor, room enough for everyone to be seated at tables
Equipment:
- flip chart (or stock of paper and clear wall space to mount notes for everyone to see)
- post it’s
- markers
- masking tape
Link to description (doc): Draw-Toast_En
Link to original detailed description (PDF): Draw Toast-web
Link to TED-video
Group Types
Group Types_En
This is a good tool to identify different group types and how they relate to each other
Walk to Earth
Walk to Earth is literally a grounding exercise, using the sense of touch to connect body, mind and earth.
Number of People: any
Time: 0.5 hrs
Place/Space: outdoor, open space according to group size
Equipment:
- none
Link to desription (doc): Walk to Earth
Magic Carpet / Tarp Flip
Short and fun physical exercise that requires cooperation.
Number of People: 5–15
Time: 0.25 hrs
Place/Space: any, 20 m²
Equipment:
- tarp
- ball (optional)
Link to desription (doc): Magic Carpet / Tarp Flip
Karaoke/Sing-Along
Multiple variations of karaoke/sing-along games with or without equipment needed and different duration of the activities.
1. Name That Tune
2. Rewrite the Song
3. Song Lyric Musical Chairs
4. Rock Star Sing Off
5. Misheard Lyrics
6. Karaoke Roulette
7. Blind Auditions
Number of People: 5–15
Time: 0.25–1.5 hrs
Place/Space: Indoor, as little as possible
Equipment (depending on the chosen game):
- Computer (optional)
- Internet (optional)
- Speakers (optional)
- Paper, pens, bowl (optional)
Link to desriptions (doc): Karaoke/Sing-Along
Photocredit: Steven Aguilar on Unsplash
Group SatNav
The group leads a blindfolded person verbally.
Number of People: any
Time: 0,5 hrs
Place/space: Indoor, 40 m² or more
Equipment:
- none
Link to desription (doc): Group SatNav
Pulling Numbers
The pairs are put together by pulling numbers.
Number of People: anything more than 10
Time: 0,1 hrs
Place/Space: any, 2 m² per person
Equipment:
- cards or pieces of paper with numbers, something to pull them out of
Puzzle
A picture is cut into 2 (or several) pieces. The matching pieces form pairs (or a group).
Number of People: anything more than 10
Time: 0,2 hrs
Place/Space: any, 2 m² per person
Equipment:
- pictures cut into two or more pieces (as many pieces as the desired group size)
Chair Contest
Group division (grouping) “by chair”
Number of People: anything more than 10
Time: 0,2 hrs
Place/Space: any, 5 m² per chair
Equipment:
- sturdy chairs to match the number of groups to be formed
Link to desription (doc): Group Division Games (3.)
Grapevine
Grapevine is an ice breaker game. People are introduced to each other in a creative way and get a chance to learn a few names.
Number of People: 10–20
Time: 0.5 hrs
Place/space: Indoor, ~2 m² per person
Equipment:
- pen and paper
Link to desription (doc): Grapevine
Photocredit: public domain
Dragon’s Tail Dodgeball
Dragon’s tail dodgeball is a dodgeball game for groups of at least 12 people. Several groups compete each other.
Number of People: 12 or (many) more
Time: arbitrary, short
Place/space: Indoor, outdoor, lots of space (at least 60 m²)
Equipment:
- You need at least one (soft) ball. In larger groups, several balls can be used as well.
Link to desription (doc): Dragon’s Tail Dodgeball