Group Size: 1 to 50+
Time Needed: 10 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the group and size of puzzle. For small puzzles 10 minutes is good; for larger puzzles, allow 20 minutes.
Goal: To cooperate and to facilitate team building
Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Children, Singles
Special Considerations: Tables, Small or large jigsaw puzzles
Resources Needed: None
Step-by-Step Instructions
- The facilitator breaks the class into smaller groups and gives each a dissembled jigsaw puzzle without a picture of what it is supposed to be.
- The participants must put together the puzzle without seeing the picture.
- The first team to complete the picture wins.
Tips for Discussion and Processing
Begin by processing how difficult it was to put together a puzzle without knowing what it’s supposed to be. Talk about how important it is to have a picture of what you want for your life and to “begin with the end in mind.” If the participants had a picture of what the puzzle should have been, they could have completed it much quicker. This discussion can also be tied into teamwork and how cooperation and working together makes a difficult task much easier.
Note: These activities can be modified to reflect a variety of skills.