VERBAL SPONTANEOUS PROBLEM: DESIGNING ANIMALS

JUDGE READS TO STUDENTS: (Do not read numbers or phrases in parenthesis.)

1. You will have one minute to think and three minutes to respond. Questions count against your thinking time.

2. You will receive one point for each common response. Highly creative or humorous responses will receive three points. This will be a subjective opinion of the judge and the judge's decision is final.

3. Each team member has been given 6 marbles (beans, whatever small item is handy for coach/judges). Each time you give an answer, you must put one marble in the container in the center of the table. You may not skip your turn, not repeat nor pass. If one member of the team is stuck, the team is stuck. When you have no more marbles or when three minutes ends, your response time ends.

4. Once the time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat or to clarify your answer, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.

THE PROBLEM IS: We all enjoy reading about animals that are "make believe," such as the "Push-Me Pull-You" in Dr. Doolittle. Your problem is to pretend you could add something to an existing animal to make a new animal. Tell what you would add to which animal and why. For example, you could say "I would give my dog a lion’s roar, so he would be a better watchdog." (Repeat "The Problem Is…").

Give each team member 6 small objects, and place a bowl or Tupperware™ container in the center of the table.

Be sure to give exactly one minute to think and three minutes to respond. Timing is critical. Students responding at the buzzer can finish and be scored.

You should repeat the problem for each team. You may answer questions during the one minute thinking period.

Score: One point for each common response and three points for each creative.

Common Responses: Anything that might make an animal prettier or more useful in an ordinary way, such as giving a cat a pink coat to look pretty, giving a giraffe wings to reach the tops of trees, etc.

Creative Responses: Any more humorous, unusual, or abstract changes, such as giving a pet dust mops for feet so he can dust the floors, or coloring an elephant with camouflage colors so he can hide in trees, etc.

NOTE: Once an answer is given and then another very similar answer is given, count it as common only and then declare any other answers that are basically the same as duplicates.