Previous Verbal Challenges
Who lives here, and why?
2021, a Dog Odyssey
You will have 1 minute to think and discuss the challenge and 5 minutes to respond.
​
Your challenge is to tell a story about the character in the picture.
One team member will start the story off by saying something, then a different team member will add on to the story with another response.
The story ends after each team member has given 5 responses as part of the whole story
​
You will receive 1, 3, or 5 points for each response.
Responses will be judged on creativity and how well they add to the story.
No Phone, Oh No!
Imagine that you have moved somewhere where phones are not allowed.
​
Say how life would be different without your phone.
Each team member has 5 cards marked with different scoring values.
5 or 10, 4 or 8, 3 or 6, 2 or 4, 1 or 2. The lower value is for a common response, the higher value is for a creative answer.
​
Team members will take turns in order.
Before giving a response, you will hold up the card you’ve chosen and show it to the judges.
You should use your best five responses. If you believe your response is very creative, you
should choose a card with a higher value. If you think your response is less creative, you should choose a card with a lower value. After responding you will put the card in a container. Each card may only be used once.
You have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
Each team member has paper and pencil. During think time you are allowed to write down your ideas. You are not allowed to share your ideas.
It's for You!
Your problem is to imagine that you have a cell phone and can call a famous person or character and ask them any question you want.
​
Another team member will answer that question.
You will have 1 minute to think and 3 minutes to respond.
You may ask questions during your think time: however, time continues. No other talking is allowed.
​
Your team is to take turns in pairs by placing two index cards in the center of the table when the two team members are ready to give their responses.
​
Once time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat a response, or to clarify it, or to give a more appropriate response, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.
​
You will each have 6 cards.
Each round, two team members will place one of their cards in the center of the table.
One team member will place a call to a famous person or character and ask a question.
The other team member will answer that question, as the famous person or character.
For example, the first team member may ask “Hello Batman, where did you go in your Batmobile?”. The second may reply “I went to stop the Joker Robin the bank.”
You will receive 1 point for each common response.
Highly creative or humorous responses will receive 5 points.
Trail Travail
You are about to hike the Appalachian Trail, the longest trail in the world which is 2,200 miles long and takes over 200 days to walk from Maine to Georgia, but you forgot your backpack.
There are many dangers on the trail, wild animals, getting lost, falling ill, dangerous weather, raging rivers ... however you are in luck, and immediately you find 1 item on the trail
Your problem is to say what find and what how it will help you on your hike?
You will have 3 minutes to think and write answers on a sheet of paper and 5 minutes to respond.
You may ask questions during your think time: however, time continues. No other talking is allowed.
Scoring:
Common answers will receive one point
Creative or humorous answers will receive 3 points.
​
Once time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat a response, or to clarify it, or to give a more appropriate response, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.
​
For example, you may say “I found a PowerBar, I can power up the trail, barring any mishaps"
​
The History of the World – according to Facebook.
Your challenge is to give a Facebook status update for a historical character.
​
For example, you might say: "Christopher Columbus's status says he just discovered the new world."
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 3 points.
Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.
Oops Boss!
Imagine that you are the driver of this ice cream truck.
You parked your truck, stepped away for a moment ... and came back to find the scene in this photo.
Your challenge is to say how you will explain this to your boss.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 3 points.
Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.
Tree Dog
Your challenge is to say something about the picture or describe what the animal might be thinking.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 3 points.
Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.
Dear me!
Your challenge is to give a sentence that contains as many words that rhyme with "dear" as possible
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 3 points.
Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.
As light as a feather
Your challenge is to give a series of responses that increase in weight.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
Each of you has a piece of paper and pencil. During think time, you may write down as many words as you like, but you may not speak to each other.
The team is to give responses in any order that represent items that are increasingly heavy, starting with a light item.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. After starting with an initial response, before each subsequent response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
​
Once the team feels they have finished a sequence of responses, the team can start with another (light) item.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
Merely saying a multiple of the previous response e.g. A pencil, 2 pencils will only be allowed once in each sequence of responses, and will be deemed a common response.
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each response that represents an item that is heavier than the previous response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive an additional three points.
Freaky feet
Your challenge is to say something about the feet, or what one or both feet would say.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
Each of you has a piece of paper and pencil. During think time, you may write down your responses, but you may not speak to each other.
​
Your challenge is to give responses in any order about the feet, or what one or both feet would say.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive an additional three points.
Help, my teacher is a Vampire!
Your challenge is to say what would be better or worse, at school, if your teacher was a vampire.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
Each of you has a piece of paper and pencil. During think time, you may write down your responses, but you may not speak to each other.
​
Your challenge is to say what would be better or worse, at school, if your teacher was a vampire
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive an additional three points.
The Odd Couple
Your challenge is to say something about this picture, or what one animal would say to the other.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 5 minutes to respond.
​
Each of you has a piece of paper and pencil. During think time, you may write down your responses, but you may not speak to each other.
​
Your challenge is to say something about this picture, or what one animal would say to the other.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive three points.
Happy to Start or Happy to Finish?
Your challenge is to name a situation in which someone would be happy that it started, or happy it had finished.
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You can ask the judges questions; however, time will continue.
​
Each of you has a piece of paper and pencil. During think time, you may write down your responses, but you may not speak to each other.
​
Your challenge is to name a situation in which someone would be happy it is started, or happy that it had finished.
​
For example, you might say, “My teacher's happy when summer vacation starts” or “I’m happy when the dentist stops drilling”.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive five points.
​
Make more difficult:
Have team members alternate giving start or finish answers
Give a situation that would make some people happy that it had started, but other people sad, and say who was happy and who was sad.
Give a situation that would make some people happy that it had finished, but other people sad, and say who was happy and who was sad.
Changes
Your challenge is to name things that change or are changed. You may include how something is changed.
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You can ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You cannot talk to each other at any time.
​
Your challenge is to name things that change or are changed. You may include how something is changed.
For example, you might say, “Parents change their baby’s diapers.” or, “Acorns change to trees.”
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive five points.
​
Fixer-upper
Your challenge is to say something about the picture
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You can ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You cannot talk to each other at any time.
​
Your challenge is to say something about the picture based on one of the following:
1. You are selling the building.
2. It’s your home and you are greeting guests who have never been there before.
3. It’s the grand prize in a contest and you are awarding it to the winner.
4. You just finished fixing it up.
​
For example, you might say, “Welcome to my shack” or “It’s a fixer-upper”
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive five points.
​
Shark-week
Your challenge is to say something about the picture
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You can ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You cannot talk to each other at any time.
​
Your challenge is to say something about the picture.
​
For example, you might say, “I think I might need a new roof”
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before making a response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive five points.
​
Smile or Scream?
Your challenge is to name things that make you scream or things that make you smile.
You will have 1 minute to think and 5 minutes respond. You may ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You are not allowed talk to each other at any time.
Your challenge is to name things that make you scream or things that make you smile. You must say what it is and whether it makes you scream or smile.
​
There are 35 tokens and a container for the tokens that is placed on the table. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
For example, you might say, “A perfect Style score makes me smile,” or, “Losing my duct tape makes me scream.”
Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped, even if the judge hasn’t heard your response and asks you to say it again.
You can respond in any order. You will be finished when all of the tokens have been used or response time ends. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive one point for each common response.
If your response is considered creative or humorous by the judges, you will receive five points.
​
Once upon a time...
Your challenge is to tell a series of short stories that incorporate all of your chosen words.
This is a two-part challenge. You will have 1 minute to think and discuss the problem and 5 minutes to respond. You may ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You are not allowed talk to each other during response time.
There are 7 categories on the board (point to board). In Part I, each of you will choose one category and say a word that fits the category. For example, you might choose “pizza” for the food category. The judge will write your word on the board.
In Part II, you will give responses. Each response will be a short story that incorporates all the chosen words.
​
There are 14 tokens and a container for the tokens that is placed on the table. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
​
Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped, even if the judge hasn’t heard your response and asks you to say it again.
You can respond in any order. You will be finished when all of the tokens have been used or response time ends. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Judges:
Write the following categories on a chalkboard (or its equivalent) in full view of the team members:
Food, Animal, Place, Famous Character, Color, Emotion, Mission.
​
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive:
1 to 5 points for the creativity of each story
1 to 5 points for the creative use of the required words in each story.
Links
Your challenge is to give a response that links words from two different lists.
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You are allowed to ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
Your challenge is to give a response that links two words, one from each of these lists.
You will do this by rolling these dice and using the words that correspond to the color and number of the dice. For example, if you roll a red 2 and a blue 4 you would link a horn and a bear, so you might say, “They are both loud.”
If you roll a 6, you have a “free choice” and can choose any word listed for the color of that die.
Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped, even if the judge hasn’t heard your answer and asks you to say it again. You should not repeat a response that has already been given.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You will be finished when all of the tokens have been used or response time ends. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Judges:
Place a container and 35 tokens within reach of all team members.
Place one blue die and one red die in front of each team member.
Place the following lists in view of all team members. Be sure to label each list as “red” and “blue.” Incorporate the actual color on the list as well. You can use red or blue lettering, colored paper, or other markings.
​
Red Dice
1. Traffic Jam
2. Horn
3. Road
4. Sign
5. Light
6. Free Choice
​
Blue Dice
1. Quiet
2. Tree
3. Path
4. Bear
5. Bug
6. Free Choice
​
Scoring:
You will receive 1 point for each common response and 5 points for each creative response.
​
Princess in the Tower
Your challenge is to name ways to rescue the princess safely from the tower.
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You are allowed to ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
There is a princess trapped in a tower.
​
Your challenge is to name ways to rescue the princess safely from the tower.
​
For example, you might say, “I would fly to her window on the dragon and fly off into the sunset with her”
Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped, even if the judge hasn’t heard your answer and asks you to say it again. You should not repeat a response that has already been given.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any order. You will be finished when all of the tokens have been used or response time ends. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Judges:
Place a container and 35 tokens within reach of all team members.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive 1 point for each common response and 5 points for each creative response.
​
Wishing Well
Your challenge is to name someone or something that makes a wish and what they wish for.
You have 1 minute to think and 4 minutes to respond. You are allowed to ask the judges questions; however, time will continue. You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
There is a wishing well on the table in front of you.
​
Your challenge is to name someone or something that makes a wish and what they wish for..
​
For example, you might say “a pop star would wish for a number 1 record” or “a sheep would wish for some hay.”
Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped, even if the judge hasn’t heard your answer and asks you to say it again. You should not repeat a response that has already been given.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the wishing well on the table.
You can respond in any order. You will be finished when all of the tokens have been used or response time ends. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Judges:
Place a container labeled "Wishing Well" and 35 tokens within reach of all team members.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive 1 point for each common response and 5 points for each creative response.
​
Unexpected Delivery
Your challenge is to say either:
What you would want to find in the package
or
What you would NOT want to find inside the package.
You will have 2 minutes to think and 4 minutes to respond. You may ask the judges questions; however, time will continue.
During think time you are allowed to brainstorm ideas and write them down. When responding, you are allowed to refer to the list of responses that you created. You are not allowed to share your list.
When you want to make a response, you will select one of your cards and hold it up while you give a response. When you are finished with your response you will place it in the container. Each card may only be used once.
There are 7 sets of 5 different cards marked with two numbers. The low number on the card is what you will receive if the response is common, and the high number is what you will receive if it is creative. For example, if you use a 4,8 card the judge will give you 4 points if your response is common, and 8 points if it is creative.
Be sure to use the higher value cards for what you think are your most creative responses. Speak loudly and clearly. Once time begins, it will not be stopped.
You should not repeat a response that has already been given.
You will be finished when response time ends or when you have used all your cards.
The mail man has delivered a surprise package to your house.
Your challenge is to say either what you would want to find in the package or would NOT want to find inside the package.
For example you might say, “I would not want to find a snake”; or “I would want to find a creative answer”
​
Judges:
Provide pencils and paper for use by the team.
Place a container and 7 sets of five index cards, each one marked with one of the following values: 5 & 10, 4 & 8, 3 & 6, 2 & 4, 1 & 2 within reach of all team members.
Team members are allowed to talk in Part I and work on lists together, but remind them that lists cannot be shared during response time.
​
​
Scoring:
You will receive the lower number of points on the card you hold up for each common response and the higher number of points on the card for each creative response.
​
Mystery Words
Your challenge is to write a story that includes mystery words from each of seven categories
This is a two-part challenge.
You will have 6 minutes in Part I. You will be warned when 2 minutes, 1 minute, and 30 seconds remain.
You will have 3 minutes in Part II. You are allowed to ask the judges questions; however, time will continue.
In part 1 you will be given a list of seven categories.
In Part II you will be given seven mystery words, one that matches each category.
In Part I, your challenge is to write a story that includes a blank space or spaces for each of these seven categories.
​
For example you might write "One fine day a [person] climbed up to [place] to get a permit..."
In Part II you will substitute the categories with the mystery words.
Your story can include the categories more than seven times, as long as you use each category at least once. You are also allowed to insert the categories into the story in any order that you wish.
When Part II begins, you will be shown the mystery words that match up with the categories.
You will then have 3 minutes to read your completed story out loud, substituting the mystery words for the categories.
You may add an"a" or a "the" before each mystery word to make the story sound right
Each team member must read part of the story. You will be finished when response time ends or you complete your story.
​
Judges:
Provide pencils and paper for use by the team.
Print out and place the list of categories in full view of the team members in Part I.
​
List of Categories:
Person, Place, Thing, Action, Body Part, Emotion, Food
​
When Part II begins, replace the list of categories with the list of mystery words.
​
List of Mystery Words:
Witch (person), Basement (place), Cell phone (thing), Driving (action), Nose (body part), Suspicious (emotion), Waffle (food)
If necessary, remind the team that each team member must read at least one part of the story.
If all team members do not read part of the story, score low for how well the team works together.
​
​
Scoring:
You will be scored as follows:
1 point for each time that you use one of the mystery words.
10 bonus points if you use each mystery word at least one time.
20-35 points for the creativity of your story.
1-10 points for how well you work together.
​
When scoring how well the team works together, consider the extent that all team members are involved in developing the story: Did they delegate duties? plan out who reads and/or writes what? share ideas? Did the team members value one another’s input?
When scoring for the creativity of the story, consider how creative the story would have been if the team could have used a word of its choice in the story. The mystery words are included in the problem for humor; the creative aspect is how the team writes the story.
​
Examples of Common Stories:
Stories that do not make sense, even before the mystery words are added.
Stories that do not allow incorporation of all seven of the words at least once.
Stories that simply repeat words in order to get score without making sense in the story.
Stories that are literal without much embellishment.
Stories that are plausible, but not very imaginative.
Stories that are predictable.
Examples of Creative Stories:
Original or humorous stories.
Stories with an unexpected twist.
Incorporating the categories in an interesting way.
Stories that are written to make sense regardless of what words are used for the categories.
Stories whose plot changes several times but still have a common thread.
Stories that rhyme or use plays on words.
Spoofs of, or original versions of, existing stories.
Stories that are turned into an original song, e.g., a ballad or opera.
​
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table and then point to one of the situations.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
Your challenge is to point to a bad situation and turn it around so it seems like a good thing.
For example: You might point to #2 and say “I fell off my bike and found twenty dollars”.
​
Judges:
Provide pencils and paper for use by the team.
Place a container for the tokens within reach of the team.
Print out and place the list of situations in full view of the team members.
​
List of Situations:
-
The power went out…
-
I fell off my bike…
-
I forgot to do my homework…
-
My bed collapsed...
-
I couldn't stop hiccuping...
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 3 points.
Highly creative or humorous answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
When life gives you lemons...
Your challenge is to point to a bad situation and turn it around so it seems like a good thing.
Undersea Treasure
Your challenge is to say what could be inside the treasure chest.
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table and then point to one of the situations.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
​
Imagine that a ship carrying a treasure chest sank during a storm.
Your challenge is to say what could be inside the treasure chest.
For example, you might say, “Jewels” or, “A map to escape from the Bermuda triangle.”
​
Judges:
Provide pencils and paper for use by the team.
Place a container for the tokens within reach of the team.
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
Too Big
Your challenge is to name things that are too big and tell why.
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table and then point to one of the situations.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
Your challenge is to name things that are too big and tell why.
For example, you might say, “My friend’s head because he boasts a lot.”
​
Judges:
Place a container for the tokens within reach of the team.
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
Tips for Teams:
Tokens left on the table are lost points!!
Any response will be given a score whether the response is judged as being common or creative.
Usually in verbal the team will not be given a count down to the # of minutes left so the team should ask what time is remaining. That way they can judge how many tokens remain and how many quick responses they need to give in order to receive as many points as possible.
Is the team stuck? Look around the room for ideas. Build upon a previous response.
If a response is repeated a common score will be given. No more ‘repeat response, please try again!’ from the judges.
Speak loudly and clearly.
Before making a response team members should: pick up the token - hold it high - put it in the container - give a response. This alerts the judges as well as the other team members so they don’t all give a response at once. If the token is placed in the container before giving a response - that isn’t a problem but a response must be given.
Time Capsule
Your challenge is to say what could be inside the time capsule..
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table and then point to one of the situations.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the tokens run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
Imagine that you discovered a time capsule buried in the ground.
Your challenge is to say what could be inside the capsule.
For example, you might say, “A newspaper” or, “Messages from the past”
​
Judges:
Place a container for the tokens within reach of the team.
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
Tips for Teams:
Tokens left on the table are lost points!!
Any response will be given a score whether the response is judged as being common or creative.
Usually in verbal the team will not be given a count down to the # of minutes left so the team should ask what time is remaining. That way they can judge how many tokens remain and how many quick responses they need to give in order to receive as many points as possible.
Is the team stuck? Look around the room for ideas. Build upon a previous response.
If a response is repeated a common score will be given. No more ‘repeat response, please try again!’ from the judges.
Speak loudly and clearly.
Before making a response team members should: pick up the token - hold it high - put it in the container - give a response. This alerts the judges as well as the other team members so they don’t all give a response at once. If the token is placed in the container before giving a response - that isn’t a problem but a response must be given.
Animal Talk
Your challenge is to respond to each of these animal pictures
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 7 numbered pictures and 35 numbered cards in front of you. Before each response, you will place a card in one of the containers in front of corresponding picture on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the cards run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
Your challenge is to respond to each of these pictures (point to pictures). When you give your response, you must include the animal in your statement. For example you might say, “What big teeth that killer whale has,” or, “The lamb’s mom just made him eat Brussels sprouts.”
There are 7 piles of cards that are numbered to match the numbers on the pictures (point to numbers on pictures).
Before you respond about a picture, you must place the card in the container in front of the picture that has the matching number on it. (Demonstrate to team.)
​
Judges:
Place the 7 numbered pictures and 35 cards numbered 1 to 7 in the center of the table
Place a container numbered 1 to 7 for the cards in front of the corresponding picture.
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
Tips for Teams:
Cards left on the table are lost points!!
Any response will be given a score whether the response is judged as being common or creative.
Usually in verbal the team will not be given a count down to the # of minutes left so the team should ask what time is remaining. That way they can judge how many tokens remain and how many quick responses they need to give in order to receive as many points as possible.
Is the team stuck? Look around the room for ideas. Build upon a previous response.
If a response is repeated a common score will be given. No more ‘repeat response, please try again!’ from the judges.
Speak loudly and clearly.
Before making a response team members should: pick up the card - hold it high - put it in the container - then give a response. This alerts the judges as well as the other team members so they don’t all give a response at once. If the token is placed in the container before giving a response - that isn’t a problem but a response must be given.
Blankety-blank
Your challenge is to fill in the blanks in one of these 5 sentences.
You will have one minute of think time and four minutes to respond.
You are not allowed to talk to each other at any time.
​
There are 35 tokens in front of you. Before each response, you will place a token in the container on the table.
You can respond in any sequence. You may give responses until the team no longer has any tokens or until time ends, whichever occurs first. Each team member may give as many or as few responses as they wish, until the cards run out.
​
Questions count against your thinking time.
Your challenge is to fill in the blanks in one of these 5 sentences.
1. I hurt my ______ when ______.
2. I used my last ______ when ______.
3. I wished for ______ because ______.
4. I was doing ______ when ______.
5. I got ______ after ______.
You may use any of the sentences for your response.
For example you might say, “I wished for a Valentines Card because I was in love” or, “I got the flu after my teacher sneezed on me”
​
Before you respond, you must place a token in the container. (Demonstrate to team.)
​
Judges:
Place a print out of the sheet with the 5 sentences and the 35 tokens within reach of the team.
Place a container in the center of the table.
​
Scoring:
Common answers will receive 1 point.
Creative answers will receive 5 points.
You will be finished when response time ends or you have used all of your tokens.
​
Tips for Teams:
Tokens left on the table are lost points!!
Any response will be given a score whether the response is judged as being common or creative.
Usually in verbal the team will not be given a count down to the # of minutes left so the team should ask what time is remaining. That way they can judge how many tokens remain and how many quick responses they need to give in order to receive as many points as possible.
Is the team stuck? Look around the room for ideas. Build upon a previous response.
If a response is repeated a common score will be given. No more ‘repeat response, please try again!’ from the judges.
Speak loudly and clearly.
Before making a response team members should: pick up a token - hold it high - put it in the container - then give a response. This alerts the judges as well as the other team members so they don’t all give a response at once. If the token is placed in the container before giving a response - that isn’t a problem but a response must be given.