Silent Square Tiles

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The tile pieces are for playing the Silent Square Game, a cooperative learning team activity. Each STL file shows how the completed squares should look. Silent Square Game Rules: Place students in teams of four. One student in each team will receive the game packet. The designated student will take the puzzle pieces out and sort them according to the letter on the back of each piece. There will be: 3 puzzle pieces with the letter A for student 1 3 puzzle pieces with the letter B for student 2 3 puzzle pieces with the letter C for student 3 3 puzzle pieces with the letter D for student 4 This is a silent game. Once the game begins, no one may speak. After each student receives 3 puzzle pieces (that will NOT make a square), they need to look at the pieces that their team members have. Everyone is encouraged to OFFER. No one may TAKE. They may ACCEPT a puzzle piece to use if OFFERED. Once anyone has 4 puzzle pieces, they should assess what they have, look at their team member's pieces and offer their extra puzzle piece to the person in their team who can best use it. The object of the game is for the team to have four squares of equal size; one assembled in front of each of the four students in the team. As the teams work, the teacher should circulate quietly observing. Reinforce the rules of the game if necessary. Print Settings Printer: Monoprice Select Mini Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.20 Infill: 20% Overview and Background Big Picture This activity supports team building in the cooperative classroom environment. Lesson Plan and Activity Silent Squares Adapted from Learning, August/September 1974. Break the Ice with 5 Squares by David Weitzman Materials: four envelopes with a mixture of puzzle pieces that when sorted will make four squares all the same size for each team of five people. Use the directions and square pattern sheets to print out instructions and five squares for each group of students. Cut them out and put all the three A puzzle pieces in an envelope, all three B puzzle pieces in another envelope, and so on for all pieces A-D. One envelope will be given to each person in a team of five. Instructional note: I have only used this activity with students age 10 through adult, therefore I changed rule 7 from its original form. This is a giving game. You will be given an envelope with three puzzle pieces, do not open it until you are told to start. This is a group game activity and you will be competing against the clock. Group Task The team is to complete five solid white squares in such a way that each player has a square the same size as all the other members in your team. In other words, every team member has to end up with the same size square. The game must be played in complete silence. You may not point or signal other players with your hands or in any other way. You may not take a puzzle piece from another player. You may not place a puzzle piece next to another player's puzzle piece(s) to help them try and construct a square. You may not fold a puzzle piece or overlap pieces to complete a square. When you have finished, cover your square with your envelope. This is a group activity, when all of you have an envelope, you may open them and begin. Processing suggestions: Ask how they felt about not being able to talk? How did you communicate without talking? How did you feel about the team that finished first? How do you think the teams felt when teams were finished before them? How is working with a group different than working alone? Discuss both good and bad attributes. What did you learn about working with others? (Sometimes you have to give up your ideas so the group can all progress.) Materials Needed Tiles You need the tiles and the instruction.