Missing Pieces Puzzle
Each team member must build a complete square from mixed paper pieces, working in silence and only by giving pieces to others.
- Time
- 20 to 30 minutes
- People
- 5 to 30
- Where
- In person
- You need
- five envelopes per team, card stock squares cut into pieces, scissors for setup
How to play
- Before the game, cut five same-size card squares per team into three pieces each, using a different cut for every square.
- Mix the 15 pieces and put three into each of five envelopes, making sure no envelope holds a full square.
- Seat teams of five around a table and give each player an envelope.
- Explain the rules: no talking, no pointing, no taking pieces; players may only give pieces to others.
- The team succeeds when all five players have a complete square of the same size in front of them.
- Debrief on what helped, such as noticing what others needed or giving up a piece from a square that looked finished.
Tips
- Extra people can act as silent observers who share what they saw during the debrief.
- Keep the first round to about fifteen minutes and offer a hint if a team is close but stuck.
Variations
- Talking round: replay with talking allowed and compare how long each round took.
- Bigger teams: cut six or seven squares for groups of that size.