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Brainteaser
Connecting the Dots

You will need a paper with 9 dots, a pencil or pen, and will have 2 minutes. This can be done with or without a partner. You can put the dots on the board so you can demonstrate the solution at the end.

Tell your students:
“Using your pencil/pen, draw four straight lines to connect the dots without lifting your pencil/pen.”

After 2 minutes, if anyone was successful have them demonstrate the solution. If not, show the correct way to connect the dots. Have the students discuss why they had difficulty (stayed “inside” the box etc.) and have them “reflect” on what this exercise proved relative to how they approached the problem, to unwritten “rules” (staying inside the box”). Would brainstorming have helped? Would coaching/mentoring (with hints) have helped? Remind them that these strategies are part of the inventive process…from brainstorming to scaffolding (hints), to modeling (demonstrating). The solution is the second slide of the powerpoint available for download here.