Sentence Shuffle
Type of Initiative: Problem Solving
Source: Playing With A Full Deck, by Michelle Cummings
Props Needed: playing cards, one per participant
Group Size: Best played with 5 or more players. Small groups of 5-6 is recommended.
Aim of the Game: The object of Sentence Shuffle is to line up the cards in “sentences.” In this game, cards have an alphabetical value, rather than a numerical one. Each card stands for the first letter of its name.
That means, ace = A, King = K, Queen = Q, Jack = J, Two = T, Three = T, Four = F, etc.
Playing the Game: Divide the team into smaller groups of 5-6. Deal each participant a card. Ask them to keep their card and not trade it with anyone. Each group must compose a sentence using their cards using alphabetical values. Participants must stand in the correct order and present their sentence to the larger group.
For example, one group of 6 participants is dealt an ace, three, two, king, four, and a seven. Their sentence might be, “A tiny taupe kangaroo falls softly.”
Encourage each group to come up with 3 or 4 sentences.
Sample sentences:
Four—Queen—Two—Six—Seven:
“Father quit the Secret Service.”
Eight—Three—Seven—Five—Six:
“Eat the soup for supper.”
Debriefing Topics:
- What made this activity unique?
- How did your group work together to come up with your sentences?
- Who was the leader in your group?
Learning styles utilized from the 7 Kinds of Smart: ~word smart, people smart, logic smart
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