Connect the Dots
Activity Summary
This is a short creative exercise. Students must try and ‘think outside the box’ to try and connect all 9 dots.
Activity Plan
1
2 min
Each student should have a piece of paper (A4) and a pen/pencil. Students are asked to draw 9 dots in rows of 3 (or this can be given out as a template to students.
2
2 min
Students are instructed to draw 4 straight lines through the dots, (so that all dots are covered/connected) but… the lines have to be connected so you can’t lift the pen off the paper.
They can have as many goes as they can within 2 mins.
3
5 min
Show them off! Students work in groups to discuss the following questions:
- How was that? Challenging? Easy?
- Did anyone connect all the dots in one continuous line?
- Did anyone think outside the box?
4
5 min
One student from each group can give feedback to the teacher/class to summarize/evaluate how students in their group got on. Opportunity here for the teacher and students to discuss the purpose behind the activity (i.e. to activate creative thinking).
Example of circles students should draw on A4 sheet.
Tips & Tricks
- This is a creativity warm-up exercise; its purpose is to encourage ‘outside the box’ thinking and to help students get into a creative mindset. This exercise should spark original thinking, fun, curiosity and enthusiasm in students encouraging them to practice this mindset throughout the lesson.
- It can be used as a ‘hook’ at the beginning of a lesson or as creative break during a lesson if students are becoming disengaged or tired.
- Warm-up & attention-grabbing exercise.
- Activity can be adapted so that students can work in pairs or groups.