Rationale: This activity introduces the problem-solving process to students and encourages creative ideas.
Objectives:
- To practice thinking creatively, or thinking outside the box.
- To explore the role of creative thinking in managing conflicts.
Materials: None
Time: 10 minutes
Procedures:
- Draw the following on the board.
- Instruct students to connect all 9 dots with only four straight lines, without lifting their pen.
Solution:
- Lead a class discussion using some or all of the following questions:
- How were people able to solve the problem?
- What made it difficult?
- What made it easy?
- What did students have to do?
- How can this be applied to real conflict management issues?
Adapted from Exercise 5.4.2, Creating a Culture of Peace in the English Language Classroom by Alison Milofsky (United States Institute of Peace).
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