By thinking quickly and listening carefully, they practise association, collaboration and problem-solving in an engaging, playful way.
1. Form a circle
Ask the children to sit or stand in a circle and explain that you will start the game by thinking of a word, for example, "tree."
2. Step into the middle
Two children who think of a word associated with the starting word step into the middle of the circle.
3. Say words together
On the count of three, both children say their words at the same time. The goal is for both to say the same word.
4. Continue the chain
If the words are different, those two new words become the focus. Two new children step into the middle with a word associated with both of the previous words and say it together on the count of three.
5. Celebrate the mind meld
Continue until two children say the same word at the same time, then celebrate the group's successful mind meld.
This game encourages shared thinking and deep listening. Children enjoy the challenge of trying to match ideas, and it beautifully demonstrates how different minds can gradually come together through association.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
