Bank Robbery BOSSE * Problem solving * Teamwork and group dynamics * Communication skills NESRHE ( 25-40 MINUTES ) This activity is @ fun way for groups of all ages to work ‘through a problem that relies on every member's input for the solution, Each participant is given an essen- tial piece of information about @ fictional bank rob- bery that has taken place, and group members must, work together, using the clues to solve the crime. The activity illustrates the importance of organization GOALS Participants will: + earn to involve and rely on all members to ‘accomplish & fosk ** srerigihen communication and teamwork skills in @.group setting + clarify how lo solve problems ond achieve goals despite possible roadblocks MATERIALS NEEDED = Scissors + Handouts: “Bonk Robbery Clues” [pages 140-141) and “Bank Robbery Key” (page 142) group problem solving and highlights ways the group can improve their teamwork to solve real problems ‘they may encounter in the future. At the same time, it, reinforces the fact that all team members have some. thing valuable to contribute and that it is important to consider everyone's viewpoints, ideas, and informa- tion when problem solving. GETTING READY i ‘Make fwo copies of the "Bank Robbery Clues.” Keep ne for your reference; cut the other into individual clues, one for each group member. Fold the cles : in alto hide the information on eoch sip. Enough | clues or included for 0 group of 28. Ifyou have i fever members, double up xome clues 50 that random members receive more than one civ. Ifyou wish, you | can remove the lot four clues foro fetal of 24 cues. Although not essen, the lst four save fo further com: | plicate the picture as fens work 10 solve the mysary. I your group has more than 28 members, hove one teen. serve asa timekeeper and ony athors as observers, if you Wish; make a copy of the “Bank Robbery “| Key" for yourself. + ‘Organize the chairs in o large circle so teens can see one another. 138i | | | | Activity ‘When teens arrive, ak them to sit on a chair in the cir- le, Do not ask the teams to designate a leader. Explain the activity like this: You have just learned that « neighborhood bank in New York City has been robbed of one milion dol lars. This group is the detective team that is inves- figating the robbery and attempting to identify the thief oF thieves. Each ofthe slips of paper I'm hold- ing contains a due about what happened. If you put all the facts together, ou'l salve the mystery. There are a few rules to follow so the i tion is not compromised. Fit chairs in any way you want, but you're to rem yur seats—you may not get up and walk around the group while you're working. Second, you need to share the information in your clue orally—by talk- ing. No passing clues around or showing them to anyone else, and no writing them anywhere either! Remember, everyone's cluo is important, In addition fo learning who committed the rob- bery, you need to figure out the alibis of the other people being investigated—where they actually were at the time the bank was robbed. Anytime the entire group agrees that it has an answer, you can fell me. If you're right, I'l tell you. If not, | will only fell you whether your answers are incorrect—not which ones are wrong. You'll have 25 minutes to talk fogether and try to solv the crime, Answer any. questions and then pass out the clues, making sute that people don’t show them to others in the group. If your group has observers, allow them to make minor suggestions to the group about how they can work together more effectively, but remind them not to suggest ideas about the solution. ‘As facilitator, stand unobtrusively outside the group and indicate every 5 minutes of time that passes. You may want to jot notes about the group's organization, how it works together, stumbling blocks, communica- tion styles, and so forth. Refer to these when the group discusses the experience during “Talk About It.” Regardless of whether the group solves the mystery, end the process after 25 minutes. Allow teens a few min- utes to go around the circle and share their clues. If the group didn't solve the crime, share the actual solution before discussing what happened during the activity. Bank Robbery 139 Talk About It Take 10-15 minutes to talk about the activity. Con- sider these discussion questions related to the group's, experience: + How did your way of working together change «a the activity went along? What would you do in real ife ifthe same thing were happening ina group you're a member of? * Ifyou figured out the mystery, was it easy or hard to do so? How did your group come up with the answer? Ifthe group didn’ figure out the mystery, ‘what needed to happen in order for you to do so? * Wes a leader needed fo accomplish his goal? If yes, who emerged as a leader? (Talk about how this leader emerged.) I not, what does this tll you about how your group solves problems with- ‘outa leader? + How did it feel to need every single person to take part in solving the crime? Was anyone overlooked cr did anyone dominate the process? How di this affect your group's success? What steps can be token to make sure everyone on your team is included when working foward a cerlain goo? ‘+ What hoppened when someone forgot a clue or made an incorrect connection between clues? How did your group communicate and react in this situation? * Were there any moments when you wanted to cheat—for example, by passing around the clues, laying them out in order, or walking around to 00 other people's clues? Why did you or didn’t you do this? How does this relate to real Sitvations where you receive clear instructions ‘on what is acceptable for accomplishing a goal? + If this had been an important rechife situation, how well would the feam have done? Explain. Wrapping Up Encourage teens to observe the ways they solve problems when participatingas individual members of group. Also ask them to notice how people are included or excluded when decisions are made. Remind them to keep in mind ‘hat they've learned about listening to and counting on all members ofthe group and to apply it the next time the team encounters a decision-making situation.ty Bank Robbery Clues evening. The president of the bank, Mr. Moneybags, left before the robbery was discovered. Authorities at the Mexico City airport arrested him at noon on Fridoy. The president of the bank had been arguing with his wife about money. He had talked frequently about leaving her. ‘Margaret Charity often borrowed the president's key ‘amount of work to do. Company employee, George Charity, said that a strange person had been hanging around the construction company on Wednesday afternoon. The strange person who had been hanging around the bank and the construction company is John Rosales. John Rosales had recently dropped out of New York University and was found by police in East Baystream, about 10 miles from New York City. John Rosales was carrying $500 when police apprehended him. He had thrown something into the river as the police approached. ‘Aimee Chang of East Baystream fold police that she had bought $500 worth of genuine antique glass beads from John Rosales, and that she planned to resell them in her boutique in downtown East Baystream. rom abn wi en Ae trap, Ds Making and Gap Say Motion Maes, MS, yh © 2008 FS ig be 140 Meas HN, wba che pag ay pad n,n on pw eye lhe oa, nr aS} Bank. Robbery Clues (continued) Aimee Chang said that John Rosales had spent Thursday night at her parents” home ond left aer @ pleasant breakfast on Friday moming. Margaret Charity stated that her brother, George, had seen Peter Smith running from the bank as George was strolling to the 24-Hour Diner for coffee around eleven o'clock Thursday night. The FBI in Atlantic City, New Jersey, found Peter Smith on Friday. He had arrived there by train at five o'clock Thursday evening. In addition to keeping payroll records, George Charity is in charge of the dynamite supplies of the ‘Acme Construction Company. | Mr. Moneybags waited in the terminal at the Los Angeles airport for 16 hours because of engine trouble on the plane he was to take to Mexico City. John Poorman appeared in Los Angeles on Monday waving a lot of money. i John Poorman wanted to marry Peter Smith's sister. H inns ar: A i od ncn Maki, md Crp Sct by Nari G Nina, MS. cpg © 008 Fre Sp Ring ie 141 vn coom, rd gp wok ony Fr ol chor a cl 107357325.Bank. Robbery Key The Charitys worked together to rob the bank. Margaret Charity supplied the front-door Key that she had borrowed from Mr. Moneybags. Her brother, George Charity, supplied the dynamite. ‘Mr. Moneybags had already left for Mexico when the robbery took place. Peter Smith was already in Atlantic City on the night of the robbery. The Charritys were lying when they tried to frame him for the robbery. . John Rosales was at Aimee Chang's parents’ house. There was no evidence that Mr. Moneybags’s brother John Poorman had anything to do with the robbery. fon nbg wih ii lode, Dt, nd Cp Sry Maton ecm MS, gh ©2008. F Spe bang 142 ‘meni Ne wange oe. os ap ay pnd cron on poy che ol SOEE EA