Rummikub for Team-building

Rummikub is a tiled game for 2 to 4 players, pronounced as ‘Rummy-Cube’.

It was created by Ephraim Hertzano, a Romanian Jew, who wanted to replace the traditional card games with colour cubes. Hence, if you are familiar with the Rummy card game, you will find it easy to learn how to play Rummikub. Oh yes, some even call Rummikub the American-style Mahjong.

Related: How A Funny Jewish Game Called Rummikub Became An International Sensation

Contents

  • 104 tiles of 4 colours (orange, red, blue, black)
  • Each colour has 2 tiles of each number, and the numbers range from 1 to 13.
  • The last 2 pieces are the wild tiles, also known as the Joker tiles.
rummy card

Instructions

  1. Every player gets 14 tiles at the start of the game.
  2. The first move of each player begins with placing a valid set(s) of at least 3 tiles on the table. It could be a sequence of tiles of the same colour and in increasing order OR a group of tiles of different colour and the same number. To increase the level of difficulty, the first move of each player must fulfil the earlier requirement AND that exceed a value of at least 30 points.
  3. If players are unable to play their first move, they draw 1 tile from the draw pile and pass their turn. This repeats until the player is able to play out their first move
  4. Once players make their first move, they could either make a new set(s) with the same criteria as (2) or make manipulations on existing sets. Players need to draw the number of tiles that they have passed out during their move.
  5. Types of manipulations
    5.1 adding tiles to the existing set(s)
    5.2 split existing set to create a new set; each set has at least 3 tiles
    5.3 the joker tile can be used to substitute any other tile
    5.4 replace the joker tile with the valid number and use it for another set. note that you cannot keep the joker tile for the next move
    5.5 players can rearrange the tiles to dispose of more of his/her tiles. similarly, you cannot keep the tiles for the next move
  6. Play continues until a player clears all the tiles. This player is the winner.
  7. If no more tiles are in the draw pile, the play continues until a player clears all the tiles. This player is the winner.
  8. If no valid plays are possible, the player with the least number of remaining tiles is the winner.

Rummikub first move
Rummikub Manipulative 5.2
Rummikub Manipulative 5.4
Rummikub Manipulative 5.5
Rummikub Manipulative 5.6

These are the few different version of Rummikub in the marketplace. Rummikub can also be found online. You can find the official Rummikub app and Rummy available on Android and iOS.

Rummikub
Rummikub
Rummikub

Rummikub is a brain burner. It develops the working memory and logical thinking; it reinforces STEM skills like sequencing, pattern recognition, planning and decision making.

Rummikub is also a good activity for reinforcing social lessons; playing as a team, learning to be a good sport, turn-taking, and how to lose gracefully. I bet you will still be talking about the fun after the game!

Related: Why Learning Through Play is Effective (and Fun!)

If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

Albert Einstein

Tangram Puzzle for Team-building

Tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle from the Song Dynasty. 

The 7-piece puzzle is made up of three shapes, namely

  • 1 square
  • 1 parallelogram
  • 5 triangles, coming in 3 different sizes

The objective of the activity to rearrange the puzzle pieces to form figures and all the pieces just be used without overlapping.

Tangram Template

Tangrams are simple shapes combined to create complex pictures. Tangram could be used as a team-building activity tool for adults, to promote the benefits of effective communication, spatial awareness, collaboration, coaching, problem-solving, time management and teamwork.

The brain teaser activity could be divided into various levels of challenge that each team could embark on. Following are some weblinks where Tangrams are used as a learning activity for adults

Tangram is also a good alternative for charade or taboo.

Level 1 Tangram Challenge

At this level, there will be at least 1 or 2 shapes that stands-out in the figure.

Tangram Level 1
Tangram Level 1

Simple Debrief Question: How difficult was the activity for you? What communication challenges did you experience?

Level 2 Tangram Challenge

At this level, instead of completing the tangram puzzle independently. It would be a team activity.

Tangram Level 2
Tangram Level 2

Thought-provoking Debrief Question: Was it more difficult for you to communicate a design to your partner or to build the design that was communicated to you?

Level 3 Tangram Challenge

Option 1: Recreate the Tangram figures.

Option 2: Create your own Tangram figures!

Creativity is Intelligence having FUN!

Albert Einstein

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