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Verbal Number Exchange

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Two people saying a number in Verbal Number Exchange

Verbal Number Exchange

Simple problem-solving exercise to sharpen listening skills.

  • Simple set-up
  • Develops listening skills
  • Promotes collaboration
  • No props

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Ask your group to stand in a circle.
  2. Ask one person to start numbering off by calling out “ONE.”
  3. The person to their left calls “TWO” and so on around the circle until every person has called a number in sequence.
  4. When ready, instruct every person to mingle with five other people in the group and exchange numbers with them.
  5. For example, if my number is 5 and the person I interact with is 12, I will become 12 and they will become 5. Then, in my next exchange, I will swap 12 with the number of my next partner, etc.
  6. Reiterate that each person will exchange numbers only five times with five different people.
  7. Challenge your group to not use any forms of visual cues to communicate or record their number, ie all communication must be verbal.
  8. Instruct each person to stop mingling with others when they have exchanged numbers five times.
  9. When all movement has ceased, invite your group to reform the circle in numerical order according to the last number they received, ie from 1 to the highest number.
  10. Advise your group that they are permitted to communicate verbally to achieve this task.
  11. Once the circle has formed, ask your group to call out their numbers starting from 1.
  12. Review the success or otherwise of the task.
  13. Repeat one or more times if required, and/or invite your group to reflect on their performance.

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