# Crosswords at the Expo

Participants solve a mini crossword puzzle individually or in small teams within a two to three minute window. Solvers earn tokens and record their finishing times on a leaderboard.

**Time:** 10 minutes. UWT suggested 10-minute workshop structure for Thiagi's 2 to 3 minute puzzle round
**People:** 1 to 24. Solo players, pairs, or teams of up to 4 players working at tables

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Test recall of key vocabulary or review topic facts under a brief time limit.
**Use it when:** Use during drop-in sessions, exhibition booths, or quick classroom review breaks when participants have only a few minutes to engage.
**Skip it when:** Skip when the group needs deep discussion, when vocabulary has not yet been introduced, or when participants feel undue anxiety around timed word games.

## Materials and tools

- Printed mini crossword sheets (1 per participant or team)
- Pencils or pens (1 per participant)
- Stopwatch or digital countdown timer (facilitator)
- Tokens or paper counters (1 to 2 per participant or team)
- Hall of Fame flip chart poster and marker

## Before participants arrive

1. Prepare the Hall of Fame poster with numbered ranks 1 through 5.
2. Stack crossword puzzle sheets face down at the station or table.
3. Place tokens and pencils within easy reach.

## Say this to open

Welcome. Here is a fast review challenge. When I say go, turn over your sheet. You have up to three minutes to solve the crossword. You can work on your own or collaborate with a partner. If you finish correctly, you earn a token. If your time is in our top five today, we put your name on the Hall of Fame poster.

## How to run it

### 1. Explain rules and mode (2 minutes)

State the time limit and target goal. Let participants choose whether to play solo, in pairs, or in small teams. Announce that passing or observing without playing is completely fine.

### 2. Run timed solve (3 minutes)

Start the timer. Participants flip their puzzle sheets and solve. Monitor progress silently. Call out elapsed time at 1 minute, 2 minutes, and stop at 3 minutes. Participants raise a hand when done so the facilitator can verify answers and note the finishing time.

### 3. Award tokens and update board (2 minutes)

Hand one token to each successful solver or collaborating pair. If competing in teams, award two tokens to the first group finished and one token to the runner-up. Record the top times on the Hall of Fame poster.

### 4. Review answers and reflect (3 minutes)

Read the correct answers aloud so everyone can self-check remaining clues. Ask one or two reflection questions to close the round.


## Debrief questions

- Which clue was the easiest entry point, and why?
- What strategy helped you or your team fill the grid quickly?

**Finished output:** Completed mini crossword sheets, awarded tokens, and an updated Hall of Fame top five leaderboard.

## Remote

Display the blank mini grid on a shared screen or distribute an editable PDF. Participants solve privately on paper or in breakout pairs. Use the digital meeting chat for participants to type 'Done' to claim completion order, then reveal the solution key.

## Hybrid

In-person and remote participants receive identical grids at the same time. Remote players submit completion time via chat timestamp while in-person participants call out to the room timer. The facilitator records all qualifying names onto one shared digital whiteboard leaderboard.

## Access and participation choices

- Provide large-print copies and an option to pair with a reader or scribe.
- Allow participants to observe, track the timer, or review the answer sheet privately without submitting times.

## If the session gets stuck

**A participant gets stuck on a single clue and stops writing.**

Remind everyone that crossing letters can reveal difficult words, and encourage skipping to easier clues first.

**Multiple players finish simultaneously, causing dispute over the Hall of Fame ranking.**

Record both names on the same line or award identical tokens to tie recipients.


## Terms used here

- Hall of Fame: A posted ranking sheet showing the top five shortest completion times across players.

## Participant material: Mini Crossword: Facilitation Basics

CLUES ACROSS:
1. Short exercise to break the ice (7 letters)
4. Visual sheet used on an easel (9 letters)

CLUES DOWN:
1. Clock used to track speaking turns (5 letters)
2. Action of guiding a group process (12 letters)
3. Tangible reward counter (5 letters)

SOLUTION KEY:
Across: 1. WARMUP, 4. FLIPCHART
Down: 1. TIMER, 2. FACILITATION, 3. TOKEN

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Workshops by Thiagi, Inc., 'Crosswords at the Expo' (copyright 1997, 1999 Sivasailam Thiagarajan).

Retained Thiagi's core mechanic of a 2-3 minute mini crossword, token incentive, flexible player count (solo, pair, or team), and the Hall of Fame poster. Added a standardized 10-minute workshop run sheet structure, sample facilitation-themed puzzle content, remote/hybrid adaptations, and concrete debrief questions.

[The Thiagi Group](https://thiagi.net/archive/www/game-expo.html)

[The Thiagi Group](http://thiagi.net/archive/www/game-expo.html)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/crosswords-at-the-expo/