Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking games are a great way to get you thinking outside of the box. They often involve asking a question that doesn't have a clear answer. It turns out it is the question that is ambiguous and not the answer.

These games can be played on your own or with a team where one person knows the answer and everyone else has to ask questions to guess the answer. The one with the answer can answer "yes" or "no" or "not relevant" to each question...no hints.

Some questions before you start:

• Do these games assume you all have some of the same knowledge about our world? Some of them even assume cultural knowledge, not just scientific knowledge (check out Adam & Eve).
• Is this how we tackle our science and technology problems? With assumed knowledge (would throwing balls work on a space station?)
• Would it be better to approach our science and technology problems by 'thinking outside of the box'?

Some of these are serious...some aren't!

back to worksheets page.

Getting Older

In the year 1201, a woman was 35 years old. In the year 1206, the same woman was 30. How is this possible?

Answer.

Throwing Balls

How can you throw a ball as hard as you can so that it comes back to you? The ball should have nothing attached to it, it shouldn't hit anything, and no one else should catch it or throw it.

Answer.

Coin in the Bottle

Put a coin in a bottle and then stop the opening with a cork. How can you get the coin out of the bottle without pulling out the cork or breaking the bottle?

Answer.

Doctor

A man and his son were in a car accident. The man was killed but the son was rushed to the emergency ward. The Doctor on call took one look at the boy and exclaimed "I can't opperate on this boy. He's my son". How is this true?

Answer.

Adam and Eve

An archaeologist came across two perfectly preserved and naked bodies at her dig. One was male and the other was female. Immediately she knew they were Adam and Eve. How?

Answer.

Train

A train pulls into a station, but none of the waiting passengers move.

Answer.

And more.....

What do these mean:

HEAD
WATER

_________
READ
_________