Why Knot?

Today I'm excited because we dressed as rockers to celebrate our volunteers who rock!

Such a Motley Crew we are!

Anywho, how many times have your students been stuck on a problem and the solution was pretty much staring at them, just willing them to figure it out? Sometimes we just have to let go and look at it from a different angle, with a different mindset, or from a different point of view, right?

Enter The Knot exercise. This is such a great visual for the need to keep an opened mind, to have a growth mindset, to allow yourself go after something from a different angle, to think outside of 
that proverbial box.

Give each student a 12" piece of rope, yarn, or string. Instruct them to hold one end in each hand and, without letting go, tie a knot. They'll try for awhile, but it's knot going to work! Process that with them. What do they do with seemingly impossible tasks, problems without clear solutions, like that one? Whom do they go to for help? How do they choose those people? This might just lead you into a "someone you trust" lesson, too!

Now lay that same piece of string down and cross your arms. With arms crossed, use your hands (one for each end) to pick up the rope. Uncross your arms and watch that knot magically appear.

Here's a quick tutorial to show you how it's done ...

why knot try it?

What other things could you use the knot to illustrate?