Saturday, September 16, 2023

50 Verbal Spontaneous Problem Ideas for Odyssey of the Mind:

50 Verbal Spontaneous Problem Ideas for Odyssey of the Mind:

Here are some general directions and time frames for an Odyssey of the Mind verbal spontaneous problem:

The team will be given a verbal problem to solve on the spot. After the judges read the problem, teams will have 1 minute to confer before they present their response.

During the 1 minute of planning time, team members should quickly discuss ideas and decide how they want to respond. You could assign roles like who will speak first, who will present ideas, etc. 

When time starts, the team will have up to 4 minutes to present their response to the judges. Make sure your response is creative, addresses all parts of the problem, and shows teamwork. Speak loudly and clearly. You may use props or act out ideas if it helps explain your response.

Make sure all team members contribute in some way. You can switch off speakers, collaborate on ideas verbally, or act out things together. Show your team's creativity in solving problems on the spot!

Listen closely to the entire problem before planning and presenting your response. Ask the judges to repeat any part you don't understand. Your response will be scored based on how well you address all aspects of the given problem.

Stay confident even if you don't have a polished response. The judges are looking for creativity, teamwork, and quick thinking! Do your best to address the problem given in the time allowed.

1. You are a tour guide giving a tour of your hometown. Give a 1-minute introduction about your hometown's history, attractions, and why people should visit.

2. You are a chef demonstrating how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Explain the steps in detail.

3. You are a fitness instructor leading an aerobics class. Give a 1-minute set of instructions for an aerobic warmup routine.

4. You are an artist describing your latest painting to an audience. Describe the painting in detail including what it depicts, the colors and techniques used, and what inspired you.

5. You are a wildlife expert giving facts about penguins to a group of students. Provide at least 5 interesting facts about penguins.

6. You are a movie critic reviewing the latest superhero movie. Give a 1-minute critique explaining the plot, your opinion, and whether you recommend it.

7. You are giving advice to someone on how to change a flat tire. Give step-by-step instructions.

8. You are a travel agent recommending vacation destinations to a client. Suggest 3 places and give reasons why someone should visit each one.

9. You are a pizza chef demonstrating how to toss pizza dough. Explain the technique while pantomiming the motions.

10. You are a scientist explaining the water cycle. Describe the stages of the water cycle in detail.

11. You are a detective describing the events of a crime scene. Give a 1-minute summary of what you observed at the scene.

12. You are a radio DJ introducing a Top 40 song. Give background about the artist and why you think it will be a hit song.


13. You are giving advice on how to improve someone's golf swing. Provide 3 tips on proper stance, grip, and motion.

14. You are a tour guide describing your city's most famous monument. Describe its history, design, and why it's culturally significant.

15. You are a restaurant critic describing your experience dining at a new local restaurant. Describe the food, service, and ambiance.

16. You are a professor teaching a 1-minute lesson about photosynthesis. Explain how it works and why it's important.

17. You are a shoe salesman showing a customer how to tie shoelaces. Give step-by-step tying instructions.

18. You are an explorer describing your expedition up a mountain. Describe the trail conditions, wildlife, and view from the summit.

19. You are giving tips on public speaking. Provide 3 pieces of advice for speaking confidently in front of a group.

20. You are a principal giving a morning announcement to students. Provide a 1-minute update on school events.

21. You are a surgeon explaining an upcoming operation to a patient. Describe the body part, surgical process, and recovery.

22. You are a computer coder describing how to write an simple program. Explain the basic steps in kid-friendly terms.

23. You are a farmer talking about growing tomatoes. Describe when to plant them, how much water and sun they need, and when they are ready to pick.

24. You are a sailor describing how to tie basic sailing knots. Explain how to tie a figure 8 knot and a bowline knot.

25. You are giving advice to someone who wants to start a vegetable garden. Recommend 3 vegetables to plant and tips for taking care of them.

26. You are a hotel manager welcoming an important guest. Give a 1-minute speech highlighting the hotel's amenities and services.

27. You are an astronaut describing a spacewalk. Explain how you exit the spacecraft, move around, and what you see in space.

28. You are a bird watcher describing different types of birds. Name 3 common backyard birds and facts about their appearance, diet, nests etc.

29. You are giving advice to someone who wants to learn to play guitar. Provide 3 tips for a beginning guitarist.

30. You are a weather forecaster reporting this week's forecast. Describe the expected high and low temperatures and conditions for the next 3 days.

31. You are a coach giving a pep talk to your team before a big game. Provide encouragement and strategy in a 1-minute motivational speech.

32. You are a tour guide at the zoo introducing the gorilla habitat. Share interesting facts about gorillas' social structure, diet, behaviors, and endangerment.

33. You are an artist describing your painting of a landscape. Describe the scene, colors used, brush techniques, and what mood you were trying to evoke.

34. You are giving advice to someone who wants to train for a marathon. Provide 3 tips for beginning a running regimen and building endurance.

35. You are a book critic reviewing a new young adult novel. Summarize the plot and characters and explain why teens would enjoy reading it.

36. You are a crossing guard teaching pedestrian safety. Explain rules for safely crossing busy intersections and warnings about common dangers.

37. You are a phone operator walking a customer through internet troubleshooting steps. Clearly explain how to check connections and reset the modem and router.

38. You are a dance instructor teaching basic salsa steps. Describe the footwork while pantomiming the moves.

39. You are a camp counselor telling a scary story around a campfire. Tell a 1-minute suspenseful ghost story.

40. You are a bank teller providing instructions for activating a new debit card. Clearly explain the steps over the phone.

41. You are a doctor performing a check-up on a teddy bear. Use medical props and vocabulary to pantomime giving the bear an examination.

42. You are giving advice for healthy breakfast options. Recommend 3 nutritious breakfast choices and explain why they provide energy.

43. You are an astronomer describing a new comet you discovered. Share background on comets and facts about its size, orbit, composition, and viewing options.

44. You are a movie director explaining how to film a movie scene. Use acting volunteers to demonstrate blocking and camera angles for a dialogue scene.

45. You are a radio announcer providing live commentary during a football game's winning touchdown. Convey excitement using vivid imagery and descriptors.

46. You are a scuba instructor demonstrating how to use hand signals underwater. Silently pantomime 3-5 common scuba hand signals.

47. You are a choreographer teaching a short dance routine. Name the dance style and walk through the steps, counting out the timing.

48. You are a car mechanic explaining how to change a tire. Demonstrate where to place the jack, loosening lug nuts, and replacing the flat.

49. You are a youth coach giving encouragement after a tough loss. Provide a 1-minute uplifting speech emphasizing effort, teamwork, and resilience.

50. You are a tour guide describing your city's most historic neighborhood. Share facts about early settlers, architecture, and landmarks while depicting scenes.

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