Crossed or Uncrossed?

Name and Purpose

Crossed or Uncrossed? is a thinking and observation game that rewards lateral thinking and patience.
Players practise looking past the obvious, questioning assumptions, and celebrating discovery.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 10-16 | 8-30 players | 10-15 minutes | Any space; best seated in a circle, indoors or outdoors

Materials

2 sticks, 2 pencils, or a pair of scissors (if scissors, use blunt-tipped craft scissors for younger groups)
A flat surface or lap for passing
No other materials needed

Quick-Run Card

Seat everyone in a circle. Leader holds two sticks or pencils (or scissors).
Leader passes to the right, saying: “I receive them [crossed/uncrossed] and I pass them [crossed/uncrossed].”
Each person repeats the statement and passes onward.
Leader and those who have figured it out confirm each person’s call as correct or not.
Continue until everyone has discovered the trick on their own.

Setup and Boundaries

Circle seating; everyone should be able to see each other’s hands
Signal: leader raises a hand to pause when someone is about to reveal the answer aloud; protect the discovery moment for others
No spoilers rule: once you figure it out, show it through your actions, not by announcing the trick

How to Play

Leader holds two sticks (or pencils or scissors) and demonstrates passing them to the right.
While passing, the leader says: “I receive them [crossed or uncrossed] and I pass them [crossed or uncrossed].”
The leader states whether their own call was correct or not. (Example: “I said ‘crossed’ and I pass them ‘uncrossed.’ Correct.”)
Each player in turn receives the sticks, makes their statement, and passes them on.
Leader (and those who have figured it out) announces after each pass: “Correct” or “Not quite.”
The trick: “crossed” and “uncrossed” refer to whether the passer’s legs or ankles are crossed or uncrossed at the moment of passing. It has nothing to do with the sticks themselves.
Continue until everyone has had their “aha” moment.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Fully engage in every pass, actively experimenting and guessing
S (Support): Once you know the trick, subtly give hints through your own body position to help others along
Q (Quiet): Sit and observe a few rounds before joining; no pressure to pass until you are ready
O (Observer): Watch the whole round from outside the circle, trying to spot the trick before joining for a second round

Inclusion Adaptations

Players with limited mobility who cannot cross or uncross their legs may use arms crossed over chest or hands on knees as the equivalent signal
Verbal adaptation: player says their call out loud as usual; the physical signal still works even if movement is limited

Stewardship Moment

After the activity, return sticks or pencils to the activity bag (30-second reset)
Reflection: “This game is about noticing what everyone else is missing. What other everyday things might we be looking past?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This is a discovery game. There is a trick, and the goal is to find it yourself. I won’t give it away. You might feel puzzled for a while, and that feeling is part of the fun.”
For those not comfortable with any part of this activity, sitting out or joining as an observer is another option.
Mid-game check: After a few rounds, check in: “Is the puzzle still fun, or does anyone want a small nudge?” Offer a hint quietly rather than in front of the group.
Opt-out/re-entry: Players may pass their turn and watch until they feel ready. No one has to guess.

Risks and Mitigation

Frustration from not figuring it out: normalise the puzzle phase; remind players that the discovery is the point, not the speed
Accidental spoilers: reinforce the no-spoilers norm at the start; ask those who know to show rather than tell
Sharp scissors with younger players: use two sticks or pencils instead

Warm-Up Suggestions

“What Do You Notice?”: leader holds up two objects in slightly different positions and asks players to describe what changed
“Pattern Clap”: leader claps a hidden pattern; group tries to identify the rule

Leader’s Reveal Guide

When to reveal: After 6-8 passes around the circle, or when you see players fixating on the sticks and growing visibly frustrated. If more than half the group has gone quiet, it is time. 10 minutes maximum.
How to reveal: Name the rule plainly: “The secret was… crossed and uncrossed had nothing to do with the sticks. It was about whether your legs or ankles were crossed or uncrossed when you passed them.” Demonstrate by crossing and uncrossing your legs while passing. Frame it as celebration: “The secret was hiding in plain sight the whole time.”
Bridge the gap: “This game is designed to send your eyes to the sticks. Everyone falls for it. The fun is in how long the misdirection holds.”
Option to extend: For players who figured it out, offer them a leadership role: “Want to be the judge for the next round? You can call out correct or incorrect while I play along.”

Debrief Questions

What? “When did you figure it out? What gave it away?”
So What? “What does it feel like to be focused on the wrong thing? Has that happened somewhere else in your life?”
Now What? “How could looking past the obvious help you in a tough situation?”

Cleanup and Reset