Doing a presentation about SpeedCubing

[CatSharked]

Okay so there's a school that wants me to do a speedcubing presentation for a group of elementary school kids. They know nothing about cubing and they think I hold the world record or something. This is an opportunity to get an entire school interested in speedcubing, but I have no idea what I should tell them, and the presentation is tomorrow. Do any more experienced cubers have some advice for how I could teach young kids about speedcubing? I've never taught anyone how to solve a cube before.

 

[Gecko777]

go with your gut

 

[Arcanist]

Okay so there's a school that wants me to do a speedcubing presentation for a group of elementary school kids. They know nothing about cubing and they think I hold the world record or something. This is an opportunity to get an entire school interested in speedcubing, but I have no idea what I should tell them, and the presentation is tomorrow. Do any more experienced cubers have some advice for how I could teach young kids about speedcubing? I've never taught anyone how to solve a cube before.

1. I feel like you can first try and entertain them with a solve to hold their attention.
2. You could also try and convince them that it is possible to solve a cube.
3. Maybe give a bit of history on your own speedcubing career and how they could get into it.

 

[1x1 wr holder!]

wait, how long does the presentation have to be, how long have you had to plan, and is your objective really to teach them all how to solve a cube?

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

Try to bring and solve as many cubes as possible. Show them Yiheng Wang. Bring a bunch of mini cubes and teach them how to solve a rubiks cube. And describe the different methods.

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

What gggrade?
(my g key is stuck)

 

[CatSharked]

wait, how long does the presentation have to be, how long have you had to plan, and is your objective really to teach them all how to solve a cube?

It's an after school program so it's like 1 or 2 hours. It's tomorrow, so I have a day to plan. My objective is to answer any questions they have about cubing. If they want to know how to solve it, I will teach them.

Try to bring and solve as many cubes as possible. Show them Yiheng Wang. Bring a bunch of mini cubes and teach them how to solve a rubiks cube. And describe the different methods.

I have 2 extra 3x3s, a rubik's 2x2, and a really bad skewb that I can bring. They have already seen a video of me solving (the reason they want to meet me), but I could also show them some of the top cubers. I think to start I will tell them the basics of the beginners method.

1. I feel like you can first try and entertain them with a solve to hold their attention.
2. You could also try and convince them that it is possible to solve a cube.
3. Maybe give a bit of history on your own speedcubing career and how they could get into it.

They have seen a video of me doing a solve before, but that would be an even better reason to tell them about my career

 

[CatSharked]

What gggrade?
(my g key is stuck)

It's an after school program for an elementary school, so all the grades

 

[Garf]

It's an after school program for an elementary school, so all the grades

I did something like this before. The teacher introduced me, then I talked about my experiences for a little bit, did a solve, then let the kids play with my puzzles for a bit. Some of them asked me to solve them, others wanted to know how to do it. It was awesome, and I think I got some of the kids into it a bit.

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

i thought it was a class thing.
maybe you can call people up to do some algoritms on the cube

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

The teacher introduced me, then I talked about my experiences for a little bit, did a solve, then let the kids play with my puzzles for a bit.

Which puzzles did you let them use?
just curious

 

[CatSharked]

I did something like this before. The teacher introduced me, then I talked about my experiences for a little bit, did a solve, then let the kids play with my puzzles for a bit. Some of them asked me to solve them, others wanted to know how to do it. It was awesome, and I think I got some of the kids into it a bit.

Nice. My aunt works at this after school program so the kids have probably heard lots about me.

i thought it was a class thing.
maybe you can call people up to do some algoritms on the cube

I want to do some kind of Q&A, where they can ask questions about cubing. I don't think I can teach them all algorithms in just an hour.

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

I want to do some kind of Q&A, where they can ask questions about cubing. I don't think I can teach them all algorithms in just an hour.

You don't have to. Scramble the cube, bring up volunteers, and guide them through the steps and moves.
example: if you teach Cfop, make 1 perso do the cross, 4 people for 4 f2l slots, 1 for oll, and 1 for pll. you can bring up a little sheet of paper for each algorithm. it should take 5-15 minutes i think

 

[OtaMota]

Do not make them feel dumb. Avoid terms like “obviously” and stuff, might not be obvious to them. Do your algs slowly.

 

[CatSharked]

You don't have to. Scramble the cube, bring up volunteers, and guide them through the steps and moves.
example: if you teach Cfop, make 1 perso do the cross, 4 people for 4 f2l slots, 1 for oll, and 1 for pll. you can bring up a little sheet of paper for each algorithm. it should take 5-15 minutes i think

I am gonna teach the beginners method because it's easier to learn. I can teach first 2 layers pretty well, but I am not good at teaching last layer.
But I also want to tell them about competitions and stuff like that

 

[1x1 wr holder!]

I wouldn't recommending trying to teach them how to solve the cube during the presentation (this is a presentation not a class, and I wouldn't expect them to bring their cubes). first, give your presentation, explain what speedcubing is. show how it is a hobby and a competitive sport. for sake of time, keep the focus on the 3x3. tell them who max park is (the best speedcuber of whatever). compare speedcubing to problem solving (there is no single solution to a million problems. you have to figure things out as you go). the q and a won't last to long if they are the one's asking you questions. the most you'll get is "how fast can you do it?" "how can I learn how to do it?" get the audience involved with "how many of you own a rubiks cube" "how many of you want to solve one?" the best presentation is a conversation. then, in the end. make a communication plan. perhaps tell them about the forum. tell them how they can reach you. make time after the presentation to talk to those truly interested.

these are just some strategies that I have found useful when approaching an audience with a foreign topic. good luck and have fun

 

[Garf]

Which puzzles did you let them use?
just curious

I brought a bag of all my mains and let them use them. Surprisingly no puzzles ended up in pieces.

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

I brought a bag of all my mains and let them use them. Surprisingly no puzzles ended up in pieces.

Big suprise.
But what puzzles?
3x3? 2x2? pyraminx? square1?

 

[CatSharked]

I wouldn't recommending trying to teach them how to solve the cube during the presentation (this is a presentation not a class, and I wouldn't expect them to bring their cubes). first, give your presentation, explain what speedcubing is. show how it is a hobby and a competitive sport. for sake of time, keep the focus on the 3x3. tell them who max park is (the best speedcuber of whatever). compare speedcubing to problem solving (there is no single solution to a million problems. you have to figure things out as you go). the q and a won't last to long if they are the one's asking you questions. the most you'll get is "how fast can you do it?" "how can I learn how to do it?" get the audience involved with "how many of you own a rubiks cube" "how many of you want to solve one?" the best presentation is a conversation. then, in the end. make a communication plan. perhaps tell them about the forum. tell them how they can reach you. make time after the presentation to talk to those truly interested.

these are just some strategies that I have found useful when approaching an audience with a foreign topic. good luck and have fun

This is very helpful. I'm sure some of them will lose interest, but I will make sure that the people who are interested know where to get started (I can show them the WCA). I might bring more than a 3x3 just so they can see what the other events are. Also "the best speedcuber or whatever" is what they think I am lol. I will also show them some solves because I know they will be impressed.

I brought a bag of all my mains and let them use them. Surprisingly no puzzles ended up in pieces.

I have extra cubes that I can let them mess with. I know from experience that they will twist corners.

 

[THE_V01DL0RD]

I have extra cubes that I can let them mess with. I know from experience that they will twist corners.

I brought my 2x2 to this child care place while my mom was excersising. I told someone to mix it up. I'e tried to twist a corner before and the corners dont twist. This kid SOMEHOW twisted a corner without it popping. When I tried to twist it back, it exploded. I was able to fixit but I was crying for 30 minutes becuase I just got it 2 days ago.