Ages 8–10 · Est. 30–45 minutes · 2–6 players

Clockmaker Birthday Repair

Restart the paper clock using the repair workshop records.

Six clues, three hint levels each, and a paper-only finish. No locks, apps or cutting required.

Clockmaker Birthday Repair: Job desk: Combine every BEFORE rule to order the four actions. Write positions on the whole-sheet cards. Read position 4.

Your mission

The clock repair sheet has been mixed up with a spare-parts log. Restore the job order, decode the dial, match the repairers and check the remaining parts. Collect five named badge digits and use the final sheet. Every clue is on the table; ask the host for one hint at a time.

Set up in one room

Print one player pack and two record sheets per team. Keep the host answers and all three hint levels with the adult.
Keep every clue as a full sheet at one table. Put the final sheet face down until all five results are recorded. Nothing needs cutting, folding or hiding.
Give each child a pencil. Choose a reader, recorder and checker, and swap jobs after each clue. Use one team for 2–4 children or two teams for 5–6.

Materials

6 player sheets and 2 prop sheets per team
One pencil per child
One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Designed ages and estimated time have not yet been calibrated in a live child playtest.

See all six player clues

These are the actual figures from the printable player pack.

1. Job

Job desk: Combine every BEFORE rule to order the four actions. Write positions on the whole-sheet cards. Read position 4.

Read this clue in text

Cards: Test hands [5]; Inspect gear [1]; Stop clock [9]; Fit spring [3]. Rules: Stop clock BEFORE Fit spring; Inspect gear BEFORE Test hands; Fit spring BEFORE Test hands; Stop clock BEFORE Inspect gear; Inspect gear BEFORE Fit spring. Read card position 4.

2. Dial

Dial desk: Decode all shapes in message order. Repeated shapes repeat their letter. Convert the full word using the table.

Clockmaker Birthday Repair: Dial desk: Decode all shapes in message order. Repeated shapes repeat their letter. Convert the full word using the table.

Read this clue in text

Key: square means T; circle means I; star means C; diamond means K. Message: square, circle, star, diamond. Conversion: TICK means 3; GEAR means 6; RAIL means 9.

3. Parts

Parts desk: A return entry lost its amount. Use the opening and closing stock to find the missing return. Apply DONE entries; ignore the CANCELLED plan.

Clockmaker Birthday Repair: Parts desk: A return entry lost its amount. Use the opening and closing stock to find the missing return. Apply DONE entries; ignore the CANCELLED plan.

Read this clue in text

Opening stock: 10. Closing stock: 16. Received: +3 DONE Planned: +7 CANCELLED Issued: -3 DONE Returned: ? DONE Missing return = ? units. Ignore cancelled plans.

4. Repairer

Repairer desk: Each person has ONE different item. Use all four NOT rules. Find Kit's item and copy its digit.

Read this clue in text

Gear digit 9 Spring digit 2 Hand digit 5 People: Tess, Raj, Kit Tess does NOT have Hand. Raj does NOT have Gear. Raj does NOT have Spring. Kit does NOT have Gear. Find Kit's item. Each item is used once.

5. Face

Face desk: Compare the two records at matching numbered positions. Count different pairs once each; ignore box outlines.

Clockmaker Birthday Repair: Face desk: Compare the two records at matching numbered positions. Count different pairs once each; ignore box outlines.

Read this clue in text

Strip A: square, circle, star, diamond, heart, cross, hexagon, triangle. Strip B: square, diamond, star, diamond, hexagon, cross, hexagon, circle. Compare the same numbered position.