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

Robot Talent Show

Recover the control code for the robot show program.

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

Robot Talent Show: Act desk: Each person has ONE different item. Use all four NOT rules. Find Bolt's item and copy its digit.

Your mission

The robot stage manager has lost the program control code. Match each performer to its act, repair the battery log and decode the stage note before rebuilding the code. 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. Act

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

Read this clue in text

Dance digit 1 Song digit 4 Juggle digit 7 People: Bolt, Cog, Dot Bolt does NOT have Dance. Cog does NOT have Song. Cog does NOT have Juggle. Dot does NOT have Song. Find Bolt's item. Each item is used once.

2. Power

Power 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.

Robot Talent Show: Power 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: 12. Closing stock: 17. Received: +3 DONE Planned: +7 CANCELLED Issued: -2 DONE Returned: ? DONE Missing return = ? units. Ignore cancelled plans.

3. Song

Song 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 S; circle means H; star means O; diamond means W. Message: square, circle, star, diamond. Conversion: SHOW means 7; GEAR means 0; RAIL means 3.

4. Program

Program desk: Combine every BEFORE rule to order the four actions. Write positions on the whole-sheet cards. Read position 2.

Read this clue in text

Cards: Start show [7]; Check light [3]; Test sound [1]; Load program [5]. Rules: Test sound BEFORE Load program; Check light BEFORE Start show; Load program BEFORE Start show; Test sound BEFORE Check light; Check light BEFORE Load program. Read card position 2.