Rubik's Cube Championship

WORKSHEET

1. Suggested Use 

Skills and competitions focus, followed by A2-level vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation activities

2. Suggested Activities 

A. Project-based learning 
Students work in pairs or small groups to design a short Mind and Body Challenge Day for their class or school. They choose 3-4 activities that test both the brain and body, e.g. solving puzzles, learning juggling, simple yoga, or memory games. They create a short written or spoken plan that includes the name of each activity, what skills it develops (e.g. focus, balance, teamwork, creativity, and how people will take part. Encourage them to use language from the video to help them. 

B. Mediation task: Collaborating to construct meaning
Before students watch the video, write key words from the video on the board, e.g. puzzle, solve, take part, hands, competition. Put students into small groups and have them work out what the story is and what they think happens. Play the video to confirm their ideas then check answers as a whole class, with students summarising the video. 

C. Pronunciation task: Word stress in compound nouns and multi-syllable words
Write some language from the video on the board, e.g. physical health, European championship, Rubik’s cube, mental effort. Model the correct stress and flat stress of each phrase and have students guess which pronunciation is correct and why. Model, drill and practise the pronunciation. Have students repeat the sentences from the video with the words, clapping the stress patterns to help them with more natural-sounding speech. 

3. Vocabulary 

Competition and skills 

• championship

• competition

• event

• puzzle

• solve / solving

• focus

• practice

• brain

• body

• mind

• effort

• physical health

• muscles

Adjectives

• famous

• fast

• small

• large

• quick 

• calm

• fit

• strong

• mental

• physical

4. Grammar

Present simple:
Over 1,100 people are taking part in this event; You need to think fast, stay calm, and move your hands quickly. 

Present continuous:
People are doing it in just seconds; They’re here to solve the famous cube.

‘Need (to)’ (obligation):
You need to think fast; You need good physical health for your hands.

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TRANSCRIPT

Rubik's Cube Championship

NARRATOR:
Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s Cube? It’s not easy — and these people are doing it in just seconds. This is the Rubik’s Cube European Championship in Pamplona, Spain. Over 1,100 people are taking part in this event. They’re here to solve the famous cube as fast as they can. A Rubik’s Cube is a puzzle with coloured squares. There are many kinds. Some are small, some are large. To solve the puzzle, you turn the squares to make each side one colour again. You need to think fast, stay calm, and move your hands quickly. Tymon Kolasinski is the European champion. He says cubing uses your brain, but it also uses your body.

SOUNDBITE - Tymon Kolasinski:
“Breakdancing, and skateboarding, and surfing are definitely more physical. But you have to take into account that mental effort also is in a way physical effort because you’re using your brain which is part of your body.”

NARRATOR:
He also explains that your hands need to be fit, especially during long competitions.

SOUNDBITE - Tymon Kolasinski:
“You need somewhat good physical health for your hands and you need to develop the muscles to be able to practice a lot. Obviously doing one solve isn’t particularly intensive but once you get to a competition and you’re solving for like 8 hours a day, you know, it takes a lot.”

NARRATOR:
Cubing helps you focus and it keeps your hands fast and strong. For many people, it’s a great workout for the body and the mind.