Take 3 puzzles (if your group isn't over 20 people) and place the pieces in 3
different areas.  Divide the group into 3 groups.  Tell all of the groups
that they are going to be timed to see which group can work together to put
their puzzle together fastest.  This involves team work and cooperation.  The
Group that gets done first wins.
This is a "trick" ice breaker and works well, so here is how it works. Two of
the groups are given an impossible task, only one group will really be able
to put the pieces together.
GROUP ONE:  In one area, the puzzle pieces are laid out and the "picture" or
cover of the puzzle that shows what the puzzle looks like is there for them
to see how to put it together.
GROUP TWO: in the second area, the puzzle pieces are laid out,  and there is
a "picture" of the puzzle, but it is the wrong picture.  So this group will
be trying to work from a flawed starting point.
GROUP THREE:  In the third group, the puzzle pieces are laid out but there is
no picture from which the group can work.

The starter says GO, and the groups begin to work.  Naturally, the First
Group finishes first.  There will be various frustrations in the other two
groups.  When the first group has finished, call everyone together and
explain the "trick."  That only Group One had the correct picture and
therefore could complete the task and PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER>

There will be some laughter and some frustration and it can lead into a
wonderful discussion of how confusing something is when you are trying to
work from a "flawed" blueprint or no blueprint at all.   As Tour leaders,
they will need to Really Know their material, so that they will have a
BLUEPRINT that will enable them to help their groups "Put the pieces
together."  For some people, visiting a museum is like seeing a puzzle...it
has a lot of pieces, the art can seem like a lot of separate pieces, but it
is all connected in some fashion...just like in a puzzle...and if you put it
all together, you get that terrific "aha" feeling.  One man's art is like
pieces of his own personal puzzle.  A Group Show is pieces of a larger
vision.  ETC ETC.  You can use this in many ways.  Interpreting it in ways
that teach the group what you wish them to learn.

You can also just give all of them the picture for their puzzles and just use
the putting together of the puzzle as a group working together, ice-breaking
exercise that gets them to use their eyes, their creativity, their intuition,
and each other.  Good luck.

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