The game guide · Curiosity
How to play Nine Little Clues
Scan for each numbered clue instead of guessing its location. Find and tap the numbers one through nine in order. The familiar rule turns a scattered board into a short trail, leaving you a moment to notice your approach.
Your starting point
Scan for each numbered clue instead of guessing its location.
The rules
Tap 1, then 2, and continue in order through 9. Look for the next number before tapping. Complete the sequence using the on-screen feedback.
A helpful approach
Search for the next number without repeatedly checking the last one. You can use a steady left-to-right scan when the arrangement feels unfamiliar. Separate what you actually observe from the explanation you are tempted to add before you have evidence.
After the game
What changed when you gave attention to the next number instead of the whole board? What question could you ask about an everyday object that you normally pass without a second thought?
There is no need to turn a small moment into a perfect performance. Play again if you want to explore it, or leave it here and take the thought into your day.
The feeling behind it
Notice, ask, test and look again. You can enjoy not knowing something yet without racing to sound certain.
A museum learning approach inspires inquiry. It is an educational practice, not a national personality trait.
Read our curiosity story, inspired by Object-based learning in Smithsonian educational practice, United States. The Smithsonian Learning Lab: Object-Based Learning provides the source context.
Share the invitation
I found a question you might enjoy exploring. Try Nine Little Clues with me, if you fancy a little curiosity today.
If someone comes to mind, send them a game they might enjoy. Add your own words, let them choose whether to play, and keep private details out of a public link.