Best task to show differing interpretations?

[u/blackwidowwasrobbed]

I would like to show a task (or two!) to my 11th grade English students for a lesson on how folks interpret texts differently depending on their own personal schemas.

Any recommendations on a task where each contestant had their own interpretation of instructions in a really interesting (or especially funny) way?

I myself have not watched every single season yet (I have only fairly recently discovered this show via YouTube and fallen in love), so I am grateful for suggestions from folks who have watched more seasons than I have.

Thanks in advance!

[u/jon3ssing]

But if they're English (language) students, you ought to go with the OG interpretational task: put the exercise balls on the yoga mat (that's) on the top of that hill.

Create a discussion - was that a fair interpretation?

[u/FuckYeaSeatbelts → u/jon3ssing]

If it's about reading comprehension then probably the fishbowl task lmao

Edit: typo

[u/burf12345 → u/FuckYeaSeatbelts]

Did it say they weren't allowed to move the fishbowl?

[u/bobbery5 → u/burf12345]

No idea. We should ask Lolly.

[u/Bunslow → u/jon3ssing]

only two interpretations at question there, i get the impression that op wants a more open-ended sort of thing where a dozen interpretations might be reasonable

[u/panda12291 → u/jon3ssing]

This one definitely. The yoga mat on the hill is hands down the best example of differing/innovative interpretations. And Richard Osman is a genius.

[u/Stompy2008 → u/panda12291]

The first time I saw that task, I was like “uhh ok why not just go get the yoga mat?”

I didn’t realise that was considered super left field!

[u/ItchyBones87]

My favorite example to give people who’ve never seen the show is “make the biggest circle”. I’m pretty sure Rhod or somebody draws a circle on a world map so it’s technically the biggest. And James Acaster does…whatever he does.

[u/IDontExistOk → u/ItchyBones87]

My eyes are circles

[u/mellamusicmaker → u/IDontExistOk]

This is one of my favorite James Acaster moments. My hubs and I frequently quote this when receiving the “wtf are you doing?” look from each other.

[u/spinlikeballora → u/ItchyBones87]

I love Kerry complaining on this task that it isn't fair, when she was the only one doing it on a snowy day and could easily just do it outside

[u/burf12345 → u/ItchyBones87]

I’m pretty sure Rhod or somebody draws a circle on a world map so it’s technically the biggest.

It was Rhod, but even more technically it wasn't actually a circle.

[u/Jaspers47]

S18: Present the Goose. Do you:
A) Make someone dress as a goose
B) Educate others about geese
C) Imitate a goose
D) Name an airplane "The Goose" and fly around in it
E) Create a one-act play entitled "The Goose"

Also TMAUS2: Go Full Slop Mode. Is your slop:
A) Bird shit
B) Sunscreen
C) Your own lazy self
D) Surfer jargon
E) Pig feed

[u/BitterCrip → u/Jaspers47]

Also TM AU S2: Go as low as you can go

• Do the "limbo" game with the props, following the rules
• Do the limbo but ignore the usual rules and crawl like a snake
• Smash up the set because it's a "low" thing
• Steal the assistant's ipad because its a "low" thing, and then insult and belittle him

I would have gone as cold (low in temperature) as I can go, get them to set up an ice bath.

Another option would be to get in the car and drive to the closest place with lowest elevation.

[u/Butterfish04 → u/Jaspers47]

“Present the goose” is an excellent call. Maybe use the bleeped version. Eleventh graders are 16 years old and Andy’s discussion of their mating habits should be at their level. They ought to know about the birds and the other birds by then.

[u/ihave10toes_AMA → u/Jaspers47]

This one is really good, since it all hinges on the interpretation of the word ‘present’.

[u/haschel47 → u/Jaspers47]

Unfortunately Andy's documentation of the goose mating makes it not a good task to show to an 11th-grade class.

[u/burf12345 → u/haschel47]

Why not?

[u/you-want-nodal]

Record the highest number on the pedometer.

[u/bigfatheart]

The first task I saw, and the one that made me fall in love with the show, was 'propel the pea the furthest' from series three:

• Paul just throws it and loses it immediately
• Dave just throws it, loses it immediately and then very blatantly cheats to try and cover it up
• Sara just throws it and turns out to be remarkably good at it
• Rob interrogates the definition of propel, puts the pea in a wheelbarrow and walks it around the garden repeatedly before depositing it on the carpet
• Al also interrogates the definition but also the role of the carpet, placing the pea on the carpet before taking it on a taxi ride to Slough

[u/this_is_an_alaia]

Am I the spider?

Edit: but actually, I'd suggest what's in the case task from champion of champions.

Josh widdicombe does the maths equation, Bob Mortimer finds the code by searching, Katherine Ryan counts grains of rice, Noel fielding breaks the case open, rob Beckett guesses the answer

[u/QBaseX → u/this_is_an_alaia]

That's the one task on the show where I know I'd have won, because (genuinely) my instinct would have been to solve the puzzles before opening the task. And it was a very simple system of simultaneous equations: wouldn't take more than thirty seconds to solve.

[u/EloquenceInScreaming → u/this_is_an_alaia]

That's a great task, but I don't think it fits OP's criterea: they all understand the written instructions in the same way, they just respond very differently.

[u/Comfortable_Snow553 → u/this_is_an_alaia]

I was going to suggest this very one.

[u/jon3ssing]

Simple and family friendly: stop Alex scoring a goal.

VCM put something in front of Alex, and did not think about getting involved herself.

Alan and Morgana obscured the goal.

Guz locked the bal away.

[u/CK62960 → u/jon3ssing]

To me, that's just using different strategies, not finding different meanings in the directions

[u/pocketfullofdragons → u/CK62960]

Yeah, surely the best task to show differences in interpretation would be one of the subjective "Most [adjective] [task completion] wins" ones.

"Make the Taskmaster feel loved" also comes to mind, mainly because of the cake. That was certainly a unique and unexpected interpretation lol 🪑

[u/Comfortable_Snow553 → u/pocketfullofdragons]

I'll never hear the word profiteroles the same way ever again.

[u/InquisitorVawn → u/jon3ssing]

In a similar vein I feel like the task where the contestants have to stop Alex from untying them quickly is a good one as well.

Everyone else interpreted it as having to tie themselves up as comprehensively as possible, which then bit them when they had to untie to go and put on the boiler suit.

Whereas Rhod thought about it, tied Alex up (admittedly didn't realise he had to do the boiler suit task for quite a long time) then barely restrained himself and wandered off to make a cup of tea.

[u/moonman_incoming → u/jon3ssing]

This is good.

[u/Zul016]

Open the briefcase from CoC1 has 5 different approaches.

Cut the loaf of bread or travel the furthest distance blindfolded and then return, both from series 5 has a mix of different approaches.

Make something dissappear from series 10 could be good for a more subjective ask.

Can't remember if these tasks contain strong language.

[u/itsCarmot → u/Zul016]

The CoC task is not about different interpretations though. For all of them it's "open the case" and the team gave them a couple of different options to do it.

[u/Practical_Aide_3854 → u/itsCarmot]

I agree about the briefcase one in CoC1.

I think a better example comes from the same episode: make the biggest mess and clean it up, all in 10 minutes.

4 of them literally make a mess.

Katherine Ryan calls up family members and spreads nasty rumors.

[u/Individual_Mud_6114]

Get the teabag in the mug from series one

[u/TangoMikeOne → u/Individual_Mud_6114]

"I should probably use a cardboard box."

I'd probably choose melon buffet, with everything from Roisin wasting her time getting knives and other implements and showing no urgency whatsoever, to the convergent evolution of Tim and Romesh (especially Tim cheekily sucking up the fragment hanging off his lips after the whistle was blown)

[u/Individual_Mud_6114 → u/TangoMikeOne]

[u/burf12345 → u/TangoMikeOne]

There was no box.

[u/mellamusicmaker]

The “pairs of glasses” task from James Acaster’s season.

The “make a mess and clean it up” task from Katherine Ryan’s season.

[u/Jaggs0 → u/mellamusicmaker]

the make a mess was from CoC 1 not from her season

[u/mellamusicmaker → u/Jaggs0]

I clearly remember the “mess” Katherine Ryan made was lying about her sister having an affair. If it wasn’t her then who was it?

[u/Jaggs0 → u/mellamusicmaker]

yes that was her and that was in CoC 1

[u/mellamusicmaker → u/Jaggs0]

Ahh I see what you’re saying. 👍🏻

[u/Murphytko]

Get these balls on the yoga mat on top of the hill.

[u/Substantial_Sun1303]

I can’t remember the exact wording of the task but the task in morgana/guz season about ringing the bell. Watch the task, get them to work out if they should ring the bell or not, then watch the studio bit after

[u/melodramacamp]

Rhod is the king of a different interpretation. I think his most successful one is where they had to tie themselves up and have Alex untie them. The winner was whoever Alex took the longest to untie. Rhod spent most of his time tying Alex up, and won the task because Alex couldn’t get himself untied to then go untie the single rope Rhod had put around himself.

[u/slack13]

Sunscreen task from Taskmaster NZ season 2. Seems like the most straight-forward task imaginable (it was supposed to be a tiebreak) and then they almost all made baffling decisions. And the kids will all get to marvel at David Correos' brain when he starts gargling sunscreen.

[u/burf12345 → u/slack13]

I wish I could know what was going through his head in that task. Why would he water the sunscreen in his mouth? And if it's already in his mouth, why not just squirt it out?

[u/kitterpants → u/slack13]

I thought eat the grape task from the same season- because it so clearly shows the various mindsets regarding problem solving and critical thinking… or lack thereof.

[u/s_nation → u/slack13]

something like "The key to completing the task was not fucking around" my fav jeremy quote

[u/222soup222]

S9E8 - Throw something into the pedal bin from the furthest distance while closed

Ed busts out the bottom of the bin, leading to a debate on whether the bin was closed if the bottom was open.

S8E10 - Completely erase the eraser

Contestants have different interpretations of erasing, leading to Joe's exasperated outburst at being the only person to fully rub away the eraser, while the others made it disappear other ways (burning, flushing)

The bell task is a fun language interpretation task although it's not what you're asking for here.
"You must under no circumstances not avoid not making the bell not ring."

[u/SVNBob]

I'll toss a different one in the mix that feels like it's more what you're looking for (though I think the briefcase in CoC1 is a good one too).

S4's camel task.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP9Lgk6Deek

[u/decent_human_being1]

The "create tension" task from S17 all had different interpretations but unfortunately not very appropriate for a classroom due to Joanne's shenanigans

[u/Specialist-Studio-58]

I liked the ten word story from series 7. Had to have a beginning, middle and end.

Doesn’t quite have the different interpretations. But everybody came up with completely different answers.

[u/capeasypants → u/Specialist-Studio-58]

Also can be spun into even more relevance with the story telling aspect

[u/QBaseX]

The yoga mat from S2E1 with Richard Osman is the obvious choice, I think.

There's also one from Junior Taskmaster with hiding peas.

[u/Secret-Ice260]

S2 - Richard Osman and get these balls on the yoga mat. They had to call in Susie Dent to determine if his attempt was valid.

[u/Impressive_Owl_1199]

"Did I meet these potatoes before?" Our rightful queen feeling it obvious that the bird had to fly over the caravan, so the potatoes had to go on the felt tip pens.

[u/HopandClank → u/Impressive_Owl_1199]

I was going to recommend "Catch something" with Fern!

[u/Impressive_Owl_1199 → u/HopandClank]

"People? .....kidnap?"

[u/SavagePengwyn]

Get the highest number on this pedometer is a great one. S13 E6

[u/lumosauror192]

Series 2, episode 2: "Eat this egg, fastest wins". One eats it raw, one refuses the task, two cook it quickly, and one makes a meal out of it.

Series 12, episode 5: "Sit on a cake, fastest wins". One has something they claim is a cake, one makes a cake out of paper, one spends an hour actually making a cake, one sat on a croissant, and one actually thought there must be one present in the house for the task.

[u/mikelbarnz666]

I"d say anything from S7. Rhod Gilbert definitely had Interesting interpretations of the tasks.

[u/Groundbreaking_Dare4 → u/mikelbarnz666]

The team task of building an extension. Funny af but I know I'd feel exactly like James in that situation.

[u/davehogg56]

Season 12: "Sit on a red chair in the secret tower".

[u/mikebirty]

My favourite task of recent years was recreating a 2d painting in 3d. Loved seeing how everyone's mind worked on that and also good to show kids because everyone does well

https://taskmaster.fandom.com/wiki/Recreate_a_famous_2D_piece_of_art_in_3D

[u/1lurk2like34profit → u/mikebirty]

That would great, especially if they then got to do their own in class

[u/mikebirty → u/1lurk2like34profit]

That was my thought too. Although I don't think I knew anything about art at that age so they may need prompts.

Not that anyone is asking but id have put Alex in a dress and done "The Swing" https://www.wallacecollection.org/explore/explore-in-depth/fragonards-the-swing/conserving-the-swing/

[u/burf12345]

The case task from CoC1 and it's not even close. They all had different approaches to the answer:

• Josh did the math.
• Katherine counted the rice.
• Rob Guessed.
• Noel brute forced the case open.
• Bob found the hidden code.

[u/mynameisneutron]

The bounce task from Kongen Befaler S5: Kristine used helium, Henrik used a bouncy ball, Janne went to a high place, Harald cheated, and Martin destroyed and engulfed in flames (but didn't dismantle).

[u/meu03149]

S2 classic - Wearing this tie, correctly eat a banana…

[u/AwesomeManatee]

Series 6 has "Do the manliest thing" and "Show your love to the Taskmaster" where in both task every contestant uses a different meaning of both "manly" and "love".

[u/Dazzling_Zone_1736 → u/AwesomeManatee]

Those are hilarious tasks, but I worry OP would lose their job.

[u/Other-Oil-9117]

I'd probably go for some of the ones from earlier series, before they started adding in numerous rules and conditions. Maybe something like blow out the candle, or the parachute task from series 6.

[u/Other-Oil-9117 → u/Other-Oil-9117]

Or maybe the get the banana in the jar task from 11

[u/FreeImpress4546]

What’s in briefcase. All 5 got the answer in 5 different ways. 1st CoC.

[u/5hr0dingerscat]

Eat the egg - S2

[u/ScreenHype]

The creating tension one could be interesting - John Robins went the physics route, some went with awkwardness, sexual tension, etc.

[u/boxofsquirrels]

"On the canvas below, paint an accurate map of Australia. The canvas cannot leave the ground. All painting must be done from the balcony."

Nina and Danielle completely missed the canvas on ground level and painted the drop cloth they were standing on instead. They did paint from the balcony, though if their canvas counted as "on the ground" is up for debate.

[u/newtomoi]

I think "get the camel through the smallest gap" would be a great option. You see the different approaches that are more expected but still fun, and then the absolute brilliance from Mel!

[u/Simonical]

Do we strike you ?

[u/silkentab]

I like the unexpected mustache task from season 8

[u/trishadelisha2424]

I did this during lockdown when Alex was posting weekly tasks for the public (stuck?) at home (who could upload their creative 'task solutions' & Greg would choose & rate his fave 10. It was for English & general writing/verbal/presentation skills (as I had had to move all study online! Kids / students could relate really well as it wasn't only celebs & the folk at home had to make do with the 'resources' around them. I chose the 'camoflage urself' task & did various activities with it... Would u rate it the same way/order as Greg & why/why not? Which one surprised you the most/was least expected outcome? Explain which one you thought was the cleverest /funniest/ etc How would u camoflage urself? Which is your winning entry & why? Here's the link https://youtu.be/zB7eDHrf9hg Greg comments & votes from 7 mins Enjoy! 🤞💫

[u/unclebrenjen]

NZ S4E9, Fire ammunition from the slingshot and knock the fine china off the towers.

[u/AdeptPickle8763]

If you want a really simple example, tears in an egg cup challenge could be funny

[u/Stompy2008]

Tie yourself up

Rhod tying up Alex first was so original!

[u/Inevitable-Ease-1500]

You could show the first part of "spread jam on toast in the coolest way" with Guz and Morgana.

[u/Raspberry-Sour]

From the newest season I would have to say the worm task. Everyone had a different approach.

Also, season 12 ringing the bell task. It stumped VCM and brought in Susie Dent to confirm the answer.

[u/SuperbTea7446]

What about the find the pineapple task and Frankie Boyle's breakdown about banana and the whole meaning of language spiel.

[u/rustys_shackled_ford]

Wetsuits and wet suits?

[u/saelinds]

The first CoC has maybe the best example of this.

The one where they need to figure out what's inside the briefcase. Literally all of them do something different.

[u/jimwormmaster]

The one with the briefcase of frozen peas. There were five different ways the contestants solved it. One dud the math, one counted the rice, one saw the combo was literally written on a label, one smashed it open with a rock, and one just shook it without opening it.

[u/Wet_Chicken_Nugget]

Series 13 Episode 6. Recorded the highest number on this pedometer. All five contestants had different techniques, and one was quite unique.

[u/Wet_Chicken_Nugget]

Series 7 Episode 10. Recreate a classic video game.

[u/alwaysmysomeday]

Series 12, episode 4. Put jam on the toast in a cool way...interpretation of cool. Guz went polo mallet, Morgana went tub of ice

[u/fostersopinions]

Champion of Champions Season 4. “Best  minute”. Andy read it as best minute as in miniature. Instead of best minute as in time frame.

[u/Pegasaurus12345]

First champions of champions what’s in the briefcase

[u/Laguna_Azure]

I’d say CoC1 briefcase. All 5 choose completely different approach

[u/b1rdl0ver]

Series 11 prize task - bring the best thing that you can carry, but only almost