Category: Game

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Make a TIC-TAC-TOE game

Make a TIC-TAC-TOE game to practice spelling, writing, grammar, math facts, multiplication, anything you determine that you’d like to write on the sticky notes. Sticky notes allow you to change the game content without creating a new board each time.

Tic-Tac-Toe directions may be found on this link: playtictactoe.org

Materials: 

You will need a file folder, 9 sticky notes, index cards or paper, scissors, a pencil, a ruler and a sharpie marker. 

How to make the game:  Using the sharpie marker and a ruler, divide a file folder into 9 equal sections. Cut index cards or white paper into squares that will fit into the spaces on your file folder. Make 5 “X” cards and 5 “O”cards. Write content in pencil on the sticky notes.

Example of the sticky notes for the file folder: A tulip shaped sticky note is used for the example photo. Each sticky has one one word written on it in pencil so that you can erase the words and reuse the sticky notes.

Skill for this example: rhyming, word study features review, writing; word study features, “au, aw, oo, ui, ew, ea, oa, and ou.” I have written one word on each tulip. The words used are: blew, crawl, cow, teach, boat, shout, book, shoot, and suit.

How to play: The players take turns choosing a location for their “X” or “O”. Each player has to write a new word that rhymes with the original word on the sticky note before placing the “X or O” in the space.

The winner is the first player to achieve three in a row.

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Color Matching Game

This is a visual discrimination activity that requires the student to sort the objects from the heart on the left into the correct colored section of the heart on the right. Why is visual discrimination an important skill? Students need to visually discriminate letters and words when they read. They need to be able to tell the difference between a lower case “d” and a lower case “b” for example. They need to be able to tell the difference between the word “was” and the word “saw.” The brain processes the information the student sees as they read. These simple games give students opportunities to visually process information and sharpen their skills. These games develop vocabulary as students talk about what they are doing during the game playing process. They learn to focus and build their attention span.

By repurposing this Valentine heart, I created a sorting game. It requires some effort to create but young learners will have fun matching the objects to the correct colored spaces. Fine motor tip: The student can use tweezers, clothes pins, or tongs to grasp the object and strengthen their fine motor skills while playing the game or just use their fingers in a pincher grasp to pick up the objects. For more ideas to help students love learning and reinforce skills, PM me.

Warning: games with small parts absolutely require close supervision. When making games good adhesive will ensure that little fingers won’t be able to tear the game apart. Inquisitive minds want to pull the colored paper from the candy liner but with supervision and gentle instruction, they can learn to focus on the sorting rather than the tearing. Children teach us how to make the games indestructible as we observe them while they play.

Learning games encourage language development, strengthen vocabulary and build a bond between you and your child. Teachers know the importance of hands-on learning and often incorporate many games throughout the day to teach basic skills.

Special thanks to Bethlyn for giving me this heart!