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Farm Count and Move

The picture on the right-hand size of the file folder was part of a workbook page. The pictures on the spinner, were also part of the workbook page. The small pictures where at the bottom of the page with a space next to each. The child was to find the matching animals in the picture, count them, and write the number on the space. This cute workbook page would take the child only a few minutes to do and he would never look at this page again.

HOWEVER, simply changing this page into a game, gives the child all the drill he could possibly use at this level. So when he learns this material, is the game to be thrown away? NO! The neatest thing is that this game board can then be used as a "generic" game board.

Ok, what is a GENERIC game board? A "generic" game board simply means that it has no particular skill attached to the board. This game board DID have the skill of learning to count. But once this skill has become mastered, other skill cards can be used and the spinner can just be used as a fun method for determining the number of spaces a player may move.



To Make

The picture was cut and glued unto a pretty green file folder. I use glue stick or rubber cement. I do not recommend using white glue. White glue (if not completely dried first) can mold if the picture is covered with Contact paper.

I drew the spinner directly unto the file folder using a black water color marker. (Permanent markers can "bleed" when covered with Contact paper, so I do not recommend using them.) Then I added the small pictures from the bottom of the workbook page. After this side of the file folder is covered with clear Contact paper, the spinner can be added using a paper fastener and a purchased metal arrow. (I also make my own spinner arrows using heavy cardboard pieces.)

Using 3/4" circle stickers, I created a path around the board. The yellow stickers say "Go Again" and the red stickers have an arrow pointing backwards.

To Play:

In turn, players spin the spinner. They locate the pictured animal in the picture and count the number of them they find. This is the number of spaces that they may move. You will notice that there is a pig on the spinner, but none in the picture. A player whose spin ends on the pig would not get to move on that turn. A player who lands on a yellow sticker, gets to spin and move again. A player who lands on a red sticker spins again, but moves in a reverse direction. The first player who reaches "Home" is the winner.

Using This Board as a Generic Game Board:

You can use any other skill cards that you may have. You could drill states and capitals, spelling words, geography questions, science unit review questions, or any other information you have made into skill cards. Players would draw a skill card to begin their turn. If the correct response is given, the player would proceed in the same manner as described above.

NOTE:

Many workbook pages can be easily be made into games. So think about them before tossing workbooks into the trash. When I taught in the classroom I had the children so trained to this that they would carefully write answers so as not to mess up any pictures that I might wish to use for game making.

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