BIG Play Makes Learning Extra Fun!

We are always trying to find ways to incorporate games into our lessons.  Whether it's board games, card games, team games, or whatever, play is an important part of our classrooms on a daily basis! 

This year, we decided to take it up a notch and incorporate BIG games into our classrooms!  We found some giant versions of some of our favorite games and even had a friend of ours make a special one for us!  We brainstormed ways to create fun, engaging lessons using these games, and then we brought the fun to life!  Here are just a few of our favorite BIG games to play in our classrooms!

1. PLINKO


Our good friend, Kyle, brought Plinko to life for us! In Trisha's 2nd grade classroom, the kids loved playing Plinko with different money values.  Drop some Plinko chips and add up the money totals!  Who can figure the values the fastest?  Talk about a fun, competitive way to learn money!  In Adam's classroom, the kiddos used Plinko as a way to amp up a phonics lesson.  Who can build CVC words using letter tiles?  Plinko chips were given for team work, and for correctly tapping out and spelling the words!  The Plinko board had different number values at the bottom and the kids earned House points for their totals!  We've used this game in so many different ways since bringing it into the classroom!  Addition, subtraction, money, CVC words, sight words, and more!

2. BOWLING

We were shopping one day and came across this giant bowling set for only $20!  We couldn't pass it up because we both immediately thought of all the ways it could be used in the classroom!  In the pictures, you can see our Kindergarten kiddos bowling for trick words.  The kiddos first learned the different parts of the bowling team: bowler, pin setter, and ball returner.  The next step was to construct a ball return using blocks!  Then, it was time to play!  After the bowler knocked down some pins, the pin setter would hold up the cards on the pins for the bowler to practice reading.  The rings for the words are just slinky bracelets that we bought in the office supply section at Wal-Mart.  After each round, the roles would switch to give all a turn at each position.  Since playing this trick word game, we've also used bowling for practicing addition and subtraction problems!  Reading, Math, STEM, and more!!!


3. CONNECT 4
This game doesn't take much explaining.  A giant version of the game we all played as kids has brought so many smiles to the classroom!  The strategic thinking it makes the kids do is outstanding!  No child likes to lose at a game, and this one really makes them think about their decisions!  We have some awesome ideas in store for this game in the future and can't wait to share them with you all!

How do you bring games to life in your classroom?  The year is slowly coming to a close and incorporating a play-based learning approach will help you keep the attention of all the kids in your room!  Have fun learning!
-Adam and Trisha



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