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Hello world. I am an educational consultant, teacher and a homeschooling mom. I love to help others find materials for teaching. Check out my lenses a... (more...)
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Let's Play a Game Together
What do kids do best? Play of course. Why not encourage this natural tendency by providing your children with great entertaining games that just happen to be educational as well.
Educational Games such as Mancala and Set teach math concepts. Go Fish and Concentration are educational card games that can be adapted to teach anything from sight words, to math concepts to learning a second language. There are educational games to teach number theory, cooperation, and social studies.
How do you feel about the educational value of computer games?
Roll the dice and join the fun!
Educational Games Table of Contents
- Games in School
- Math Games make number theory accessable to young and old
- Board Games
- Go Fish and Concentration
- Pass the Pigs
- Board Games
- Board Games in the News!
- Math Games
- The Squidoo Game
- Games are fun and educational
- "Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning"
- Books of Games
- Computer Games: Oldies but Goodies
- Antique Board Games on eBay
- Board Games In the News!
- Let's Play a Game in the Woods
- What have you learned by playing games?
Games in School
Children play games to practice reading skills, math facts, strategy, logical thinking and many other skills that are not measured on standardized tests.
Games Day
Homeschoolers meet for Games Day about once a month.Each family brings their favorite board game to share.
A couple of kids play Mancala while another looks on discussing the stratigies and math behind the game. Four more are sitting at a table playing the aMAZEing Lababyrinth and wondering about the Minotar of Greek Mythology. All around the room kids are having fun, sharing knowlege and playing with their friends.
The following are some of the best games we have run across. Please let me know about your favorites in the comments section below.
Math Games make number theory accessable to young and old
The Family Game of Visual Perception
About Set®Marsha Jean Falco - The Creative Genius Behind Set
The SET® Game is becoming a phenomenon! It seems everybody is playing it. Who would have thought? I invented it for my own amusement in 1974 and introduced it to the outside world 17 years later in 1991.
Would you like to see the first two versions? I am constantly asked, "How did you think of it?" The story goes like this. In 1974 I was living and working in Cambridge, England. One part of my job as a Population Geneticist was to try to understand if German Shepherds who get epilepsy inherit it. Geneticists, as you may know, try to connect the traits that plants, animals and people have to the genes and chromosomes in their cells. To help me understand what I was looking at, I wrote information about each dog on file cards. Because blocks of the information were the same on each file card, rather than writing the data, I drew a symbol to represent a block of data. I used symbols with different Properties to indicate different gene combinations. The veterinarians working with me would look over my shoulder at the cards spread out on the table.
As I tried to explain to them what to look for, the idea came to me that I could have some fun with this. At home with my husband and friends I worked out the game which we now call SET®. Years later, my daughter and son, who enjoyed playing it so much, urged me to put the game in stores. Since then the SET® Game become very popular.
http://www.setgame.com/set/index.html
Board Games
UNIVERSITY GAMES UG-9916 MANCALA
Believed to be the oldest game in the world-originated in Africa-Mancala is a game of counting and strategy.
Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 05/16/2008)
SET Game
The game SET® is an excellent way to introduce basic set theory. It provides a concrete model for understanding and a tool for working through set operations.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Deluxe Pit
The loudest card game I've ever come across.
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 05/16/2008)
The aMAZEing Labyrinth
The aMAZEing Labyrinth uses a clever board design to create a series of ever-changing mazes that one to four players must move through. The object of the game is for each player to collect as quickly as possible all seven treasures depicted on their individual treasure cards. To add to the challenge, players know what the next treasure is only after they find the one before it. Before each turn, a maze card is pushed into the maze in a strategic place, helping the player make his or her way to the prize. This means that the entire maze shifts and changes on each turn, confounding some and helping others. Players will need to think ahead to choose just the right spot to shift the maze in their favor. This is an excellent game to get lost in. A simpler version can be played by younger children. --Lee Strucker
Amazon Price: $25.80 (as of 05/16/2008)
Snails Pace race
This is a great game to practice color words when you are learning a foreign language.
Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 05/16/2008)
Go Fish and Concentration
These may be the most adaptable games ever invented!
Make a deck of matching cards to match whatever theme you are studing and start playing and learning. Match-pictures to words
-Titles to authors
-pictures to first letters or last letters
-baby animals to mothers
Teach these games to children and they will be able to independantly work on all those skills and facts that we have been trying to teach them. Play these games in any language to help promote oral language skills in a fun and natural setting.
Pass the Pigs
One New Year's Eve a friend brought over the game "Pass the Pigs". I'm not quite sure what makes shaking up and tossing those cute little pigs around so hillarious but we just couldn't stop laughing. This is a must have game for a great party or just to pass some time. Educationally it's good for practicing adding and multiplying the scores. Board Games
After teaching the children to play these games I like to make them available to take home in Take Home Literacy Bags.
Board Games in the News!
- Board games 'boost early maths skills'
Playing four 15-minute sessions of board games such as snakes and ladders can improve a child's mathematical abilities significantly, according to a study of four and five-year-olds. And the improvement in numerical tests is still measurable nine weeks later.
Math Games
In order to truely understand mathematics children need many experiences with hands-on concrete objects. Mathematics Their Way by Mary Baretta-Lorton is one of the best resources I have yet found to create and understand the activities needed by young children in order to truely understand mathematics. She explains how to create materials and games that engage for them as well as how to use these in rotating centers.
Read the Mathematics Their Way Summary Newsletter for a sample of this method.
Here is an example:
ROTE COUNTING GROUP ACTIVITY
Decide on a counting sequence (i.e.,
counting by one's from 1 to 7 or counting
by two's from 2 to 12).
Close Your Eyes and Jump
Materials: None
Concept: Counting forward or backwards
Begin by pointing out familiar classroom objects (e.g., door, calendar, piano, flag). Have the children close their eyes. Name one of the objects in the room. Then count the predetermined counting sequence together aloud. On the final number in the sequence, everyone jumps
and turns with eyes closed toward the object named.
Everyone opens their eyes to check. Name a second object and repeat the process. Repeat the sequence over and over without pausing. Keep the final number constant within any one day.
Additional Rote Counting Activities
Mathematics Their Way
Count and Turn p. 93
The Pendulum Game p. 95
The Circle Game pp. 98-99
Stand Up, Sit Down p. 109
Take Over p. 110
Inside, Outside p. 111
More Math Games
Students use the spatula to snag the flapjack with the correct number of dots as well as the corresponding numeral and put them on the plate with the correct numeral.
Counting: You can also program a plate with a number and let students add the correct number of pancakes.
More Counting: If you made big paper pancakes on plates and program the pancake with a number. Then the kids can add the correct number of pats of butter, strawberries, or blueberries etc. These could be felt, painted lima beans or flat glass beads.
Supplies for making games
The Squidoo Game
Games are fun and educational
Which kind of games do you like to play?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byBoard and Card Games
cherangelry says:
Even though I'm always on the computer, I've never been good at gaming on them. Board/card games are much more my style. There are, however, some very fun educational computer games that I still hold near and dear to my heart.
Posted May 10, 2008
Becca_Sanz says:
I love all kinds of games but especially Mancala and Monopoly.
Posted April 26, 2008
blue22d says:
Scrabble. Love your lens. I have a 13 month old granddaughter and will be keeping me eye on this lens to see what I can pull to use with her. Thanks for the great lenses you produce.
Posted April 17, 2008
Jimmie says:
Sorry, Monopoly, Uno, Skip Bo, Dominoes, Guess Who, Scrambled States. We enjoy board and card games. Computer games are okay, but they are too solitary. Family game night is around the table, laughing and having fun!
Posted March 26, 2008
Computer Games
ali says:
monopoly
Posted April 04, 2008
"Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning"
What are your kids learning while playing on the computer?
We all worry about how much time our children are attached to the computer but in his book "Don't Bother Me Mom - I'm Learning" by Marc Prensky, (See below in Books of Games) Marc points out "Not only do game players learn all these thinking, collaboration and other skills, but they begin to acquire them at a very early age."Check out this book below.
Books of Games
Some of these books tell how to play the games. Some tell how to make the games. Use these for ideas and then adapt them to the theme that you are studying. Check out my other lenses for ideas.
Computer Games: Oldies but Goodies
Wii
Indoor Games to Keep you Fit
Play computer games and still get some exercise! What a great idea!
Blokus
Blokus Strategy Board Game
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 05/16/2008)
Blokus Trigon
Amazon Price: $22.09 (as of 05/16/2008)
More Oldies but Goodies
These are the games that taught my children to read, spell and write. They are great for homeschoolers.
More Great Educational Games for Computer
Learn Math, Science, Logic and Social Studies
Antique Board Games on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Board Games In the News!
Have you ever heard of Board Game Cafes? They are popular in Costa Rica for playing Magic. Below you will find a link to Board Games in Asia.
- Latest Boardgame Happenings
- The community for boardgamers in Asia playing the latest Euro Designer boardgames
Let's Play a Game in the Woods
There is a new group being formed in Squidooville. It's called A Walk in the Woods. Whitefoot the Wood Mouse is inviting you to join him there. If you are a member of Squidoo and you may join the group. The exposure that your lens gets by joining will boost your lens rank and add to the number of web pages linking back to your lens. If you are not yet a member of Squidoo you can still come over and read about those who are. Come take A Walk in the Woods.
Teacher Community
Forum for Teaching Ideas
This is a forum exchanging ideas about teaching. We discuss centers, math manipulatives, "Read the Room", "Write the Room", Story Bags, Interactive Bulletin Boards, Lapbooking, Creative ways to teach ESL through Lemmi Sticks and lots, lots more. Click here to join in the fun.
Lenses with lots of Teaching Ideas
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What happened to RECESS?
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Do you remember the games you played during recess as a child? Think about all the physical activity that involved and what you learned from those recess games. Here you will find games, books about games, videos of kids playing and ways to encourag...
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Beginning to Read
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Mrs. Wishy Washy and The Big Bad Pig are inviting you to join them in the adventure of learning to read. Learn how to make Word Walls, Literacy Bags, activities for Center Time and lots, lots, more. You will find suggested beginning reading books, g...
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Frog Unit Study: Hopping to Learn
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The spring continues to warm the earth and frogs are laying eggs in the vernal pools. As the tadpoles begin to hatch, what will they be learning? Pull up a lily pad and listen to the story of Grandfather Frog, hop around the hundreds board, and leav...
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Whitefoot the Wood Mouse: A Mouse Unit Study
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Whitefoot the Wood Mouse welcomes everyone to his nest where learning never ends. He has dozens of mouse related activities to teach young children across the curriculum. Whitefoot welcomes homeschoolers, teachers, parents and children to turn into...
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River Otters: Playful Friends of the Woodlands!
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Learn about River Otters through games and hands-on learning centers. Decorate you classroom with a Woodlands Riverbank Theme. Learn the habits of River Otters, the food they eat and how they raise their young. You will find suggestions for both fic...
What have you learned by playing games?
How do you use games to teach your children?
Please let my know by leaving a comment here. Tell me about your favorite game or teaching idea. Don't forget the stars at the top and if you lensroll this page or add it to your favorites please let me know so that I can reciprocate.
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gtafourking
nice lens. just given you 5 stars.be sure to reply to my message and rate my lens about Posted May 12, 2008 |
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cherangelry
Thanks for this lens, it's really great! I especially love the idea of using Gem Stones in creating your own game. I'll have to remember that in case the right game idea ever comes along! Posted May 10, 2008 |
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JanaMurray
What awesome collection of learning lenses you have put together! Bravo! Posted May 07, 2008 |
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Becca_Sanz
Your lens is very informative. Staying healthy is very important. I hope you will support movement to promote Healthy Food on college campuses. Posted April 26, 2008 |
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Garance
Wonderful site, thank you Posted April 19, 2008 |
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rms
Nice work on this helpful lens. Posted April 09, 2008 |
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Jimmie
We've enjoyed Scrambled States (featured on my 50 States Notebook lens). It's really fun, and we've learned a lot from it! Posted March 26, 2008 |
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rwoman
I think learning should always be fun -- whether you are 6 or 60! Posted March 21, 2008 |
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funwithtrains
Nice lens! Please visit my Marklin Trains lens. Posted March 20, 2008 |
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clarkk
Nice - check out my new lens Posted January 25, 2008 |
We used to play boardgames with homeschoolers at a library in Arlington, Mass. Many of these are the same games. I also loved Max. It's so hard to find a non-competitive game.
Posted November 08, 2007
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LisaBrave
My kids have learned so much from playing games. Thery can even learn a lot from playing tic tac toe! Posted October 09, 2007 |
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groovyoldlady
There are some great educational computer games too... Posted October 01, 2007 |
