Monday, February 8, 2010

Preschool Game or Waste of Time

*** Reminder, giveaway for a custom silhouette is open through Thursday the 11th at 5:00pm Eastern. ***

I'm not a teacher, not even close... I'm a mom with a son obsessed with electronic gadgets and a desperate need to get him back into to "analog" toys he used to love.

And I also had an excess of blocks thanks to my realization that I could make them myself far cheaper than I could buy them. Now, I have no idea if this game is stupid, genus or somewhere in between. So far, the jury is out - but it hasn't been rejected to that is a good side.

Here we go, here are the materials:
 

  • 6 Blocks 
  • 6 sets of images created on the computer, each set features six shapes in a single color. Plus a series of just the color and just the shape... it sounds confusing, which is why I am NOT a teacher. Hopefully my instructions make it clearer as we go.
  • Mod Podge (which I'm still shocked to learn is NOT modge podge)
  • Laminating paper, or contact paper would work too
  • Scissors

Step 1 - Cut apart the shape sets and pile them up by color.
 

Step 2 - Sort the sets so that there is one of each shape and each color to be applied to each block.

 
(See, each set now has one of each shape, crescent, square, hexagon, circle, triangle and star which are also one of each color, orange, yellow, blue, red, purple and green.)
Step 3 - Apply the sets to the blocks with mod podge.

 


Step 4 - Cut apart the images of the shapes and colors and laminate them. 


Here is the finished product...


So that is how to make the game... now here is how to play the game.

Set out the blocks and the game pieces on the table.


And then pick a single card:

In this case, the color red.

So then the preschooler has to find all the red shapes on each of the six blocks.

 
(My flash changed the colors a bit, those really are all the red shapes.)

Pick another card and then turn the blocks to find what is on that card, be it a shape or a color.


To make things a little more complex, divide the cards into two piles, colors and shapes, one of each is drawn and they have to find the side of the block that matches both.

 

Orange card, plus circle card = Orange Circle.

So, like I said, this might be really stupid, my son looked over everything and proceeded to stack the blocks... not sure if he's ever going to "Get the game" but I'll have to keep you posted on that one.

8 comments:

  1. Great idea!

    I do have a question for you - do you like the Netbook with Sure Cuts A Lot software? I was looking into but am not sure whether it's worth the investment. (Please comment back on my blog..:))

    Thanks...Lindsay

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  2. This is seriously fabulous. I am going to host it on my blog. I just love this.

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  3. I think it's a great idea! :) A new twist on learning shapes and colors. Good job.

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  4. This is great Maggie! I love it! Ivy is such a little sorter and organizer, this game would be right up her alley.

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  5. If anyone wants a copy of the PDF file to print the shapes and colors for this project, drop me an email and I'll be happy to shoot them over to you.

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  6. Maggie, Thanks for checking out my blog! I'm so happy to have you as my first "follower". Sometimes I start to feel like I am just talking to myself over there.

    Anyway, I really like this project! I have been looking for some educational activities for my preschooler too. I will definitely have to try this one. I can't wait until I have more time to look through your archives!

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  7. I would love a copy of the shapes and colors to make this. Thanks for sharing!! danaamodt@msn.com

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  8. Avery just got a game for her brithday called Quirkle cubes and it reminded me of this post. So there is a game out there similar to your idea, but I love the homemade version better:)

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