Quick, Easy and Fun Thanksgiving Games

Do you need some games to spice up your math time for November? Try these!

Native American Games:  This is my adaptation of  two Native American games used as math extensions.  For  background on these games check out this fascinating link. Native American Games

Pebble Toss

Materials:

• 2 bags of smooth stones (I buy them at Hobby Lobby or The Dollar Store. Watch for the 50% off sale at Hobby Lobby and you can get them for a $1 or go online and get their 40% off any one thing coupon.)
• 3 different kinds of stickers. If you can find Native American symbols that would be great.  I initially wanted turtles, bear paw prints and eagles and had to settle for stars, leaves and butterflies!
• Small Ziploc baggies
• Optional: Clear nail polish or varnish if you want to paint them so the stickers will stay on longer.  I simply tell my students that I want the games to last forever so that my next year’s students can have fun playing the games too, so PLEASE don’t pick at the tickers or peel them off!  There WILL be consequences if you do!!!

 Directions:

Prep:

• Make up 6 games so you have a class set for 30 children to play. If you want to make more games, children can play in groups of 2 or 4, other wise students work in teams of 6

• Each game has 6 stones.

• Each stone has 3 kinds of stickers. I used butterflies, leaves and stars.
• Make pairs of the stones. There will be two stones with stars, two with butterflies and two with leaves.
• Put stickers on all the fronts of the 6 stones.
• Put stickers on only 3 of the backs of the other stones; which means that a pair of butterfly stones will have a butterfly on both sides of one stone and a butterfly on only one side of the other stone.
• Run off copies of score card so that each child has one.
• Children form their groups, and sit in a circle. They decide who goes 1^st. and then play in a clockwise motion.
• A butterfly stone is worth 1 point.
• A star stone is worth 2 points.
• A leaf stone is worth 3 points.
• A blank stone is minus 1 point, so you have to subtract a point from your total.
• If you toss three blank stones you have to minus 3 points from your total.
• It could be possible that a child might toss 6 blank stones; they would then have to minus 6 from their previous score. If they did not have enough points from the time before they would be carrying a negative total. This is a bit difficult to explain, and rarely happens so I wouldn’t worry about it unless the situation arises, then come to the rescue, rather than confuse the entire group with an explanation. Children take turns scooping up the stones and tossing them on the carpet.
• They look at their stones and add up all their points. Then they add up all the blank stones and subtract that number.
• They record this number in the box on their paper, and pass the stones to the next child who does the same thing. Click on the link for a recording sheet.  Native American Recording Sheet
  

• They do NOT add their points at this time.  I pass out calculators at the end of the game for a little calculator practice and everyone adds up their column.
• The child with the most points is the winner. You could have a grand champion of the entire class too!
• Set a timer for a certain amount of time. When it rings the game is over.

 Where’s The Nut? Moccasin Game

Materials:

• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Laminator
• Small Ziploc Baggies

Directions:

• Run off the master so that you have a class set.
• Click on the link for a Moccasin Game master.
• I have my students play in groups of 2 or 3. Each game needs 3 moccasins and a nut, or you could put 3 nuts in the baggie giving all 3 children a nut, because they like to hold their own, and it speeds the game along. 
• Laminate the pieces and cut them out.
• Put each game in a baggy.
• Children take turns hiding the nut under a pair of moccasins while their partner’s eyes are closed.
• Remind students that there is NO peeking.
• Children guess where they think the nut is.
• If they guess correctly they put an X on a nut on their tally sheet.
  
• The child with the most X’s is the winner.
• Set a timer for a certain amount of time; when it rings the game is over.
• Have children total up their number of X’s.
  
• I've made this easier because I've put the nuts in rows of 10 so they can count by 10's up to 100.
  
• Run off a few extra sheets in case a child happens to get that high!  It's never happened in my class.
  
• Graph the results and award a certificate to the grand champion.

 Nuts over acorns counting game

Materials:

• Copy  paper
• Brown crayon
• Dice
• Timer

Directions:

• Set a timer.
• Children choose a partner and take turns rolling the dice.
• They X off as many acorns as are dots on the dice.
• If they roll a 1 they lose their turn.
• Play ends when they have X’d off all of their acorns or the timer rings.
• The child with the most X’s is the winner.
• Click on the link for an Acorn sheet.

 What’s Under the Acorn Cap?  Smilie Face Color Game,

Materials:

• 12 acorn tops per game.
• Rainbow colored smilie face stickers. They come in a pack of 720 for only $1.99. I use them for a zillion  things. Staples sells them.
• Snack baggies
• Timer
• Background: (I have a plethora of oak trees in my neighborhood so I had to think of something to do with all the acorns. Thus the many crafts with oak leaves etc. I just think acorns are so darn cute! They are great to just put in a crystal bowl or fall basket with some broken cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and baby pinecones splashed with a few drops of cinnamon spice oil.  mmmm mmm good!)

Directions:

Prep:

• Gently wash the acorns and set aside to thoroughly dry.
• I use a hair dryer to speed things up and make sure all of the dampness is out of them.
• Put a rainbow sticker inside each cap.
• Use 2 of each color.
• Really press it down.
• Each game needs a set of 12 acorns.

The next day…

• Set the timer.
• Children play in groups of 2.
• This is like memory match.
• Place the acorns face down.
• Children decide who will go first.
• The 1^st child flips up the acorn and shows their partner what color it is and states the color. I’m teaching the colors in Spanish as well, so I have my students say the color in Spanish too.
• Then they try and find a match.
• If they do they get to keep the pair of acorns and score a point.
• Play continues ‘til all the acorns are won, or the timer rings.
• The child with the most acorns is the winner.

      If you live in a place where there are lots of acorns you can make up a center game with upper and lowercase letters and another one with numbers with matching dots. You need 52 acorn tops for the ABC game and 22 Acorn tops for the 0-10 matching #’s to dots game.  I keep these in 2 big Ziploc baggies. This is an activity the children can choose to do when they have accomplished their Table Top work. I used the small white dots that they sell at office supply stores or Wal-mart. You could also use colored ones and cut them down.

     Whatever games you’re playing with your little Pilgrims and Indians I hope you’re having a turkey-riffic time!  As always, if you have a game that you do; we’d love to hear from you! diane@teachwithme.com