| The wonderful thing about learning is that it can be fun. | | | | understand multiplication. Divide children into small |
| Many people think of learning as very boring - they | | | | groups and give them some paper plates and some |
| think that learning requires endless hours of listening to | | | | dried beans. With this game, if you have 2 plates with |
| monotone speeches and even more hours of falling | | | | 3 beans on each plate, then you have 2 X 3 = 6. Or, |
| asleep at books. Learning does not have to be like this | | | | maybe you will have 3 plates with 6 beans on each |
| -- in fact, it should not be like this! | | | | plate. This is 3 plates times 6 beans or 3 X 6 = 18, etc. |
| Teach your students that learning can be fun by | | | | The kids can count the beans to double-check and to |
| incorporating learning games into your everyday lesson | | | | see that this is actually true. |
| plan. | | | | Learning game 3: Shaving Cream Writing |
| Learning games are fun ways to learn important skills | | | | For this learning game, you need foil or wax paper and |
| and knowledge. Some of the best kinds of learning are | | | | a can of shaving cream (not of the gel variety). This |
| the kind that you can play without even realizing that | | | | game can get a wee bit messy, so be prepared. Lay |
| you are learning through the process. Here are some | | | | out your foil or wax paper across a table, nice and flat. |
| excellent learning games for preschool and grade | | | | Allow the kids to spray a large pile of shaving cream |
| school aged children: | | | | onto the foil or wax paper. They can then dip their |
| Learning game 1: Exchange Change Game | | | | hands write into it and spread it around so that they |
| To play this learning game, you need two or three | | | | practice writing by using their fingers. Both tactical and |
| players and also 15 pennies, 6 nickels, 10 dimes, and | | | | visual learners will benefit from this learning game. |
| one die. This is an excellent learning game for teaching | | | | Learning game 4: Ant Walk |
| youth about money combinations. The first player rolls | | | | This learning game teaches children to look closely at |
| the die. If the number 1 comes up, he takes one coin. If | | | | the environment and to appreciate it on a whole new |
| the number 2 comes up, he takes two coins, and so | | | | level. For this learning game, you will only need a piece |
| on. If he rolls a six, he is allowed to take six pennies, | | | | of string, about a yard long at most. Give each student |
| but then he must exchange 5 pennies for a nickel. | | | | or student pair a piece of string, then tell them to set |
| After a while of having to do this exchange, he will | | | | up a trail for an ant walk. The students can find an |
| learn to take 1 penny and one nickel on his next turn. | | | | interesting piece of the schoolyard, preferably around a |
| Similarly, once a player has five pennies he must | | | | tree or garden -- somewhere with a lot to see - then |
| exchange them for a nickel, and two nickels must be | | | | the students get down low to the ground and pretend |
| exchanged for a dime. At the end, all of the players | | | | that they are an ant walking along the path of string. |
| count their change. The player with the highest amount | | | | What do they see? What does the grass look like? |
| wins. This game can also be played at a higher level | | | | What other bugs might be around? Why is there a |
| with quarters and dollar bills or play money. | | | | hole in that part of the ground? Then, you can have |
| Learning game 2: Bean Plates | | | | each student or group share with another student or |
| This learning games helps children learn and | | | | group all of the marvels and sites along his ant walk. |