Games for the Early Years [1 ed.] 9780857473431, 9781903853559

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Contents Title page Publisher Information Introduction Games for the early years Autumn leaves Baby lotto Bears Birthday cake Boats Bugs dominoes Butterfly lotto Christmas lotto Colour match Dinosaurs Dressing game Farm pairs Flower game Frogs Hospitals House lotto Pet pairs Postman Rocket game Seaside pairs Shoes Shopping snap Tooth game Train game Weather dominoes Zoo I-spy Also Available

Games for the

Early Years 26 Games to Make and Play

Judith Rhodes

Brilliant Publications

Published by Brilliant Publications 1 Church View, Sparrow Hall Farm, Edlesborough, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2ES, UK Digital Edition converted and published by Andrews UK Limited 2010 www.andrewsuk.com E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk General information enquiries: The name Brilliant Publications and the logo are registered trademarks. Written by Judith Rhodes Illustrated by Julie Hodgson Front cover designed by Lynda Murray © Judith Rhodes 2005 First printed and published in the UK in 2005 The right of Judith Rhodes to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Pages 6–7, 9–10, 12–13, 15–16, 18–19, 21–22, 24–25, 27–28, 30–31, 33, 35–37, 39–40, 42–43, 45–46, 48–49, 51–52, 54–55, 57–58, 60, 62–63, 65, 67–68, 70–73, 75–76, 78–79 and 81–84 may be photocopied by individual teachers acting on behalf of the purchasing institution for classroom use only, without permission from the publisher. The materials may not be reproduced in any other form or for any other purpose without the prior permission of the publisher.

Introduction Games for the Early Years contains 26 photocopiable games to be played by 3 to 5 year olds. Many of the games were developed several years ago and successfully used by many young children. Each game is valuable in teaching basic skills and helping children work together to find out about new concepts. The games can be played with up to four children and an adult or older child guiding. Some games can be played to have a ‘winner’ although it is very important to develop social skills and focus on turn taking. The games can be simply made by duplicating the materials, colouring and laminating. Once the games are laminated or covered with sticky-back plastic they will have an unlimited classroom life and make it well worth doing. The games need to be stored in a box or zip up wallet. The dice can be made by cutting, folding and colouring the appropriate design or by using a coloured cube. Blank dice can be bought from some education suppliers or it is possible to buy and saw wood. Use sandpaper to remove any rough edges. To play the games the pictures and baseboards need to be shared out and the rules explained. The children need to take turns and to be involved in what their friends are doing. Although some games have a winner it is most valuable to be involved in taking part and enjoying being together. Playing these games together, following the curriculum link and sharing the story books together helps develop a range of educational ideas and gives opportunities for children to extend their learning and to have fun.

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Autumn leaves Objectives ❖ To learn about the season of autumn ❖ To match the leaf colours to the die and build up the leaves on the tree outline

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Tree baseboard (page 6) Leaf shapes (page 7) Die Glue (if making die) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate the tree baseboard (page 6) four times. Colour the trunk of the tree (leaving the leaves blank) and laminate. ❖ Duplicate five sets of leaf shapes (page 7) and colour in red, yellow, orange, brown and green. (Or copy leaves directly onto coloured card). Laminate and cut out. ❖ Use cube or die and colour sides to match leaf colours. Leave one side blank.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a tree baseboard. ❖ Put leaf shapes on a tray in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to throw die and select a matching leaf to place on their tree. ❖ Carry on playing until the trees are filled with leaves. ❖ The game can be played in reverse by taking leaves off according to the throw of the die.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 5 sets of leaf shapes die with colours

Talk about autumn as you play the game. Go for an autumn walk and collect leaves and nuts to investigate. Make leaf prints and rubbings. Set up an autumn display with leaves, conkers and nuts.

Book link After the Storm by Nick Butterworth, published by Picture Lions

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Autumn leaves

Games for the Early Years 6

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Autumn leaves

Colour leaves, cut out and laminate or copy leaves directly onto coloured card.

Use cube or die and colour sides or stick on labels to match leaf colours.

OR Copy, fold and glue to make die.

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 7

Baby lotto Objectives ❖ To learn about what things a baby might need ❖ To match baby toys to base board ❖ To match words to base board

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Baby baseboard (page 9) Set of toys cards (top, page 10) Set of word cards (bottom, page 10) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four baby baseboards (page 9), colour the items one of four colours (have a mixture of colours on each board). Laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of toy cards and four sets of word cards (page 10). Colour them to match the baseboards, cut out and laminate .

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ An adult or child describes each small card in turn ‘a yellow bib’, ‘a red potty’, etc. ❖ The child it belongs to calls out and places the card on their baseboard. Continue until all the small cards are used up or until one child has all their cards. ❖ The game could also be played by matching the word cards.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of toy cards 4 sets of word cards – optional

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Talk about a baby’s needs as you play the game. Make a collection of baby photos and a display of baby toys and clothes etc. Set up a role-play baby clinic and have fun washing and dressing dolls. Invite a parent to visit with their baby to feed and change him.

Book link Something Special by Nicola Moon, published by Orchard Books

Baby lotto

cup

bottle

potty

teddy

rattle

bib

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 9

Baby lotto

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cup

bottle

potty

teddy

rattle

bib

cup

bottle

potty

teddy

rattle

bib

Games for the Early Years 10

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Bears Objectives ❖ To count and move along following the paw prints ❖ To develop understanding of up and down, forwards and backwards.

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Bear baseboard (page 12) Teddy faces (page 13) Die decorated with paw prints (page 13) Glue (if making die) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four teddy baseboards (page 12), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four teddy faces, colour, cut out and laminate (page 13). ❖ Make a die or cube (page 13). Decorate four sides with paw prints and leave two sides blank.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard and a teddy face. ❖ Children take turns to roll the die and move teddy along the baseboard, up if they roll a paw print and down if not. ❖ The winner is the first child to reach teddy.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 teddy faces die with paw prints on 4 sides

Talk about each child’s teddy as you play the game. Make a collection of children’s teddies and set up a display. Encourage children to make drawings or collages of their own bear. Have a teddy day with home-made biscuits and sandwiches. Investigate the types of teddy: how old they are, what materials they are made of, measure the sizes. Go on a bear hunt.

Book link Old Bear by Jane Hissey, published by Red Fox

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Bears

Games for the Early Years 12

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Bears ✄

Draw paw prints on cube or dice.

OR

Copy, fold and glue to make die.

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 13

Birthday cake Objectives ❖ To roll the die and add candles to the birthday cake ❖ To move according to the happy or sad faces

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Birthday cake baseboard (page 15) Birthday candles (page 16) Cube or die decorated with happy and sad faces (page 16) Scissors and colouring materials Glue (if making die) Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four birthday cake baseboards (page 15), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of candles (page 16), colour, cut out and laminate. ❖ Make a cube or die (page 16). Decorate with three happy faces and three sad faces.

How to glay the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ Put the candle shapes on a tray in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to role the die and add a candle to their cake if a happy face shows, no candle for sad face. ❖ Continue until one child has all the candles on their cake and sing happy birthday to them. ❖ Note: please be aware that some children don’t celebrate birthdays for religious reasons.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of candles die with happy and sad faces

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Talk about birthdays as game is played. Make a graph showing months of children’s birthdays. Go shopping and buy the ingredients for cakes and sandwiches. Have a party for the classroom toys or teddies. Make birthday hats and play party games. Set up a cake shop in the role play area.

Book link The Birthday Cake by Ron Van Der Meer, published by Konemann UK Ltd

Birthday cake

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 15

Birthday cake ✄

Use a cube or die with happy and sad faces.

OR Copy, and glue to make die.

Games for the Early Years 16

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Boats Objectives ❖ To discover and match different shapes ❖ To use shapes to build boat

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Boat baseboard (page 18) Set of shapes (page 19) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four boat baseboards (page 18), colour in the sea, sun and boat (including mast and flagpole, but leaving the shapes blank). Laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of shapes to build boat (page 19), colour the shapes (any colours of your preference), cut out and laminate. Note: as the sheet has two sets of shapes you will only need to photocopy it twice.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a boat baseboard. ❖ Put the shapes into a bag in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to reach in the bag, take out a shape and put it in the correct place on their baseboard. ❖ Continue until one child has completely built their boat.

Curriculum links Talk about the different shapes as the game is being played. Make a collection of boats to play with in the water play area. Make a boat from folded paper or build with woodwork materials.

Book link To play the game you will need:

Mr Grumpy’s Outing by John Burningham, published by Red Fox

4 baseboards 4 sets of boat shapes

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Boats Games for the Early Years 18

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Boats ✄

✄

Boats

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 19

Bugs dominoes Objectives ❖ To learn about insects, spiders and other bugs ❖ To match pictures of different bugs while playing a dominoes game

Materials ❖ Set of bug dominoes (pages 21 and 22) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Copy a set of 28 bug dominoes (pages 21 and 22), colour, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Shuffle and share out the set of dominoes. ❖ Children take turns to place a domino in the middle of the table matching a bug picture to either end. ❖ Continue until one child has correctly placed all their dominoes.

Curriculum links Talk about the different bugs as you play the game. Emphasize the pictures that are the same and that are different. Go searching for different bugs in the garden, using a magnifying glass to look more closely. Set up a wormery in the classroom. Use egg box cups and pipe cleaners to make models of spiders. Talk about bugs which have six or eight legs.

Book link Joe’s Café by Rose Impey and Sue Porter, published by Orchard Books

To play the game you will need: Set of 28 dominoes

20

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Bugs dominoes

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 21

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Games for the Early Years 22

Bugs dominoes

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Butterfly lotto Objectives ❖ To learn about the pattern and symmetry on butterfly wings ❖ To match the butterflies to the same background on the base board

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Patterned baseboard (page 24) Set of butterflies (page 25) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four patterned baseboards (page 24), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of butterflies (page 25), colour to match baseboards and laminate. Cut out into butterfly shapes.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ An adult or child holds up or describes each butterfly in turn – ‘red spots’, ‘green triangles’, ‘blue squares’ etc. ❖ The child it belongs to calls out and matches the butterfly on to their baseboard. ❖ The butterflies could also be placed face down in the middle of the table and the children take turns to turn one over as a memory game.

Curriculum links Talk about pattern and symmetry, shape and colour as you play the game. Make butterfly paintings and find out about the lifecycle of a butterfly. It is also possible to buy and grow your very own butterfly garden from some companies. Look for other patterns in the environment – ladybird spots, etc.

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of butterflies

Book link Amanda’s Butterfly by Nick Butterworth, published by Picture Lions

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Butterfly lotto

Games for the Early Years 24

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Butterfly lotto ✄

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 25

Christmas lotto Objectives ❖ To learn about giving different presents ❖ To match the toy to the wrapped up gift

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Christmas presents baseboard (page 27) Set of Christmas presents (page 28) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four Christmas presents baseboards (page 27), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate one set of present cards, (page 27). Use as a template to cut four sets of outline shapes from Christmas or other brightly coloured paper. Laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a Christmas presents baseboard. ❖ Put the present shapes in the middle of the table or in a bag. ❖ Children take turns to take a shape and place on the matching toy picture on their baseboard. ❖ Continue until all the cards are matched up or until one child has matched all their toys and presents.

Curriculum links Talk about giving presents and what they are hoping to get from Father Christmas. Use wrapping paper and junk boxes to make a set of presents. Encourage children to estimate for themselves how much paper is needed. Turn the role-play area into Santa’s workshop. Give children elf hats to wear and provide collage and junk materials.

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of presents

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Book link Kipper’s Christmas Eve by Mick Inkpen, published by Hodder Children’s Books

Christmas lotto

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 27

Christmas lotto ✄ Cut outline shapes from Christmas or other bright paper and laminate.

Games for the Early Years 28

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Colour match Objectives ❖ To learn the names of basic colours ❖ To match paint brushes to paint splodges

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Paint splodges baseboard (page 30) Paint brush shapes (page 31) Scissors and colouring materials Bag or box to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four paint splodges baseboards (page 30), colour paint splodges – red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple – and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of brush shapes (page 31), colour tips of brushes to match baseboard colours, laminate and cut out.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ Put brush shapes into a paint pot and put it in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to take a brush and match the splodge on their baseboard, replacing the brush if it’s not needed. ❖ Continue until all brushes are matched or until one child has matched all their colours.

Curriculum links Talk about the different colours as the game is played. Make a graph of favourite colours. Use primary coloured paint – red, yellow, blue to investigate and mix lots of new colours. Use to paint own picture or pattern.

Book link To play the game you will need:

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, published by Orchard Books

4 baseboards 4 sets of paintbrush shapes

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Colour match

Games for the Early Years 30

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Colour match Colour tips of brushes to match paint splodges on baseboard, laminate and cut out.

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 31

Dinosaurs Objectives ❖ To match the colours from the die and to build up the spots on the dinosaurs

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Dinosaur baseboard (page 33) Set of counters to fit dinosaur spots Die with colours to match counters Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four dinosaur baseboards (page 33), colour, leaving spots blank, laminate. Alternatively spots could be coloured to match counters and die.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ Put counters on a tray in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to roll die and take matching counter. The child adds the counter to the dinosaur, either matching coloured spots or placing it on any blank spot. ❖ Continue until one child fills all the spots on their dinosaur.

Curriculum links Set up a dinosaur land in the sand or water tray. Encourage the children to make their own paintings or collages of dinosaurs. Investigate non-fiction books and find out names of dinosaurs. Use music and movement times to move like a dinosaur. Use play dough to model dinosaur eggs.

Book link To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards coloured counters die with colours

32

Togg and Leftover by Mike Ratnett and June Goulding, published by Picture Lions

Dinosaurs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 33

Dressing game Objectives ❖ To learn the names of different clothes and the order that they are put on to get dressed ❖ To match clothes to number of spots on die and dress boy or girl shape

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Girl and boy baseboards (page 35 and 36) Set of clothes shapes (page 37) Die with spots or numbers 1–6 Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four baseboards (page 35 and 36), colour, laminate. You can choose whether to match the girl and boy baseboards to the children playing or to hand them out randomly. ❖ Duplicate four sets of clothes shapes (page 37), colour, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard. ❖ Put clothes cards on a tray in the middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns at rolling the die and matching the number of spots to the appropriate piece of clothing, then dressing their boy or girl shape. ❖ Continue until everyone has dressed their shape. The game can be made more difficult by insisting that the children throw the die in order (i.e. 1 for vest before 2 for socks, etc).

Curriculum links To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of clothes shapes die with spots or numbers 1–6

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Set up a dressing up trolley or box. Make collage pictures of boys and girls using scraps of material, paint, ribbons, buttons etc. Make a collection of socks to play matching or pairs games. Set up a role play hat or shoe shop.

Book link Little Bear’s Trousers by Jane Hissey, published by Philomel Books

Dressing game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 35

Dressing game

Games for the Early Years 36

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

✄ 1 2 3 4 5 6

Dressing game

vest socks trousers or skirt top shoes hat

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 37

Farm pairs Objectives ❖ To learn the names of different farm animals and their babies ❖ To match the mother and baby pictures

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Set of mother cards (page 39) Set of baby cards (page 40) Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four sets of mother cards (page 39), colour, laminate and cut out. ❖ Duplicate four sets of baby cards (page 40), colour, laminate and cut out.

How to play the game ❖ Spread mother and baby cards face down on the table. ❖ Children take turns to turn over two cards to find a matching mother and baby. ❖ If the cards match the child can keep them and have another go. ❖ Continue until all the pairs are matched up and count up how many pairs have been won.

Curriculum links Go on a farm visit. Set up an incubator and hatch out some chicks. Make some paintings and collages of favourite farm animals. Have a scarecrow building competition. Use the sand tray to make a farm display. Use toy farm animals to play matching and sorting games.

Book link To play the game you will need: 4 sets of baby cards 4 sets of mother cards

38

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Farmyard Hullabaloo by Giles Andreas and David Wojtowycz, published by Orchard Books

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Farm pairs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 39

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Games for the Early Years 40

Farm pairs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Flower game Objectives ❖ To learn about how flowers grow and develop from seeds ❖ To match colours on petal shapes and die

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Flower baseboard (page 42) Set of petal shapes (page 43) Die Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four flower baseboards (page 42), colour (leaving the petals blank), and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of petal shapes (page 43), colour, cut out and laminate. Note: as the sheet has two sets of shapes you will only need to photocopy it twice. ❖ Use cube or die coloured to match petal colours (colour four sides and leave two blank).

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a flower baseboard. ❖ Put the petal shapes on a tray in the centre of the table. ❖ Children take turns to roll die, take a petal of matching colour and add it to their baseboard. ❖ Continue until the flowers are filled with petals. ❖ The game can be played either with the child collecting petals of different colours or all of the same colour.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of petal shapes die

Set up a flower shop in the role-play area. Make a garden, plant and look after plants and seeds. Use an outside area to dig and investigate. Use collage materials to make own flower pictures. Have a competition to plant, grow and measure the tallest sunflower.

Book link Titch by Pat Hutchins, published by Red Fox

41

Flower game

Games for the Early Years 42

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Flower game ✄

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Flower game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 43

Frogs Objectives ❖ To learn about the life-cycle of a frog ❖ To move the frog along the lily pads depending on the roll of the die

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Lily pad baseboard (page 45) Frog shaped counters (page 46) Die decorated with 3 blank and 3 fly sides (page 46) Scissors and colouring materials Glue (if making die) Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four lily pad baseboards (page 45), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four frog shaped counters (page 46), colour, cut out and laminate. ❖ Make a die with three blank sides and three sides with fly pictures (page 46).

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a lily pad baseboard and frog shaped counter. ❖ Children take turns to roll the die and move their frog along the lily pads if they roll a fly and stay still if roll a blank. ❖ Continue until one child moves their frog to edge of the pond.

Curriculum links Set up a display area with information and story books about frogs. Make collage pictures showing frogs and tadpoles – bubble wrap is very effective as frog spawn.

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards frog shaped counters die decorated with 3 blank and 3 fly sides

44

Book link Jump Frog Jump by Robert Kalan, published by William Kalan

Frogs © Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 45

Frogs ✄

Draw a fly on three sides of a cube or die.

OR

Copy, fold and glue shape to make die.

Games for the Early Years 46

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Hospital dominoes Objectives ❖ To find out about different objects found in a hospital ❖ To match hospital pictures in a game of dominoes

Materials ❖ Set of dominoes showing hospital pictures (page 48 and 49) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate set of 28 dominoes showing hospital pictures (pages 48 and 49), colour, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Shuffle and share out set of dominoes. ❖ Children take turns to place a domino in the middle of the table matching a hospital picture to either end. ❖ Continue until one child has correctly placed all their dominoes.

Curriculum links Talk about different objects as the game is played. Emphasize the pictures that are the same and different. Set up a hospital in the role-play area. Draw or paint a self-portrait and stick on real plasters to show where a wound is. Turn pedal car or tricycle into an ambulance.

Book link Ness the Nurse by Nick Sharratt, published by Scholastic Press

To play the game you will need: Set of dominoes

47

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Hospital dominoes

Games for the Early Years 48

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

✄

Hospital dominoes

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 49

House lotto Objectives ❖ To match parts of a house and build up a house shape ❖ A simple colour match game

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

House baseboards (page 51) House detail cards (page 52) Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four house baseboards (page 51). Colour in house parts shown on the house detail cards (page 52) only: chimney and triangular roof; two windows; door; gate and plant pot (use one colour for each house). Laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of house details cards (page 52). Colour the house parts to match the baseboards, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a different coloured house baseboard. ❖ An adult or child holds up or describes each small card in turn – ‘a red door’, ‘a yellow window’ etc. ❖ The child it belongs to calls and places the card on their house baseboard. ❖ Continue until all the small cards are used up or until one child has built their house.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of house detail cards

50

Talk about children’s own homes as you play the game. Make pictures of own houses, flats, etc and build up a street scene. Use building bricks to design own house. Sugar lumps and icing are a fun alternative to build with. Go for a walk to look at buildings in the area.

Book link Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes, published by Red Fox

House lotto

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 51

House lotto ✄ Colour the house parts, one colour to match each house baseboard. Cut out and laminate to make set of cards.

Games for the Early Years 52

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Pet pairs Objectives ❖ To find out about different animals that children keep as pets ❖ To match pet pictures and create a pair

Materials ❖ Pet cards (pages 54–55) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four sets of pet cards (pages 54–55), colour, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Spread pet cards face down on the table. ❖ Children take turns to turn over two cards to find a matching pair. ❖ If the cards match, the child can keep them and have another go. ❖ Continue until all the pairs are matched up and count up how many pairs have been won.

Curriculum links Have a pet week and invite children to bring their pets into the classroom. Check for allergies first. Be sensitive to children who may be worried about some of the animals. Make a graph showing the most popular pet. Use play dough or clay to model the favourite animal. Set up a pet shop in the role-play area.

Book link The Great Pet Sale by Mick Inkpen, published by Hodder Children’s Books

To play the game you will need: 4 sets of pet cards

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Games for the Early Years 54

Pet pairs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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Pet pairs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 55

Postman Objectives ❖ To learn about the role of the postman ❖ To match letters to the right numbered house

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Street baseboard (page 57) Letter cards (page 58) Die Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four street baseboards (page 57), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four sets of letter pictures (page 58), colour, cut out and laminate. ❖ Make a die or cube with numerals or spots from 1 to 6.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a street baseboard. ❖ Children take turns to role the die, find a matching numbered letter and post it on to the correct house in the street. ❖ Continue until one street has a letter correctly matched to every house.

Curriculum links Talk about the numbers as the game is played. Use a blank postcard, draw a picture on the front and encourage the children to write a message on the reverse and their own address. Stamp the postcards (you could ask parents to supply second class stamps). Go for a walk to send the postcards. Make some simple postman hats and deliver letters to other classes.

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of letter cards die

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Book link The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, published by Heinemann Young Books

Postman © Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 57

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1 Happy Lane

4 Happy Lane

Postman

2 Happy Lane

5 Happy Lane

3 Happy Lane

6 Happy Lane

Use a die or cube patterned with spots or numbers.

Games for the Early Years 58

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Rocket game Objectives ❖ A colour match game ❖ To learn to count down from 10–0

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Rocket baseboard (page 60) Primary coloured counters or small bricks Die with colours to match counters or bricks Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four rocket baseboards (page 60). ❖ Colour the rocket spots on each baseboard different primary colours and laminate. ❖ Make or use a die with the same colours.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a rocket baseboard. ❖ Put counters or bricks on a tray in the middle of the table. ❖ Each child takes turns at rolling the die and matching a counter of that colour to their rocket. ❖ When each rocket is filled with counters do a ten to zero countdown with the players.

Curriculum links Set up a spaceship in the role play area. Use collage and junk materials for the children to create their own rockets. Encourage the children to make paintings of their own space creatures. Make a classroom display showing a number line from 10 to 0.

Book link To play the game you will need:

Whatever Next by Jill Murphy, published by Campbell Books

4 baseboards coloured counters or small bricks die with colours

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Rocket game

Games for the Early Years 60

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Seaside pairs Objectives ❖ To learn about playing at the seaside ❖ To match buckets and spades

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Bucket cards (page 62) Spade cards (page 63) Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate three sets of bucket pictures (page 62), colour the buckets on each sheet a different colour. Cut out and laminate. ❖ Duplicate three sets of spade pictures (page 63), colour the spades on each sheet a different colour. Cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Spread bucket and spade cards on the table face down. ❖ Children take turns to turn over two cards and find a matching bucket and spade pair. ❖ If the cards match the child can keep them and have another go. ❖ Continue until all the pairs are matched up and count up how many pairs have been won.

Curriculum links Put together a collection of spades, moulds and buckets for the sandpit. Make some seaside pictures adding sand to the paint. Take off shoes and socks and make some footprints. Spend the day pretending to be at the seaside, paddling, having a picnic and building sand castles.

To play the game you will need: 3 sets of bucket cards 3 sets of spade cards

Book link Lucy and Tom at the Seaside by Shirley Hughes, published by Puffin Books

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Seaside pairs

Games for the Early Years 62

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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Seaside pairs

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 63

Shoes Objectives ❖ To learn about different types of shoes and when they are worn ❖ To match and make a pair of shoes

Materials ❖ Shoe cards (page 65) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four sets of shoe cards (page 65), colour, laminate and cut out. .

How to play the game ❖ Spread the shoe cards face down on the table. ❖ Children take turns to turn over two cards and find a matching pair. ❖ Continue until all the pairs are matched up.

Curriculum links Use old shoes or wellies to make some printing pictures. Make a display of different types of footwear. Make a graph showing sizes of children’s feet. Set up a shoe shop in the role-play area. Use brushes and dusters to have a shoeshine corner.

Book link Alfie’s Feet by Shirley Hughes, published by Red Fox

To play the game you will need: 4 sets of shoe cards

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Shoes

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 65

Shopping snap Objectives ❖ To learn about different types of food and the shops where they can be bought ❖ To match the shopping pictures to make a pair

Materials ❖ Sets of shopping cards (pages 67 and 68) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate the shopping cards (page 67 and 68) four times, colour, laminate and cut out.

How to play the game ❖ Shuffle the shopping cards and share out amongst the children playing. ❖ Children take turns at turning over the cards on to a pile in the middle of the table until a matching pair is found. ❖ The first to call out ‘snap’ wins the cards in the centre of the table. Continue until one child has won all the cards. ❖ This game could also be played as a pairs game.

Curriculum links Talk about shopping and where different foods can be bought. Make a shopping list with words and pictures and go on a visit to the local shops. Cut out pictures from food catalogues to make a collage. Set up a supermarket or food shop in the roleplay area. Go shopping for food for cooking or a picnic. Buying vegetables from the greengrocer or market and using them to make soup is fun.

Book link Don’t Forget the Bacon by Pat Hutchins, published by Red Fox

To play the game you will need: 4 sets of shopping cards

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Shopping snap

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 67

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Shopping snap

Games for the Early Years 68

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Tooth game Objectives ❖ To learn about what foods are good for our teeth and bodies ❖ To add teeth shapes to a smiley mouth

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Smiley faces baseboards (pages 70 and 71) Food cards (pages 72 and 73) Pink, grey and white felt Glue Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four smiley face baseboards (pages 70 and 71), colour and laminate. You can choose whether to match the girl and boy baseboards to the children playing or to hand them out randomly. ❖ Cut out and glue a pink felt mouth shape to each face. ❖ Duplicate four sets of food cards (pages 72 and 73), colour, laminate and cut out. ❖ Cut out small teeth shapes from grey and white felt.

How to play the game ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Give each child a smiley face baseboard. Put food cards face down in the middle of the table. Put felt teeth in a small dish in the middle of the table. Each child takes it in turn to pick a food card and decides whether it is good or bad for their teeth. ❖ They put an appropriate felt tooth on their mouth shape. ❖ Continue until all the food cards are used up. ❖ A winner could be the child who has the best set of teeth.

Curriculum links To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 sets of food cards felt teeth (grey and white)

Set up a dentist role-play area. Make a healthy fruit salad or vegetable stew. Make a graph about toothbrush colours. Use old toothbrushes to paint with.

Book link Len Lion’s Wobbly Tooth by Abby Irvine, published by Tango Books

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Tooth game

Games for the Early Years 70

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Tooth game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 71

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Games for the Early Years 72

Tooth game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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Tooth game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 73

Train game Objectives ❖ To learn about trains, the red and green flags and what signals they mean ❖ To move along the train track, green signalling go and red stop

Materials ❖ Train track baseboard (page 75) ❖ Train shaped counters (page 76) ❖ Die or cube decorated with 3 green and 3 red flags (page 76) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Glue (if making die) ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four train track baseboards (page 75), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate four train shape counters (page 76), colour, cut out and laminate. ❖ Make a die and colour three sides green and three sides with red (page 76).

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a baseboard and a train shaped counter. ❖ Children take turns to roll the die and move their train counter – red means stop still and green means one step forward. ❖ Continue until one child’s train reaches the station.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards 4 train shaped counters die with 3 green and 3 red flags

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Use classroom chairs to set up a train and use role play area as a ticket office. Use dowelling and material to make own flag. Set up plastic or wooden train set.

Book link The Train Ride by June Crebbin, published by Walker Books

Train game

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 75

Train game ✄

Colour three sides of a die red and three green or draw red and green flags. OR Copy, fold and glue shape to make die. Colour three flags red and three flags freen.

Games for the Early Years 76

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Weather dominoes Objectives ❖ To develop an understanding of different sorts of weather ❖ To match weather pictures while playing a game of dominoes

Materials ❖ Set of dominoes showing pictures of different weather (pages 78 and 79) ❖ Scissors and colouring materials ❖ Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Copy set of 28 dominoes showing pictures of weather (pages 78 and 79), colour, cut out and laminate.

How to play the game ❖ Shuffle and share out the dominoes. ❖ Children take turns to place a domino in middle of the table, matching a weather picture to either end. ❖ Continue until one child has correctly placed all their dominoes.

Curriculum links Talk about the day’s weather as the game is played. Make a ‘today’s weather display’ and change weather picture each day. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear to go outside on different days. Investigate how weather changes in relation to seasons.

Book link Kipper’s Book of Weather by Mick Inkpen, published by Hodder Children’s Books

To play the game you will need: Set of 28 dominoes

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Weather dominoes

Games for the Early Years 78

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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Weather dominoes

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 79

Zoo I-spy Objectives ❖ To learn the different names of zoo animals ❖ To match animal names and pictures from a list and put onto zoo baseboard

Materials ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Zoo baseboard (page 81) Animal card (page 82 and 83) Lists of animal words and pictures (page 84) Scissors and colouring materials Box or bag to store game

How to make the game ❖ Duplicate four zoo baseboards (page 81), colour and laminate. ❖ Duplicate a set of animal cards (page 82 and 83), colour, laminate and cut out. ❖ Duplicate animal lists (page 84), colour, laminate and cut out.

How to play the game ❖ Give each child a zoo baseboard and an animal list. ❖ Put the animal cards face down in middle of the table. ❖ Children take turns to turn over an animal card, check if it is on their list and then put it on the zoo baseboard or return it to the middle of the table. ❖ Continue until all animals are collected or one child has found all animals on their list.

Curriculum links

To play the game you will need: 4 baseboards set of animal cards 4 lists of animal words and pictures

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Visit to a local zoo or arrange for a zookeeper to bring some animals to show children. Talk about and make pictures or collages of favourite animals. Make set of masks showing different zoo animals. Investigate the different patterns on animal skins.

Book link Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, published by Campbell Books

Zoo I-spy

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 81

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Games for the Early Years 82

Zoo I-spy

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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Zoo I-spy

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

Games for the Early Years 83

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Zoo I-spy

elephant

rabbit

zookeeper

tiger

snake

spider

goat

ice cream shop

zebra parrot bear giraffe penguin

pony

lion

ticket office

kangaroo monkey hippo seal leopard fish train rhino Games for the Early Years 84

© Judith Rhodes www.brilliantpublications.co.uk This page may be photocopied by the purchasing institution only.

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