Thursday, September 1, 2011

House of Cards - Fun, cheap, easy way to learn more about your kids

Here's a fun/easy/cheap/educational activity for all you parents, caregivers and teachers out there!  Give your kiddos a stack of playing cards and a roll of masking tape and tell them that the "best" castle wins.  That's it.  They can't use anything other than the cards and the tape and they have to build a castle. "Best", of course, is relative, so you can judge the winners based on cooperation, design, strength, aesthetics, or give a prize in each category.  Gauge your kids to see what will be best for them.

If you're a teacher, use this as a team-building activity for your cooperative groups.  If you're a parent, use it at a birthday party to keep the kids engaged, or just use it with your own kids and see how creative they can truly be.  The kids can work independently, in small groups, or in large groups.  You'll be amazed what life skills start shining through during this oh-so-simple activity.  If the kids are working in a group, you'll immediately be able to pinpoint "the leaders".  They're the ones who take the masking tape and the stack of cards and demand their teammates listen to their plan before anyone does anything. You'll soon find your creative cats, too.  They're the ones who quietly and artfully create a architectural masterpiece that has multiple levels, staircases, spindles. and use alternating diamond/spade patterns  The peace-makers will emerge, well, as the ones who keep the peace and keep everyone involved.

The great thing is that clean up is easy, the cards can be re-used and this activity can be done repeatedly since no two castles will be the same.

Try it out and share what you find -- we'd love to hear what you discovered about your Aces!

11 comments:

  1. Hello! I am following you back. Thanks for stopping by Horseshoes!

    Tania

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  2. Cute idea. I'm getting tired of play Fish all the time with my 5 year old Lol!

    thanks for joining our blog hop today, I dropped by to take a look around and to follow you too.

    Happy thursday!

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  3. I love this idea! What a great rainy day activity too.

    Thanks for linking up with us today for the bloghop. Love that you joined us! Happy Thursday!

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  4. I like this idea. It sounds like it would be great for a rainy day sometime. Lol, even for me.:) Thanks for the follow. I'm returning the favor.:)

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  5. Wow...this is a great exercise. Even if they start out doing it individually, I'm sure a group dynamic would come about.

    WM

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  6. What a cute idea! :)

    I just wanted to thank you for linking up and following me. I'm returning the favor as your newest follower!

    I look forward to hearing/reading more from you! :)

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  7. Awesome!


    Btw, I stumbled upon your blog via Monday blog hop,
    and I'm now your newest follower via GFC.
    Please feel free to visit my blog @

    http://www.momfashionworld.blogspot.com/

    Thanks! Looking forward to seeing you there, and hope you will follow me back.

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  8. You are very much welcome.

    P.S. I'm now following you; #153rd follower.
    I will be glad if you follow back. Thanks!


    http://www.momfashionworld.blogspot.com/

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  9. Debs Dealz stopping in from the September '11 Hop to follow you via GFC and Facebook. Please return the follows!!

    Also let me know if you are interested in exchanging buttons! :-)

    Thanks, Debbie

    http://www.debsdealz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete