CHAPTER 5: Science and Social Studies Games

Teaching Classroom: Great Classroom Games

CHAPTER 5: Science and Social Studies Games

            In this chapter, I want to resume some of the games that have a purpose to science and social studies games. Science and social studies games usually contain something that related to science and social things. So here some of the games that I will resume it.

1.      Geographic Name Chain  

Geographic Name Chain is the game that players must search a map for place-names that start with the last letter of the place name that came before.

Age Range: 9 to 12

Skill Used: reading, map reading

Number of Players: 2 to 4

Noise Level: low

Activity Level: low

Materials: atlas or several maps, stopwatch, paper, and pencil

How to Play :

a.       Players choose one map in an atlas by opening to a random page or by choosing one of the maps provided.

b.      The first player points to any name on the map read it to the group and write it down.

c.       This player uses the stopwatch to time the others.

d.      The paper is passed to the next player who must find another name on the map that begins with the last letter of the name just written.

e.       The player must point to the next name within one minute and then writes the name on the paper next to the previous word.

f.        If no suitable place-name is found before time runs out or an error is made, the round ends with the elimination of that player.

g.      A round is completed when only one player remains.

h.      A point is awarded to the player who found the last word of a round, and the play continues to a predetermined total to determine a winner.

2.      Name an Animal

Name an Animal is a game that players who successfully name an animal that fi ts a certain category earn the opportunity to toss a toy animal to other players.

Age Range: 7 to 10

Skill Used: categorizing

Number of Players: 7 to 14

Noise Level: moderate

Activity Level: moderate

Materials: beanbag toy animal

How to Play :

a.          All of the players stand in a circle. One player is selected to be “It.”

b.      This player stands in the center of the circle with the toy animal.

c.       The toy is tossed to one of the players in the circle as the player in the center says an animal group (e.g., mammal, insect, reptile, amphibian, bird, fi sh, or invertebrate).

d.      Group names should be selected with awareness of the players’ levels of knowledge.

e.       The player who catches the toy must then name a specific animal that goes with that group and toss the animal back to the thrower before the thrower counts to 10.

f.        No animal name can be repeated. If the last player can name a correct animal, he or she trades places with the thrower and the game continues in the same manner.

3.      Land on It

Land on It is the game that players toss their game pieces onto a particular grid square and use coordinates to tell the locations.

Make a 6’3” X 6’3” mat out of large paper, tarp, or canvas. As shown, draw a line 3 inches in from the left and the bottom. Divide the rest of the space into six equal columns and rows. In the 3-inch column, write letters from A to F. In the 3-inch row, write numbers from 1 to 6, as shown in the sample.

In the grid spaces, draw pictures or write words that go with a particular topic or unit the class is learning about, such as geometric shapes, math symbols, state or country capitals, and so on. Place the mat on the floor and use masking tape to designate a throwing line 6 feet away.

Age Range: 7 to 9

Skill Used: knowledge of map coordinates

Number of Players: 4

Noise Level: moderate to high

Activity Level: moderate to high

Materials: 6’3” X 6’3” grid, 4 beanbags or small stuffed animals, masking tape

How to Play :

a.       Each player selects a beanbag or small animal as a game piece.

b.      Players take turns naming an item on the grid.

c.       Standing at a line about 6 feet from the grid, players toss their game pieces at the same time, trying to make them land in the correct spot.

d.      Each player whose game piece lands on the correct spot says the coordinates of the location.

e.       Each player who says the correct coordinates earns a point.

f.        Players retrieve their game pieces and get ready to toss the game pieces again when the next player names an item on the grid.

g.      The players with the most points at the end win.