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Having a few flexible and adaptable learning activities up your sleeve can make all the difference for yourself and the children you’re working with. Ideally, these kinds of activities are ones that can be used anywhere, anytime, for any focus and are easy to set up. Likewise, activities that require only a few resources are even better because it means less to store.
Having activities that become familiar are great for a few reasons:
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CONNETIX is the perfect tool for your educational toolbox because they can be used for so many things! You can use the tiles from any pack and it’s one resource that can be applied to heaps of engaging games to keep kids interested while also learning. Here’s 10 activities that can be modified to suit your learner, their skills and the learning objective throughout the year.
Create a grid that is at least 5×5 with your tiles. Write in each square and take turns to cover a spot, trying to get 4 in a row diagonally, vertically or horizontally.
Examples:
Choose a multiplication or division set to practice, then write the answer to a multiplication or division equation on each tile. Alternatively, you could write the equation on the tiles too. Children choose a number written on the squares, then state an equation that equals their chosen number, or they answer the equation. E.g if they picked 25, they might say 5×5 or 50/2.
Using the phonics sound you’re practicing, write one word per tile. To place a counter on a tile, children must read the word correctly.
Create a 3×3 grid with your tiles. Give each player 5 coloured tiles to write numbers or words on when it is their turn. Each player takes turns trying to get 3 in a row while blocking their opponent from winning. Place 3 tiles in a row to win!
Choose a number that each child is learning to write. If it’s the same number, give each child different coloured tiles. When it’s player one’s turn, they will write their number on their tile, say it aloud then place it on the board. Player two repeats until there’s a winner or the game is over.
Choose a tricky word to be each person’s nought or cross. When it is each player’s turn, they will write their individual word on their tile then read it to their partner to check it’s spelled correctly. Players repeat until someone gets 3 in a row.
Place two tiles together, one laying flat on the floor and one vertically attached to it. Children will stand back, roll a ball and try to knock over as many tiles as they can. Whoever collects the most at the end wins.
Example:
Write different individual numbers, plus different addition and subtraction equations on your bowling tiles. Set them up, stand back with a ball and try to knock them down. If an individual number is knocked over, create an addition or subtraction equation to match the number. If an equation is bowled over, answer it. If it’s wrong, put them back up and try again.
Write the letters the child is learning on their bowling tiles. If children knock their tiles down they will need to think of a word with the correct beginning sound to keep the tiles.
Each player creates a grid, this can be any formation such as 2×3, 5×5 etc. Then, write numbers, words or pictures on each of the tiles on every player’s board. Then create a stack of tiles with corresponding words or numbers written on them, to read off. Take a tile off the top of the stack, read what it says then players must see if they have a match on their board. The first to fill their board wins.
Example:
Write or draw fractions on each of the tiles for every child’s board. This could be written in numbers, words, pictures, a number line or even by writing an equation. Using the additional stack of tiles with prewritten fractions, read off the tiles one-by-one until someone fills their board first.
Write the words or draw a picture on each tile that relates to the spelling focus and make the playing board (pictures can be repeated if needed). On another set of tiles, write each word and create a stack. Make sure there are an equal amount of words and images for the same word, to add to the stack.
Create an amazingly interesting ball run design. At the end, create an enclosed space using small rectangular or square tiles at the base. Write on these tiles. Send your ball off racing through your course. When it pops out the end it will land on a tile. Read whatever it lands on.
Example:
Write a new number on each tile that will sit at the bottom of the ball run. When the ball lands on a number, children need to state whether it’s odd or even and why.
After creating an epic design, write down a range of CVC words at the end of your ball run. After children put their ball through their creation and it lands on a tile with a CVC word, they need to read it aloud.
Write words, numbers or pictures on the tiles, making sure a matching pair of tiles have been created for each set. Lay them facing upside down on the floor, all mixed up. Flip two tiles over and try to find the pair. If there’s a match the player gets to keep them. If they don’t match, put them back and remember where they’ve been placed for the next turn.
Example:
Write or draw different monetary values on each tile, making sure you create pairs for each value. Lay the tiles face down on the floor and try to find a match.
Challenge – write monetary values by using a collection of different coins. For example, to make $1, use 2x 50c coins for one tile and 5x 20c coins for the other tile.
Homephones are words that are pronounced the same, written differently and have different meanings. E.g. flower and flour. Write a word on one tile and a corresponding picture on another to create a pair. Place the tiles face down on the floor and mix them up. Take turns trying to match the homophones by remembering where the different tiles are.
Write a list of words or numbers on the tiles. Split them up amongst all the players so they each have a stack. Each player takes turns to flip over a tile, read it and add it to the tile/s in the middle. If the tile placed down matches the one in the middle, yell ‘SNAP’. Whoever yells out first gets to keep the tiles in the pile. The person who collects all the tiles first wins.
Example:
Write digital times and draw analogue clock faces on different tiles. Make sure that each tile has at least one other that matches. Split the pile of tiles evenly amongst each player, leaving one tile face up in the middle. Each player reads their clock then places it on top of the tile in the middle. If the clocks match, then players must yell ‘SNAP’ to keep the tiles in the middle pile.
Choose whether the focus will be on synonyms or antonyms then write a new word on each tile. Split them up amongst players so they each have a stack. When a player turns over a word that has the same meaning as the tile in the middle, any player can yell ‘SNAP’.
Write words or draw numbers on individual tiles. Place them on the floor. Create a rod by using a window, ball run or fence tile by tying it to some string. Sit somewhere that’s a little higher or further away from your fish tiles. This might be on a chair or the table if an adult is playing with children. Cast your rod and fish for a tile. Collect the most tiles to win.
Example:
Write different BODMAS equations or single answers on each tile. Place them on the floor, grab the rod and start fishing. If an equation is caught, children need to work out the answer. If an individual number is caught, children need to work out an equation that matches it.
Write different pieces of punctuation on each tile then lay them on the floor. Grab the fishing rod, go fishing and catch a fish. State the piece of punctuation that’s been collected and put it in a sentence. This could be stated out loud or written down.
Take a stack of at least 11 tiles and write two words or numbers on each end of the tile. It might be handy to use the double tiles or draw a line through the middle so that a single tile is split in half. Split the tiles between two players and place the last one in the middle. Using the information that’s been written on the tiles in the middle, each player must find something that matches this from their pile, then connect the matching tiles, end to end. Repeat this until one player has no tiles left.
Examples:
Write different equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages on each half of the tiles. Make sure there’s a mixture that will match up. Place a tile in the middle, player one adds an equivalent fraction, decimal or percentage from their pile. Repeat until someone is left with no tiles.
Conjunctions are Words that join sentences together. For example; and, additionally, so, but. Write different conjunctions on each tile (or each half of a tile). Make sure there’s an even amount of conjunctions that will be used in the game. Connect conjunctions with the same meaning.
Create a board game by placing the tiles in a fun shape. Players might like to add some spaces where they will have to move forwards or backwards if they land on these. They might also use the fence tiles to climb up and down ladders too. Roll a dice, move the amount of spaces and try to get to the end first!
Write a range of 12- and 24-hour times on each tile in the board game. As children play and land on the tiles along the board, they need to convert the time to the opposite of what is shown. E.g if the time shown is 6pm they would state the 24-hour time of 18.00.
Simple and easy games that children can play for various educational purposes help to build their skills, all while having fun. Activities such as these are adaptable, easy to set up and only require your CONNETIX, making them the perfect learning tool.
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