Thin Ice

Thin Ice - Don't let your marble be the one that breaks the ice!

Using tweezers, pick up and set one marble at a time onto the top of the igloo. The weight from the marbles will eventually break through the "thin ice" tissue, and all the marbles will fall into the base. It does make a racket, for those who need the forewarning.

Once you run out of tissues, you can use regular tissues, like Kleenex. I use single ply. I actually added some of my own glass marbles because we have played games where the tissue has not given way even though all marbles were on it. Maybe a cheaper brand or thinner tissue would be better. Not for young kids or anyone who may put a marble in the mouth.

The base, legs, and hoops all make up the igloo and are lightweight plastic. To assemble, stand the three legs on the base. Place a tissue over one hoop and press the second hoop on top to make the tissue taut. That part is then balanced on the three legs. I typically have to try a few times to assemble it, getting the legs balanced while putting the hoop on the top without the legs falling.The marbles are plastic and come in four colors - red, blue, green and yellow. Although the image below shows only three colors. So you may only get three.

Object:

Don't be the one to place the marble that breaks through the ice (tissue).

Set up:

Assemble the igloo. Place the marbles around the base. Place the tweezers nearby.

Play:

Each player, in turn, will pick up one marble from the base and place it on top of the tissue. Keep taking turns until someone "breaks the ice" by putting on the marble that breaks through the tissue. 

To see a list of games with tweezers and tongs, click here.

Try this:

• Work on colors by calling a color of marble for each player to pick up.
• Put the game away by cupping one hand, fingers together, and dropping the marbles in one at a time. How many can you hold? Throw the handful into the box and do it again, switching hands.
• Put the game away by picking up one marble at a time and squirreling it in the palm. Get a handful before putting them into the box.
• Set the game up by picking up the marbles with the tweezers and putting them into the rim of the base.
• Ask the player to name the marble colors as he picks them up.
• Put the game away by grabbing up a handful of marbles in the dominant hand. Bring them to the fingertips one at a time and count them as you drop them back into the box.
• Skip the game and just use the base. Sort the marbles by color into the base.
• Ask the individual to put two or three marbles onto the igloo on each turn, not just one. Give him a sequence, such as red-yellow, for the order of placement.
• Skip the tweezers and use your fingers to place the marbles.
• Work on visual discrimination, in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, fine motor precision, tool use, palmar arch support, coordinated use of both hands, socialization skills, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation  

In the box: Igloo base, 2 hoops, 3 legs, marbles, tissues, tweezers

Ages 5+, 2+ players

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.