Sequence States & Capitals

Sequence States & Capitals - Learn states and capitals in this fun game of strategy

Sequence States & Capitals is a geography-themed, 5-in-a-row strategy game. If you're looking for a way to reinforce the 50 state names and capitals, this game covers them all. Each state is pictured in two different random places on the board (100 spaces in all). The states are printed in color, but the color doesn't mean anything, it just helps you locate the state quickly.

The cards each picture one colored state with a star where the capital is located. Each card names the capital but not the state. You may already know the state or you can find it by looking for the same shaped state/color on the board. There are also 4 ADD cards and 4 REMOVE cards. The chips are plastic and have the name of the game on one side and the name of the game in white on the other side. 

Get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically, diagonally) anywhere on the board to win a sequence, make 2 sequences to win the game. Half the states face the player at the bottom of the board and the top half of the states will face the person at that end of the board. Therefore, if you are looking for a state on the opposite end of the board, it will be upside-down to you. There are only a few states of each color, so just look for the color and this will help you narrow down your search. For example there are 14 yellow states and 10 light blue.

Object:
Be the first player (team) to win two sequences. 

Set Up:
Place the board on a flat surface. Give each person a bag of chips. Shuffle the cards and pass out the number indicated on the instruction sheet (depends on how many people are playing). Place the remaining cards in a face-down stack near the board.

Play:
During each turn, you will discard a card from your hand, place a chip (white side down) on the matching image on the board, draw a new card and add it to your hand. Be strategic about where you place your chips, depending on the chips already on the board and also in your hand. Your goal is to get five in a row, but you must also keep an eye on your opponents and block them if they get close to a sequence. There are ADD and REMOVE cards in the deck. Play an ADD card and place a chip anywhere on an empty space on the board for your turn. Play a REMOVE card and remove any chip on the board for that turn. Once you get a sequence, announce it and turn the chips over so that the white side is up. None of these chips can be removed now. You still need one more sequence to win.

Sequence has lots of different themes including the original that uses poker style cards, dogs, numbers, kids, and cats. 

Try this:

• Say the capital and state name several times verbally as you look for it on the board to help fix it in the memory.
• Play a different game. After reviewing the states and capitals, one player will choose a card and read the capital, but not show the card to the players. Other players will race to see who can be the first to locate the state. Winner gets to put his chip on the space. Go through all 50 states. Player with the most chips on the board wins.
• Avoid sitting at the side of the board as no states will be in their correct orientation at that location. OR, place the person who is working on this skill at that site. Two ways to look at it.
• Pay close attention if you see your opponent has three in a row with empty spaces on either side. You cannot block both ends if he gets four in a row with empty spaces on both sides.
• Hold cards in one hand and several chips in the other. Bring one chip to the fingertips to place on each turn.
• Skip the game. Fold the board in half so that only one set of states is showing. Sort the cards so that you only have one of each state. Mix the cards, and stack them, face-down on the table. Pick up one card and turn it face-up. Try not to disturb other cards on the stack. Everyone looks for the state. The first person to find it gets the card. Go through all the cards and see who collects the most. Or just play with one person and find the states.
• Pick up your chips off the board, one at a time, squirreling them into your hand. How many can you hold? Put them away by the handfuls.
• Sweep all the chips off the board and onto the table after a game. Cup one hand and put it at the edge of the table. Slide several chips into your hand. Now sort them into piles by color, bringing them one at a time to the fingertips to drop.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, visual form constancy, figure ground, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, shuffling/dealing/holding multiple cards, coordinated use of both hands, sequencing, learning states and capitals, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: Folding game board, 150 chip (50 each of 3 different colors), 108 playing cards

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