Monkey Bingo

Monkey Bingo - A 3x3 grid card with a unique calling card dispenser.

With a 3 X 3 grid card and a monkey theme, Monkey Bingo is a great game for beginners. From the makers of the ZINGO line, Monkey Bingo also has a unique animal tile dispenser (see images) that kids have fun using. Why just look at all the fun the monkeys are having on the box cover, and I am very likely to point that out before we even start. (With some kids I have to start "selling" an activity as soon as I walk in the door - "Wait until you see what I brought today! We are going to have SSSOOOO much fun!"). You probably know what I mean :)

The tile dispenser, chips and animal tiles are all hard plastic. The animal tiles each picture two different animals, so you will be looking for and covering two animals on each turn (see image below). With a 3x3 grid, and calling two animals per turn, games clip along pretty fast.

The bingo cards measure 5" x 6" and are laminated and printed on both sides, with a different line up of animals on each side. Each square on a grid shows a simple picture of one common animal. There is no theme to the animals and some of the animals are seal, bear, mouse, panda, frog, duck, fox, snail, crab, cat, bat, horse, camel, lion, penguin, and owl.

The dispenser consists of a monkey sitting on a green platform and he is looking at a yellow box labeled "bananas". The yellow box lid lifts off and the animal tiles are stored inside. To dispense one tile, push the monkey toward the box and the bottom tile in the box is pushed out.

Left: Tile dispenser, bingo cards and chips.  Right: Tile dispenser and one animal tile.

I like to use bingo with kids who are working on figure ground and spatial skills because you must find a specific pattern in a busy background to win. I start by watching for a pattern in one orientation, on one row or column only. I always start with horizontal, as left to right is how we move to read, write, etc. So I typically start with the top horizontal row. Once they can recognize that, I move to two or all three horizontal rows. As kids are learning, I usually set out cards for a reference, with each of the options we are looking for highlighted (see image below).

Object:
Be the first to get three in a row and say BINGO.

Set up:
Fill the dispenser with the animal tiles. Each player chooses a bingo card and takes a few bingo chips.

Play:
Take turns pushing the monkey forward to dispense a tile. Look for one animal at a time, checking your whole card. Scan each row (or column) with your eyes, looking for a match. If you have the matching animal on your card, put a green chip on top of it. Check to see if you have made a bingo. Now look for the second animal and cover it if you have it. Keep playing until someone has covered the appropriate pattern on his card. Yell bingo and win the game.

If you like the looks of this particular troop of monkeys, check out Monkey Blocks and Monkey Mixup. I have used them both with success.

Other ZINGO games I have blogged about:
Zingo Number Bingo 123
Zingo to Go
Zingo Sight Words 
Zingo Word Builder
   
Try this:

• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, figure ground, spatial relations, manual dexterity, coordinated use of two hands, in-hand manipulation, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
• Play alone. Place several cards on the table and dispense a animal tile. How many of each animal can you find and cover? Keep going until you have a bingo in one orientation, then another orientation, etc. Or play until all animals are covered.
• Use a piece of clear transparency and cut it to the size of the card. Lay it on top of the card and use a highlighter to cover three in a row. Let the individual play on top of the card to help him recognize when he has a bingo.
• Let the individual load the dispenser with the animal tiles. Place them on the table in different orientations so they can pick them up and orient them in-hand to place in the dispenser. Tiles are more rounded on the top than the bottom, so they can only fit into the dispenser one way.
• Practice recognizing a bingo when you start looking for more than one row or column. Use several cards and embed one bingo on each card. Include other random chips on the card, but only one bingo. Ask the individual to find the bingo on each card.
• Dispense one tile at a time but don't let the players see it. Give clues and let them look at their card and try to guess the animal. Confirm once someone has guessed it so they are not covering the wrong animals. For instance, this animal is black and white, or you might see this animal in a tree or you can ride this animal.
• Cover one side of the animal tile with your thumb and show only one animal at a time, if the player will be confused seeing two and then trying to look for two at the same time. 
• Play one orientation at a time until the individual can watch two. Then after success with that, introduce three.
• Look over the card periodically and ask the player where they have two in a row and may win soon.

In the box: 1 tile dispenser, 8 double-sided bingo cards, 16 animal tiles, 80 green monkey bingo chips

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