Pix Mix

Pix Mix! figure ground

Pix Mix! is a great figure ground game where you control the difficulty level. The 80 transparent cards are all clear plastic with simple black line drawings. Stack the cards, one on top of the other, and try to "see" everything in the stack.

The pictures on the box (above) include a pair of scissors, a wrench, an anchor, a bowling pin, and a palm tree. With 80 cards, there are so many different combinations that you could play this a long time without ever repeating a stack. There is also an expansion pack with cards that you can buy.

Stacks of cards will be placed in a cardholder so they stay in place. There are four cardholders, so up to four people can play. Up to eight cards can be stacked into the cardholder, but that is a tight fit.

Before starting the game, I like to flip through the pile and make sure that all players can identify each object. There is also an expansion pack available that include just the cards. If you just want to stack and don't care about the jacket, timer, or score pad, you could just buy the expansion pack.

Object:

Identify the most objects before the 30 seconds is up. Or play several rounds and add the score from each round. Highest scorer wins.

Set up:

Decide how many pictures will be stacked for the game. Each person will stack that many pictures, for another player, and places them in a card holder. Each player then passes his card holder to the person on his left.

Play:

Players all play at the same time. When the signal is given, turn over the 30 second timer and each player lifts the lid on his card holder and starts to search. Write the answers on the score card and stop when the timer runs out. When the score cards run out, just use any paper to write on. The person with the most correct answers is the winner.

Try this:

• Start easy with two pictures, then three, then four, and work your way up as skill increases.
• Give answers verbally instead of writing.
• Increase the difficulty by putting like-shaped pictures together going in the same orientation. For instance a toothbrush on top of a pencil on top of a screwdriver.
• Make the game easier by stacking items that are not similar in shape so it is easier to follow the outline.
• Start easy by presenting one card and asking the individual to follow the line with his eyes, tracing the object visually. Then stack two cards and ask the individual to start tracing a line. Can he start and end at the same spot and see the object?
• Stack several cards of pictures going in different directions. Ask directional questions. For instance on the example on the box above, ask which object if leaning toward the right (bowling pin), which object is lying horizontally (east to west - scissors).
• Work on figure ground, visual discrimination, visual form constancy, visual closure, visual tracing, spatial relations, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, coordinated use of both hands, executive functioning skills, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 80 transparent picture cards, 4 card holders, 30 second timer, score pad

 

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

Have You Herd?

Have You Herd? - The trading, multiplying, little animal farm dice game.

Have You Herd? was originally called The Little Animal Farm and was created by Karol Borsuk, a mathematics professor from Warsaw University in 1943. When the Nazis shut down the University, he lost his job and had no income. The idea for this game was born and he and his wife made many copies in their home and sold them to make a living. It was enjoyed by children and adults alike during the long hours of the occupation. 

The object of Have You Herd? is to multiply one rabbit into an entire herd of five different animals. You will do this by collecting several animals of one kind and then trading up for the next animal in line. Collect several of those to trade up for the next animal, and so forth. Along the way you will encounter different hazards and/or rewards. 

The animal tiles are made of a heavy card stock and all measure the same size - 1 1/8" X 1".  Each tile has a picture of the animal on the front and the word for that animal on the back. The 2 dice are hard plastic and differ on a few sides (see description under PLAY below).

Object:

Be the first to collect one tile of each of these animals: Rabbit, sheep, pig, cow, horse.

Set Up:

Sort the animal tiles by type and push this tile pile to the side. Give each player one rabbit tile. Place the silo in the middle of the players so that they can see the back where the trading chart is printed.

Trading chart. Click on the image to see a larger image.

Play:

On each turn, a player may play in this order: 1) Trade once (if you can), 2) roll both dice, 3) Trade again. 

Rolling the dice:

• After rolling the dice you can earn herd animals cards of the type rolled. If you have a pair of something, you can collect one tile of that same animal. A pair can exist if you throw two of the same animal on the dice at one time or if you throw one and already have one card showing on the table. Collecting same type animals will allow you to then trade them in for the next animal in the hierarchy.
• There are several animals on the dice that will trigger a "special event". These animals and events are:
• Guard Dog - This tile will protect your herd from loss if you throw a wolf. If you throw the guard dog, take a guard dog tile. You can also exchange one rabbit and one sheep for a dog guard tile. A good strategy. You can only use a guard dog once.
• Wolf - You cannot multiple any animals on a turn if you roll the wolf. Ignore what you threw on the other die. Now throw both dice again and lose one of each herd animal rolled. If you already have a guard dog, you do not have to throw a second time. However, after your guard dog chases away the wolf, he does not return. In other words, a guard dog can only be used once. Return the tile to the tile pile.
• Fox - You cannot multiply animals if you roll a fox. Ignore what you rolled on the second die. The fox eats all but one rabbit if you do not have a guard dog on duty. Return the rabbits to the tile pile.
• Skunk - If you roll a skunk, give the skunk tile to another player. He loses his next turn. If someone is already holding the skunk tile, take it from them and give it to the opponent of your choice.
• T - You can only trade with another player after multiplying, you cannot trade animals back to the tile pile. For instance, if you want to trade 5 rabbits for one sheep, give the five rabbits to a player who has a sheep and take his sheep tile.

Trading:

• You may only trade animals according to the trading chart on the silo.
• You may only trade up.
• You cannot make two trades at one time. For instance, if you have 10 rabbits and you want 2 sheep, you can only trade 5 rabbits for one sheep at a time (per the trading chart).
• You may not have more than 12 rabbits or one horse at a time.

Try this:

• Sort the animals into piles for set up by holding a small stack in your dominant hand and moving one at a time, with your thumb, to your fingertips and drop into the correct pile. If a tile is word-side-up instead of picture-side-up, flip it in your fingers before sorting it out.
• Shake both dice in one hand without dropping one. They are big so it will probably take some concentration. Try to keep them going for several seconds (count to 10, sing "Old McDonald had a farm EIEIO", etc.) before throwing to keep the hand in that position a little longer.
• Pick up one die in each hand, cup the hand, and shake in a coordinated manner before throwing on the table top.
• Roll one of the dies in the fingertips for a minute while examining what is on it. Count the number of rabbits, look to see which special event pictures are on it, count how many different animals are on it.
• Don't sort the animals ahead of time, requiring each player to look through the pictures to find what he needs.
• Mix the animals up randomly, place the tiles at different orientations and overlap a few in the tile pile. 
• Place the animal tiles randomly, picture-side-up, and flat on the table top. Put them away after the game by picking them up one at a time and squirreling them into the hand. Return them to the silo by the handful.
• Work on visual discrimination, figure ground, form constancy, in-hand manipulation, palmar arch development, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
  
  
  In the box: 1 silo storage container, 2 custom 12-sided dice, 120 animal tiles (52 rabbits, 24 sheep, 20 pigs, 15 cows, 4 horses, 4 dogs, 1 skunk 
   

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