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| Connect the answers to the questions in an unusual way. |
This game was an interesting idea, but is less than effective in my opinion. The goal is to use the two terminals and connect each question to its answer. There are eight different categories (games), and they did not pose each one as a question, but you can easily do it yourself.
The game consists of a cardboard box with a cardboard base inside. The base is covered with black dots (magnetic I am assuming) that will correspond to round holes on the picture sheets. The base also has a square hole for a yellow battery box that will hold 2 AA batteries. On the box is a small light bulb, and tethered to the box are two wires with pencil-shaped terminals at the ends. You will always play on top of the base, which will always sit inside of the box. You can fairly easily see what I am talking about by looking at the image above.
There are four two-sided picture sheets and you will lay them, one-at-a-time, on the base to play. Each side has a different game on it, which I will describe below. Each sheet is divided into three sections, a left column, the middle and a right column. Your goal will be to match something on one of the columns (the answers) to something in the middle (the question), depending on the game. There are holes (open dots) next to most pictures in all sections. When you place the sheet carefully on top of the base, these holes should line up with the magnetic dots on the base.
Now we come to the exciting part. Hold one pencil-shaped terminal in each hand. Pick one item from the middle and place one of the terminals in the dot next to it. Now scan the columns for the answer. You won't know which column you will find your answer in, so you may well need to scan both. Once you find it, place the other terminal in the dot next to it. If you are correct, the light on the battery box will light up to let you know.
Here are the eight games (one for each side of the four sheets):
- The
intruder. There are three items pictured inside each large circle, you
pick the one that does not match. For example, a
strawberry, a pear and a backpack. Put one terminal in the hole for this
large circle and look for the backpack on the right and left columns.
When you find it, put the second terminal in it's hole.
- How
many are there? There are groupings of identical pictures in the
middle. For instance 10 orange juice bottles and 5 cars. Down the columns are numbers. Find the number that matches the number of items.
- What does it belong to? Random pictures in the middle. Find a picture on the column that would go with each picture. For instance a fishbowl in the middle and a fish on the border.
- Additions and subtractions. The middle is full of math problems. Numbers in one problem are either both single digit, one single digit and one double digit or both double digit. For example, 30 - 5 =. Find the answer for each problem on a column.
- What is missing? Pictures in the middle have a missing component. For instance sunglasses missing one lens and a motorcycle missing a tire. Find the missing piece on a column.
- How do you dress? Four kids are pictured in the middle, one at the beach, one camping, one skiing, one in the city (see image above). There are black lines pointing to different parts of the body. Find the item on a column that you would wear there.
- Logical sequences. In the middle are patterns with three or four items followed by a question mark. Find a picture on the column that will replace the question mark to continue the pattern.
- Which animal does it belong to? There are 30 animals in the middle. Down the columns are close up pictures of a small part of the animal or its fur.
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| Top half of the What is Missing? sheet. |
My main problem with this game is that the light doesn't always light up when you are correct. Sometimes you have to move the terminal around on the dot a few times before it will light up. That downfall is a biggie for me, because it may look like the answer is wrong when it is really correct. The second thing that struck me right away was how busy the sheets are. For most pictures there is also a black line that is drawn between that item and its hole. Since the pictures are already crowded on the page, this is a lot to look at.
UPDATE: It is easier, position wise, to anchor your hand on one of the columns first, and then look for the picture in the middle. By picking a picture in the middle first, you will be blocking some of the pictures in one of the columns with one arm and may need to cross over with the other arm if the picture you need is in the opposite column. Of course the question would change then. Instead of asking "What is missing?", you would ask something more like "What does this belong to?"
Try this:
- Be ready to reinforce correct answers if the bulb does not light up.
- Scan for the answer quickly and prompt the individual which column it's in if it's too much to look at everything.
Work
on visual discrimination, figure ground, visual closure, counting,
addition, subtraction, matching, sequencing, vertical scanning,
coordinated use of both hands, manual dexterity, problem solving,
executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure
exploration and participation
In the box: A base, battery box, 4 double-sided picture sheets
If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below.
