Animal Friends Cube Puzzle

Six-in-one animal friends cube puzzle.

This block puzzle features whimsical animals and can be a fun way to practice in-hand manipulation skills. The six blocks each measure 1.5" x 1.5" x 1.5", are light-weight wood, painted and then covered with a gloss. There are six sides to each block (one animal per side) and the puzzle can be built six ways, each featuring a different animal. There are six animal figures included, one for each animal that can be built. Look at the figure to help guide you as you are building the puzzle. Animal figures measure approximately 2.5" x 1.75" x .5".

Depending on the size of the hand of the individual you are working with, this may be an appropriate activity for in-hand manipulation as they turn the block around and around in the hand to find the side they are looking for. Animals can be built vertically, rising up from the table, or flat on the table. A finished puzzle will measure  4.5" x 4.5" x 1.5".

Present the individual with the animal figure and ask them to build a block puzzle of that animal. If they use the border to help them it will be easier, as there are four corner-border pieces per puzzle and the middle piece will have no border. Often block puzzles have more complicated designs, more pieces and no paper patterns/figures to work from. With only 9 pieces, a simple one-animal image on each side, and a separate animal figure to look at while building, this puzzle may a good place for those just starting out with block puzzles.   

Try this:

• Cue the individual to look for the animal color and/or the background color as he sorts through the blocks.
• Sort through and find all the correct sides, then build, so you are not jumping back and forth between tasks.
• Have the pieces already turned to the correct side for those who would not be able to find the correct side, or for an easier introduction to the puzzle. Start with them in the correct orientation and work your way up to being able to turn them in different orientations.
• Build the first row or column to get the individual started.
• Build the first row for the individual to show them they will be working from the bottom up.
• Build all but the last block and let the individual place it. Build all but the last two blocks and let the individual finish it. Then build all but three blocks, etc., until the individual can build a puzzle alone.
• Take turns placing blocks with the individual until they can build one alone.
• Stand the animal atop the finished puzzle and check for accuracy.
• Talk out loud as you build to model the process. Say things like "I can see that this is a leg, so I know it will go on the bottom" or "This piece has an eye so I know it will go on the head".
• Make up a fun, simple story about the animal after the puzzle is finished. 
• Look at each piece before building the animal. Point out on the animal figure where you think each piece will go.
• Assure that the animal figure is oriented in the correct direction before starting as puzzles can only be built one way.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual form constancy, visual closure, spatial relations, eye-hand coordination, graded grasp and release, reach, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, body parts, executive functioning skills, reasoning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 6 wooden blocks, 6 wooden animal figures

 

Colored Wooden Block Stacking Game

Cards and die offer many ways to play.

In the box: 51 blocks, 24 cards, 1 die

Different from the traditional wood stacking JENGA games, Colored Wooden Block Stacking Game includes whimsical animals, cards and a die. The cards and die offer the opportunity to play many ways and engage many skills.

The game pieces and die are made of wood and the animals are painted on. The wood game pieces are 2.95 x 0.98 x 0.59". Anytime wood is painted in games I find that those pieces may be smooth and that smoothness may impact the outcome. It is true with this one. As you are pulling out one block, others may want to move also. It may take a bit of getting used to, but the kids I work with have adjusted.

There are six different animals: mouse, frog, dog, bear, cow and lion. The wooden die has one different animal head on each side of the die. For each animal there are four different cards. One shows the full animal, one shows a white silhouette of the animal, one shows just a partial picture of the animal and one shows food for that animal. A fun visual perceptual twist.

Object:

Don't be the person who pulls the piece that makes the tower fall. This is one of those games with the loser is the person who gets all the attention.

Set up:

Stack the 51 wooden pieces as shown, alternating every three pieces. Mix the cards and place near the stack if using. Place the die near the stack if using.

Play:

Go first and show the individual how to gently tap/push the pieces on the end to find one that is already loose (therefore less likely to make the stack fall if removed) before pulling out just any block.

• Blocks only - Players take turns taking one block out of the stack at a time and placing it on the top of the stack. Play until the stack falls.
• Blocks and cards -Players take turns flipping the top card. Remove a block that matches the animal. Place it on the top of the stack. Play until the stack falls.
• Blocks and die - Players take turns throwing the die. Remove a block that matches the animal that came up on the die. Place it on the top of the stack. Play until the stack falls.

Try this:

• Cup the hand before adding the die. Shake or roll it in the palm for several seconds before throwing.
• Sort through the cards before playing and play all of only one type, such as all silhouettes or all partial images.
• Sort the cards without playing the game. Place the six cards with the whole animal picture on them in a row on the table. Then sort the remaining cards under the appropriate animal.
• Stack the blocks for a game without separating by animal. Make stacking part of the game or have it stacked beforehand if it would be too time consuming.
• Present one card at a time and ask the individual to sort out all the animal blocks for that animal.
• Remove the colored whole-animals cards from the deck. Mix the rest and place face-up in a grid formation on the table. Present one animal at a time and ask the individual to point out or collect all the cards that belong to that animal. Or, mix all the cards, lay them out, and present one block and ask them to identify all cards for that animal.
• Mix all the cards and ask the individual to hold them in the non-dominant hand. Present one block and ask the individual to sort through all the cards and find the four that belong to that animal. Separate and push the cards off the top of the stack with the thumb, one at a time, and take with the dominant hand for sorting into a 'yes' pile or a 'no' pile.
• Place all the blocks on the table in a pile. Ask the individual to build one stack for each animal. Count the blocks for each animal.
• Reinforce colors and animals by always referring to the yellow cow block or the purple pig block, etc.
• Start with half the blocks. Once the player gets used to pulling out the blocks, add a few more. Work your way up to the tallest version. 
• Work on visual discrimination, visual closure, visual form constancy, figure ground, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, isolating a finger, graded pressure, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
  

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