Customizable PowerPoint Timer Question Game Template

As you can probably guess, I'm a physical, hands-on game player. And now telehealth has required me to do a fast 180. But, as you may have also guessed, a lot of what I am preparing for my kids is based on games, BOOM, PowerPoints and comics that are easy to share on platforms like ZOOM. I know if you are an OT you are most likely in the same boat as me, so I am offering this easy-to-use and fun game template free at my TPT store.

Spit it Out, a PowerPoint game I created, is based on 5 Second Rule! and 5 Second Rule Jr., games I have already blogged about. Figuring out how to build the timer into the PowerPoint was the hardest part, the rest was a cake walk.

I set my game up for 6 seconds and I'm calling it Spit It Out!, but you can rename it anything you want. Each PowerPoint slide asks you to name three things in a certain category. For example name three ways to look for a job, name three kitchen utensils and name three ways to calm yourself if you are anxious. Then there are "kid" questions sprinkled in so that they won't suspect that I am trying to teach them something, like name three stinky things, name three video games and name three animals that would make terrible pets. Once the sentence is read, click on the screen and the countdown timer begins. For most of my kids I let them read and get a head start on their thinking a few seconds before I start the timer. After the timer has completely run down on time, then click to the next slide. Keep score on paper for right answers, don't if you don't want to. Nothing to it. All you have to do is think of the categories.

Here are a couple ways that I am using it:

• Teach - Ask a question in the beginning that will teach a point and then elaborate on it in later slides. As I always do, I set the slides up so that it is my turn on the teaching slides. Once my answers are given I can elaborate for a few seconds without putting them off the game. For instance you may say name 3 things that you can do to protect yourself from the coronavirus. Make that your question and make disinfect one of your answers. Then later say name three ways you can disinfect something.
• Check learning - Use it at the end of a session. Whatever you went over, weave in questions about it to see if the understanding is there and retained. Either way, it can be a good review.
• Have fun - Don't forget to throw in some fun questions that will keep it light and they won't even suspect they are learning.

This PowerPoint comes with 30 blank slides. To make more slides, just click on a slide in the left column and copy and paste to the same column. To delete slides, right click on a slide, delete or cut.

I would love it if you would leave a comment if you take the PowerPoint and tell me what you are going to use it for. We could all benefit from creative ideas right now :)

We're all in this together. Many of us are having to go from one method of service delivery to a completely different, unfamiliar method overnight. Don't be hard on yourself and try to still have some fun. We are all learning this together.

Remember, this too shall pass. Stay well.

Click here to go to the Customizable PowerPoint Timer Question Game Template at my TPT store.

Puppy-opoly

Puppy-opoly - A simplified version for kids.

Are you working on simple math at home (adding and subtracting 1-5)? Puppy-Opoly is a fairly simple introductory version of Monopoly that doesn't take too long to play and does not require large number mental math to play. As a matter of fact, Late For the Sky sells a number of what they call "kid-themed games" including Fairy-Opoly, Pirate-Opoly, Pony-Opoly, Princess-Opoly, Zoo-Opoly and Pet-Opoly. I will provides links to the other games I have blogged about below.

Puppy-Opoly is flush with all kinds of puppies. The puppy themed game board is fun for animal lovers and pieces include plastic bones to mark your properties, puppy deed cards, and puppy game markers. Fun spaces on the board carry on the theme and include the doghouse, free treats, and obedience school. There are  spaces on each side of the board and the board measures 18 x 18". The board has 32 spaces total and features 16 dogs.

Buy puppies as you make your way around the board, or for a quick game, divide the deeds between all players before the game starts. Then mark the squares you own on the board by putting a plastic bone on each square. If someone lands on one of your puppy squares, collect the number of treats as shown on that square. The deed cards each depict one breed of dog on the front and some fun facts about that breed with training tips on the back.

This version doesn't take too long to play (maybe 30-45 minutes) and money (treats) come in denominations of 1 - 5. Set a time limit to play, or move around the board until someone runs out of money.

The obedience school cards may require physical movement, such as take a walk around the board on all fours, do your best dog trick, and sit up and beg.  The die is made like the typical white die but is extra large, about 1" X 1".

Game in play.

 

If you like this game, check out a dozen Little Kid Monopoly games I have posted about.

Object:

Be the person with the most treats when the game ends. The game ends when any one person owes more treats than he can pay.

Set up:

Place the board between the players. Each player chooses one dog pawn, places it in the small stand and places it on the START square on the board. Each player chooses one color of bones (red, yellow, green or blue) and takes all 12 bones of that color. Choose one person to be the banker. That person gives each person a certain amount of money (dog treats), per the instructions. Shuffle the deed cards and give each person the same number of cards (per the instructions). Players look on the board to find the dogs on the cards they were dealt and then place one of their bones on the boarder at the top of the square for each dog they own. Shuffle the obedience school cards and place them in a face-down deck where indicated on the board.

Play:

Players take turns. Throw the die and move your pawn forward that many square on the game board. Here are the instructions for how to proceed after landing on space on the board.

• Puppy space without a bone - The player looks at the amount of treats listed on the bottom of the space, pays that amount to the bank, receives the deed card, and places one of his colorful bones at the top of the space. That player now owns that dog/space.
• Puppy space with a bone - The owner of the space is paid the number of treats shown at the bottom of the space. If the player happens to own both spaces with the same color border, that owner is paid twice the number of treats at the bottom of the space.
• Play - A player collect 2 treats from the banker any time he lands on or passes this space.
• Go to the doghouse - The player immediately moves to the doghouse. If the player passes play, he does not collect two treats. The player must pay the banker five treats. The player will move forward as usual on his next turn.
• Doghouse - If a player lands on doghouse as he advances around the board, by the roll of the die, he is just napping and moves forward as usual on his next turn.
• Command spaces - These are the four spaces on the board with a black silhouette. If you land on one of these spaces, place two treats on the free treats square on the board.
• Free treats - If you land here you can take any/all treats on this space.
• Obedience school - A player must draw a card and follow the instructions on that card.

Continue advancing around the board until someone is required to pay an amount and does not have enough money. That player is out of the game. Remaining players count how many treats they have. the player with the most is the winner.

Try this:

• Assign the person who is working on counting or making change to be the banker.
• Gather a small stack of mixed bills and ask the individual to separate them and sort them into the correct denominational piles. Hold the pile of bills in the non-dominant hand and push the top bill off with the thumb to separate.
• Hold the deck of property cards in the non-dominant hand and use the thumb to push each card off, one at a time, to deal.
• Stand up all of the bones that will be used for the game by holding 2 or 3 in the palm and moving them, one at a time, to the fingertips to rotate and stand. 
• Make a bone yard next to the board by standing up all the bones that won't be used in the game. Pick them up one at a time and rotate in the fingers to orient them upright and place. Make sure the bones are lying down to start to require manipulation.
• Cup the hand with the fingers together and hold in that position for several seconds while shaking the die. If the individual has difficulty cupping the hand, first shape the player's palm by putting a small ball or round object in the hand and forming the hand around it. Remove the ball while keeping the hand in the shape. Sing a quick dittie while the person shakes the die to keep the hand in that position longer. For example - "How much is that doggie in the window, I do hope that doggie's for sale". Then throw.
• Sort the bones by color. 
• Put the bones away after the game by asking the individual to cup one (or two) hands and hold tight. Slowly drop the bones into the individual's palm, one at a time. How many can he hold? Go again and try for more. Switch hands.
• Follow up by baking dog treats for your dog or edible dog treats for people. Plenty of ideas for recipes on Pintrest.
• Work on visual discrimination, figure ground, spatial relations, following directions, motor planning, gross motor, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, palmar arch development, play and leisure exploration and participation, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, decision making, simple addition and subtraction

In the box: Board, money (treats), plastic bone markers (4 colors), die, board markers, obedience school (chance) cards

Ages 5-8, 2-4 Players

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