The Big Buzz Off

 

In my opinion, The Big Buzz Off is just another trivia game. The only thing that is unique about it is the buzzer that sounds off like a siren.

The Big Buzz Off requires three people minimum to play - a quiz master to read the questions and two players (or teams) to answer the questions. There are five categories of questions, 240 cards with a different question on each side 480 questions total. Below are the categories and an example of each:

• HISTORY - Which of the seven wonders of the ancient world is the only one still standing today?
• GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - The clavicle is he technical name for which body part?
  
• FOOD - Which vegetable is used to make the layers in a moussaka?
• ART - What Japanese author wrote A Wild Sheep Chase and The Wind Up Bird Chronicle?
• TV AND FILM - Which actor was known as the Duke?
• CELEBRITIES - Who was the first African American woman billionaire in the world's history?

Each of the categories is assigned a number between one and six, and will be determined by the throw of a die (1-6).

Let's play.

Object:

Be the player or team with the most points at the end.

Set up:

Choose a quiz master to read the questions. Get a pen and paper to keep track of your points, place the buzzer in the middle of the players, and determine how many rounds you will play. Separate the cards by category and set them nearby on the table.

Play:

The first player or team throws the die to determine the category for the first round. The quiz master picks up 3 cards from the pile of that category. All six of the questions will be asked before the round is over.

The quiz master reads the question and the first person or team to hit the buzzer has the right to answer. If they are correct, they get one point and the second question is asked. If they are incorrect, the other players/teams have a chance to hit the buzzer and answer the question. After all 6 questions from that category are asked, that round is over.

Throw the die to determine a category for round 2. Play until you have played the number of rounds you determined at the beginning. Player/team with the most points wins the game.

In the box: Buzzer, 240 cards

Melodee Bells

Melodee Bells

In the box: 8 bells, song booklet

Music has a universal appeal, and Melodee Bells is another musical set, like the Desk Tap Bells, that can be played by individuals across a range of skills. And because of the range of individuals I can use this with, and the pleasure it brings many of my kids, it is one of my favorite tools.

 

The 8 plastic bells come in 8 different colors. On the top of each bell is a sticker with a number (1-8) and the note. Line them up before you start playing, from 1-8. The clapper mechanism inside the bell is metal.

A songbook with 14 songs is included. Each note has a number above it to tell which bell to play. Songs are Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Three Blind Mice, London Bridge, Lullaby, First Noel, Jingle Bells, Oh Master Let Me Walk With Thee, Jesus Lover of My Soul, Home Sweet Home, O-Susanna, Largo, Finlandia, and Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes.

I have made up my own songs on index cards using colored dots to indicate which bell to ring. Play each line of dots across, starting at the left and moving to the right (like reading). If four lines of dots is too much to look at, put two lines of dots on one card. You could even put one line and point to each dot as you go if necessary.

My cards. Play by color only.

 

To play, pick up each bell in turn, shake it, and then return it to the same space. Kids have loved to sing along with me as they play, and they love hearing that they have actually played a song they recognize.

Try this:

• Work hand-over-hand, even if the individual cannot follow the songbook. A sense of accomplishment can be felt and a look of joy comes into the face when the song is recognized and the individual knows he is playing it.
• Print the songs as colored dots on index cards.  I have put 1 line on an index card and I have put up to 4 lines on a card.  I use a box of Crayola markers and a highlighter for the pink. The pink in the Crayola markers looks too close to the red for me. 
• Cover all but the line that is being played.  Some cannot look down and look back up and find their place. Some cannot pick out where they should be looking.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual memory, figure ground, grasp and release, following directions, color recognition, sequencing, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, process skills, leisure and play exploration and participation 
  

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