Coming up with activities for children of different ages can be difficult! My two oldest are 4 1/2 and almost 3 years. More, now than ever due to lockdown, I have found myself needing single activities that can suit both of my ‘big boys’. The challenge? They are currently on different learning paths! My oldest has mastered many of the ‘beginning skills’ – colors, letters, counting, etc. – While my almost 3 year old is really just diving into those skills. So, how do you create an educational activity that challenges both without spending days preparing and creating? You create a game that can cover almost any skill level!
In all honesty, I owe ALL of the credit for this game to my amazing cousin, Kate. She sent me a picture of her littles (4 and 6 years) playing a similar game, but with sight words and letters instead. Her game inspired me to create one that could fit what my kiddos are currently learning. Thus, the Shape Adventure Trail Game was born! It was such a fabulous idea, I couldn’t resist creating something for my littles! And the best part about this game is that you can literally play with almost any concept your kids are learning. Here is how you can create the color and shape version:
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Materials
- Colored construction paper
- Scissors
- Laminator and laminator sheets (optional)
- Painter’s tape
- Picture dice, foam dice, or regular dice
- Picture dice printable
Set Up
1. Begin by choosing the colors and shapes that you want to focus on. I chose 10 colors – pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white – and 10 shapes – square, triangle, circle, rectangle, diamond, hexagon, trapezoid, oval, octagon, pentagon.
2. Next, cut out one shape on each piece of construction paper. I free-handed my shapes, but if you are uncomfortable doing that you can always print a picture of each shape to trace and then cut out. Here is what I did:
- pink – square
- red – triangle
- orange – circle
- yellow – rectangle
- green – diamond
- blue – hexagon
- purple – trapezoid
- brown – oval
- black – octagon
- white – pentagon
*A few additional shape suggestions: star, heart, semi-circle
3. If you have decided to do so, laminate all of your shapes and then cut them out of the lamination. I strongly suggest laminating your shapes if possible. My kids are not exactly gentle and I wanted this game to last, so I laminated my shapes. They have been taped to our floor for 3 weeks now, and are still in perfect condition! I even peeled them all up and moved them with no problem. If you want them to last, invest in an at-home laminator and create a game that you can use over and over again! *As a safety note, be sure to have your kiddos play with bare feet if you laminate your shapes. They can be slippery!
4. Determine where you want your shapes to go and tape them down. I chose to do a rainbow color pattern with mine.
5. If you chose to use the picture dice, be sure to print your shape images here and place them in your dice
6. Grab your dice of choice and the kids, then get to playing!
Related: Check out the activity every young child should do, that’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it yet!
How To Play
This is a super easy game to play and it can be fun for all ages! Even my almost 3 year old understood the rules (he just didn’t want to wait for his turn, haha!)
1. Roll the dice
2. Hop, skip or jump the same number of shapes as you rolled. Ex. You rolled a 4, so jump on the first 4 shapes then stop. *Unless you are using the picture dice, then jump to the shape you rolled!
3. Say the shape and/or color that you landed on. I had my 4 1/2 year old tell me the shapes and my almost 3 year old tell me the colors.
4. Repeat!
Since I only made 10 shapes, we got about 3 rolls in before reaching the end. When my kiddos got to the end, I just had them run back to the beginning and start again. You can avoid this by placing your shapes in a circle or making more shapes. I may actually make another set of the same shapes (switching which color goes with each shape) to add to ours for a greater challenge!
Challenge
There are so many ways that you can enhance this activity for learners at a different stage. Here are just a couple of ideas:
- Say the name of each shape and color that you jump on instead of only saying the one that you land on.
- Identify the first letter of each color/shape as you land on it.
- Clap the syllables in each color/shape as you land on it.
- Using a white board, draw each shape you land on or write the word down.
- Add a gross motor challenge by jumping backwards, crab walking, bear walking, walking on your toes or hopping on one foot. *If you use the picture dice you could devote one to the way you move to each shape by writing words (or drawing pictures) to indicate some of the movements mentioned above – i.e. bear walk, hop, etc.
- Place a sight word card next to each shape for your kiddo to read when they land on it. You can switch the words out after each round.
- Place a math problem at each shape for your sweetie to solve. Switching them out after each round.
- Have your kiddo spell the color or shape that they land on instead of just telling you the word.
The possibilities are endless here! This game is perfect for the family that has learners at different levels. It would also be a great game to add to family game night! Just remember, however got choose to play, enjoy the time with your kids and have fun!
Looking for more family fun? Check out Fishing for Numbers – a game your kids will want to play again and again!
