Always on the lookout to do more good, this we’ve been coming up with some fun ways to help kids learn using our games. With the UK summer holidays drawing to a close, and parents everywhere running short on activities for their kids, we thought we’d share our ideas for ways to use Randomise to help children learn. These are all aimed at kids of junior school age (7-11) but we’re sure they will work with other ages too.
Of course they’ll work well in term time too, but this seemed like a great time to share. If you’ve got any other ideas we’d love to hear them, and perhaps (if you’re willing!) we’ll include them in future posts.
We’ve got lots of exciting plans around this idea, including how we can use our games to boost children’s literacy in disadvantaged areas and some cool possibilities to partner with schools to give away our games to kids and families who will benefit from them. We’ll let you know about this when it happens, but for now enjoy these bonus educational Randomise games:
Game 1: Chain Randomise
Learning objective: To help kids think creatively about describing, and to grow their vocabulary and use of a variety of words.
Activity:
Arrange kids so they are sat in a circle where they can see each other.
The first pupil picks ONE card only (either A, B or C). Agree which item on the card the pupils will be describing (e.g. easy number 1)
They are then allowed to describe what is on the card in one sentence at most.
The child to their left then takes a guess at what they think they might have just described.
If they are incorrect the same card is passed on to them. They then have to describe the same word in one sentence, but they are not allowed to re-use the same describing words used by previous students. They need to think outside the box and stretch their vocabulary.
Once complete, the person to their left guesses, and if they are incorrect the card is passed to them.
This continues until someone successfully guesses the word. If they do so, that child picks a new card and starts again.
Game 2: Make your own Randomise
Learning objective: To reinforce understanding adjectives, nouns and verbs and how they work together in a sentence.
Activity:
Split into groups of 4-6 children.
Explain to the children about how each random set of cards involves an adjective (on A card), a noun (on B card) and a verb (on C card).
In small groups, the kids play a normal game of Randomise, with each child having a chance to draw, act or describe their own random combination of cards.
After this is completed the children are then invited to make their Randomise card. They can make it in the same format as the existing cards, so three easy adjectives and three hard adjectives, three easy nouns and three hard nouns and finally three easy verbs and three hard verbs.
Kids can then swap cards with one another, and enjoy watching their friends/siblings attempt to act, describe or draw one of their newly created Randomise cards.
At the end of the session collect in all the new cards that have been created - you now have a new ‘home created’ set of Randomise that can be added to or re-used in future.
Game 3: Randomise your story
Learning objective: To write creatively, incorporating new elements to stories.
Activity:
Each child takes a set of cards, A, B and C.
When they have chosen the funniest combination from their cards (e.g. a furry grandma sky-diving) their task is to write a short-story that incorporates this character as either the hero or villain of the tale.
Length of the writing can be adapted according to age and ability of pupils.
Game 4: Randomise gallery
Learning objective: To stretch children’s imagination in their art to include surreal ideas.
Activity:
Each child takes a set of cards, A, B and C.
When they have chosen the funniest combination from their cards (e.g. a furry grandma sky-diving) their task is to draw a picture of this thing! Once they’ve finished drawing they can also draw a frame around the outside of their paper.
Children are then invited to pin their pictures up on the wall to share with others.
If desired, you can then get kids to guess what they think each other have drawn, or could even have a Randomise artist of the day, with the funniest or most creative drawing receiving a special award!
We hope these ideas give you some fun and educational inspiration! Do let us know what you think, and if you have any ideas of your own be sure to post them below.