Games

These cards are the result of shared ideas.

The original concept was for simple thought provoking , silly ideas that could be put on a table as a box of interaction cards for pairs or small groups of children to discuss on a short daily basis.

As I was making them, it became quite clear that this resource had lots more potential. There is the obvious development of imagination, thinking skills, questioning techniques. Many of the cards could also be used as writing starters. They are useful for fast finishers to work on more challenging tasks. You can print some and carry them in your pocket to hand out when appropriate.

Some more ideas …

You can also use art in this way. You can take a painting, choose a character in it and ask:

where are they going? why?

What are they doing? Why is the lady holding an umbrella? Why isn't anyone else?

After getting the children used to answering questions, they could then have a picture and formulate the questions themselves and ask a partner. 2 mins to think of 3 questions, 2 mins to answer them and vice versa

Get an unusual object (eg a frisbee, candlestick etc)and say to the children "what is this?" most of them will obviously reply with "it's a frisbee, candlestick etc" Get the children to come up with new inventions for what the object is and does etc...
Some may use their imaginations and invent something new before you need to prompt them eg. it is a spacemans helmet. if they don't say this then you may need to prompt them with further ideas such as "why is it a frisbee? Who said that it was a frisbee? Why can't it be something else?" etc

Make up different menus for different story characters - eg The Iron Man - metal only

As a listening idea...draw a picture, colour it in and hide it from the children. Then describe your picture and see if the children can draw it exactly as you have done without looking at the picture.
-with older children you could have the class come up and do their own versions and describe them to the class
-with younger children you could have the picture already drawn (maybe some bits missing hair or eyes) and get them to colour it in according to how you describe the person/objects etc.

Pictures of expressions, crying, excited, sad, happy etc and ask what these people are feeling and why??
Could be a good way of discussing death; someone’s gold fish/cat/snowman has died/melted how does that person feel?
What can we do to make them feel better?

Name as many towns and cities in ( country) as you can.

Make a list of all the things you can that are the colour red, green orange, blue, etc.

Take a picture - art or magazine, cut up for each group to have a copy of but don't give all of the picture. What is missing? Who could it be? why ? what could be there instead?

I’m sure you can think of many more. Please, leave a comment. Your feedback is important.

As an example, here are some of the cards I have created. They have a white background and fancy frames.