Posted in Planning and Organizing your homeschool
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Candy Cab
YOU MAY WANT TO PRINT THIS-it is long. This game came to me while I watched the Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel. I watched several episodes before my light bulb went off..... I was looking for a way to spur on my youngest...he was balking at learning to read/spell. I wondered if I could come up with some sort of game that would entice him to really try (mind you, I do not believe that everything we do should be "fun" or a "game", but I was getting desperate). Then the idea came to offer a Candy Cab. Why not? He loves candy (now for those who do not believe in dangling carrots...this is not an every day event, nor is it the only thing we do to have him read...it is a nice "break" from the routine. Also, candy does not appear in our house often...so this was a definite motivator for him. I also offer stickers, little toys, pencils, those little mini cereal boxes and so forth). So, following how the Cash Cab works...I came up with using my words list, put the easy ones in the 25 pts spot and worked up to harder ones (I started very easy at first...I wanted him to succeed and win). He would spell out the words I asked him to using the little letter cards I already had for his Reading Reflex program (you can make these by cutting up paper into 2x2 squares, listing the letters on it...making lots of the vowels and frequently used consonants, or get yourself some of those foamy letters). He would spell it out and get his points. Now the first time I did it-he earned a little candy (Runts or M&Ms) for each time he spelled a word (2-3 each word). As we progressed, he continued to write or spell out with those letter cards. He had 2 available helps: the Shout Out (shout out to any family member nearby for help) or the Call a Friend (really used my phone to call someone-even if they were in the house). He had the usual 3 strikes, you're out, and when/if he had those: game over. When we got thru the words I had pre-determined we would cover, he had the option of doing the Double or Nothing. He could go for the bonus question and get double the amount of goodies-or do nothing. If he chose to go for it, and didn't spell the word right-he lost it all (hasn't happened yet). What I would do is set up the chairs like a taxi, and he would "hop in". I would do the whole routine (say, "hi", play my daughter's phone's ring tone that sounds carnivally, and then proceed to tell him he was in the Cash Cab). He has a blast when we do this! I have also decided to incorporate it into my older daughter's school life too. I use whatever subject matter we are currently covering (so say we are doing the first Mod. of Apologia's Physical Science, and we are getting close to test time-I will do the CC. She will have had to study for it in order to get thru the designated blocks (explanation coming) and I also will add other info from other things we are covering. Because she is entering 9th grade-her questions will be harder. For fun, I want to have both her and her bro hop in together, so he can play, and answer easy questions (she will be notified beforehand to not answer those, so he can) and she can do the harder ones. I did try this out on my daughter, and the girl I tutor; they did enjoy themselves! They were able to get some pre-test "studying" done by using the CC as well. This is a really fun game to do. I would suggest trying it once per month or so. Maybe focus it around the times the kids are wrapping up a couple studies, so that you have a lot of material to choose from for the questions. But before you give it a go, you will need your supplies and hide them! My stash has withered away like a forgotten daisy. Lock and key if necessary! When you try it, let me know how it goes! I would highly recommend watching the Cash Cab first for a few episodes in order to get the "jist" of how it works. Supplies and Rules of the Road: **candy, little stickers, pencils, crackers, gum, games and so on. Utilize your dollar stores. I bought bags of candy that had multiple amounts, so that I got the most for my money. I also bought the other supplies I could there too. Including the baskets to hold the stuff. Go slowly thru the isles, you would be surprised at what you find! The teacher section is great too. Oh, don't forget the hair care part...you could buy barrettes, pony tail bands and more. Lotions and on and on. ***You need fake money. I changed up how I was originally doing it (handing out candy each time they got it right) to save real money, and show the kids how to save for something bigger. I will cover that down below in the rules. This is a dollar store buy as well. ****Index cards....3 marked with a big, red X (these are your stike cards), 2 marked for the helps (one with a drawing or the word Phone a Friend on it. The other with Shout Out written on it-altho my son drew a car with a stick figure walking by it for ours) *****Notebook or clip board for you to keep your questions/answers (want it so they cannot see the answers) and so you can tally their points. I also use math questions, science ones and so forth. ******set up your store. Decide what things are worth. Make it so they have to work for it, but not so out of range, they will never get there. You can also make a list of things they can earn (ice cream with you, some other object they have been wanting) if they save their points. *******One pair of dice, plus one additional die (3 total). You will need these to determine how many "blocks" they need to go ********some type of timer (each questions gets about 2 minutes. Start your question and then give them one minute to answer. Perhaps a bit longer for the little ones) Rules of the Road 1. Set up your "taxi" . You could do it with your seat in front, then 2 behind and if you have lots of kiddies, 2 more behind those. 2. Set up your area. You may need a TV tray or something to put your cards out on. Or perhaps do it near your chalkboard and put them up on that. Each time they get a strike, post up one of the strike cards. If they use their helps, post them too. 3. Get your questions/answers done ahead of time. Determine 4 for the 25pts, 4 for the 50pts and several 100 pt ones. You also need a very good Bonus Question and one question set that is for the Red Light Challenge. That question needs 5 or more possible answers for it (like name the continents), they must list 5 of them to get the extra $$. Look for that info below. 4. Make the kids aware of what the questions cover. That way they study and are ready (you hope). 5. Start your game 6. How it is played: Roll the dice. Add them up: that gives you the total amount of "blocks" they will go. If they roll a huge amount of blocks, just delete one on the numbers. Work thru the 25, 50, 100 pts (4 each of the 25 and 50, then finish with how many 100s you can get in-but don't go so fast that you have to come up with 50 questions!) ending at destination. I also roll one die for myself. If it is an even number, I do a Red Light Challenge. If it is odd, I do not offer it. I usually throw this one in somewhere in the 50 pt question section. When you arrive at the destination, assuming they have not been booted out, offer the Bonus Question as the double or nothing. I just check off the ones they answered right, so I know how much money we are talking about. Dole out the earned money. They will have to split it, depending on how many are riding in the cab. They then will take that money to the Candy Store, and spend it all (but do encourage them to save up some points...you will just keep a tally of the amount they are saving, so at the next shopping spree, they will have more to work with.) The Red Light Challenge: This is fun, but do not always have it. Must be a question that has several answers. They must list 5 to get the money. It is worth 100 pts. If they get them, they add that amount to their score. If they do not, they do not get the extra points, and it does not count toward a strike. Just continue on. Questions like: name several states that touch the Pacific Ocean...or 5 of the original 13 colonies...and so forth. They must give the answers in rapid succession and all within 10 seconds. Start timing after you give the ??. Bonus Round: Think of a good question that will not be too easy. You could even hold up a picture of something and ask them to name it, or something about it. This is great for Picture Study via the Charlotte Mason way. Or name the President, and so forth. Gauge this according to your passengers' ages. Remember, if they get it: you give them double the total amount they earned. They do not have to do this...they can walk. If they lose-well there goes the cashola. Helps: they can use up the 2 helps or not. I prewarned those on our call list when we would be playing, so they would be ready. They can call granny, daddy, or at our house, they call their older brother or sister. Post the used card, that way you know what they have left. I think that covers it all. Again, watch the show and this all makes sense. Just substitute with your own homemade cab, some goodies and your questions. Enjoy- Don't forget to post a comment if/when you try this. I would love to know how you do. |
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