One of our favorite homemade homeschooling games is based on the TV game show, "The Price Is Right."  This one takes a bit more planning and organizing to set up, but it's a fun way to assess and review your kids' studies, especially their math skills.  The thing that makes these games extra fun is that I really try to act like a game show host, rather than their mom or their teacher when we play.  So, from the very outset, the kids know this is light-hearted, fun and probably even a bit silly.

Now, when we play "The Price Is Right" (TPIR), we forego the beginning part of the TV game show, where contestants bid on an item, and the closest bidder without going over gets to play the game to win a prize.  We go straight to the games, and, as in "Let's Make a Deal" the youngest goes first, and each child gets a turn with each game.  Sometimes we use prizes from our surprise box, but with this game, we have so much fun in the playing, that prizes don't really matter.  Anyway, our prizes are very small and simple anyway, like a new pencil or eraser or a coin or a sticker or small sheet of stickers, so they are not really all that important.

We get out an old toy golf set, and play the putting game.  I set up the cup at the end of our hall, and the child stands at the other end.  I will ask the child questions from his or her recent studies, and with each correct answer, they get to take a step closer to the cup to make their put.  If they miss a question, they are not allowed to step closer, but must remain where they are.  After 3-5 questions, depending on how far away we start, wherever they are, they get to take a put and try to get the ball in the cup.

We do a similar game with a toy bowling set.  They answer questions to be able to move closer to the pins before they throw.  Of course, the goal of the game is to get a strike.

You could do a similar game with a velcro ball and target or a dart board, or other kinds of hit the target games.

My son has struggled with the value of money and how much things cost, so sometimes we play the higher or lower game.  I cut out a picture from a magazine or catalog of a toy or something he would be familiar with.  Then I set the clock for 60 seconds, and he must try to guess the price of the item, rounded to the nearest dollar.  Whenever he makes a guess, I tell him "higher" or "lower" to clue him in on his next guess.  If he can guess the price within 60 seconds (which for him was a real challenge!) he wins.  My daughter also plays this game, but we try to guess the price of 2 items within the 60 seconds, like the TV game show does.

We will modify other games from the TV show to suit our educational needs.  In one game, Beat the Clock, contestants must match prices to the correct items before time runs out.  We may play a similar game where the contestant must match answers to the correct questions.  This works with math problems, vocabulary words with their definitions, historical dates, state capitals, famous people, etc.

In the dice game, players try to roll the numbers in the price of a car, and then if the number rolled is incorrect, guess whether the correct number is higher or lower than the number rolled.  Well, we roll the dice and add or multiply the numbers on the dice, sometimes I add the challenge of trying to get as close to a certain target as possible.

In other games, contestants must unscramble the numbers in the price of an item.  I may give my children a more complex math problem to solve, such as adding 4-6 digit numbers, and have them unscramble the numbers provided (I write the numbers on index cards) to find the answer to the problem.

Sometimes contestants must "buy" selected grocery items to get as close to a fixed amount of money without going over, usually something like $20.  This is a great life experience practice for the kids, as they do help me with the weekly grocery shopping.  I lay out a number of grocery items on the counter, and they must try to buy any amount or combination of items to reach a certain amount of money, without going over.

The TV show has a mountain climber game, where the contestant must guess the prices of items and for each dollar off, must give up one of $7 given to him at the start of the game.  To win the game, he must have $1 left after guessing 3 or 4 items in order to "buy" the prize, usually a car.  I modify this game too, again trying to help my son understand the value of money and the cost of various items.  We use catalog pictures or household/grocery items for him to guess the price, and he tries to have a dollar left at the end of the game.

I'm sure there are other games on the show that could be modified to be used in our homeschool game, but I think this gives you an idea of what we do.  Let me know if you try it and how you like it. 

Because board games are extremely expensive here in Singapore, we tend to stick with the ones we have brought from America, or make up our own.  (A Monopoly or Scrabble game can cost around $40!)  So, if you think of any other great TV game shows to modify for our homeschool setting or have suggestions for great homemade games, drop me a note!  I'd love to hear from you!

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Posted by lindafay

This is great! I'd like to add it to my delicious links.

lindafay

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