Activities
Bored students are a recipe for disaster, and kids are never bored more than when the work is done and they still have time to fill before they head to recess, lunch, or specials. Use those five minutes of extra space to engage students with games that expand their minds! This desert island game from @mrs.b.tv is sure to get your students thinking. Here’s how to play.
How to play the desert island game
- Choose your rule. Come up with a rule that will dictate what items students are and are not allowed to bring if they want to come with you to the desert island. For example, you might choose a letter of the alphabet that each item must start with, as Mrs. B does in the video.
- Decide on your first word. Write the first word that follows your rule on the board. For example, if your rule is words that start with “L,” you’ll need to write a word that starts with “L” on the board.
- Call on the first student. Call on a student to choose the next item on the list. If the item matches your rule, add it to your list. If the item does not match your rule, tell the student they won’t be on the desert island and move on to the next student.
- Continue playing until everyone gets a turn. Call on students one at a time until everyone has had a turn to share an item.
- Identify the rule. Once everyone has had a turn, discuss what the rule is and why the words on the board match the rule.
- Play another round. Depending on how much time you have, choose another rule and play another round.
Students definitely love this game, but teachers love it too because of all the brain power required to play. When kids play, they use their abstract knowledge and thinking skills to not only come up with an item, but to also consider what the rule might be. Students who can solve simple problems like this in the classroom are also better able to apply their problem-solving skills to other areas of their life. It’s a win-win for everyone!
