Card Games for Thinking Skills
The following card games have recently been added to our portfolio and will form the basis of our latest programme, The Thinking Skills Day.
Most of the games have already been used in, and proved beneficial, as part of the 7puzzle experience, so they have been well and truly ‘tried & tested’ by the children with huge success!
Continuo: £14
This is a game with a perfect blend of skill and luck. A 5-year-old can play on equal terms with all other ages, providing equal enjoyment to all. It can be under- stood in seconds, even by the very young and also transcends all language barriers. No two games play the same, giving it everlasting life. Over 5 million have been sold worldwide, no wonder it has been celebrating 25 years of success. Continuo enhances both numeracy and spatial awareness skills, as players try and match colours when placing cards and attempting to score highly by matching long links of the same colour.
Hexago Continuo: £14
Like its predecessor, there is only one rule, but lots of ways to score! A colourful new twist on the popular and original family game takes the best-selling Continuo to new dimensions. Players get points for matching numbers and/or colours on as many sides of the hexagons as they can. Matching both colour and number means double score and there are many other ways of making the game easier or harder so all ages and abilities can play.
Sherlock: £14
The game where both memory and deduction are ‘elementary’. As the Sherlock card is placed on the table next to one of the picture cards, every player tries to remember each of the eight objects hidden in the face-down circle of cards. Players move from one card to another as the direction is followed to the next card and memory skills are tested to the full. Cards can be won by landing on an already up-turned card, but unfortunately can be won by opponents if your memory lets you down!
Sherlock is a very simple idea, but thoroughly enjoyed by all teachers and children as it enhances their concentration skills. As play continues, the game gets harder due to the fact that new picture cards are added on a regular basis. The number of cards in play can be reduced for younger players or increased for those with photographic memories!
Number Chase: £14
This is the game where you must guess the mystery number that has been chosen before your opponents do. One at a time, each player tries to guess the number. If incorrect, that numbered card is turned over to reveal a clue that may aid the next player. If the guess is correct, the player receives that number card as a point.
Can you chase down the correct number first? Number Chase is excellent for mathematical comparisons and terminology such as greater than, less than, odd, even, range, etc. Players must remember the answers to all the clues to track down the number. Counters can be placed on all eliminated numbers to help younger players eventually identify the chosen one.
Top Dogs: £14
A ‘dog-eat-dog’ card game where your team of dogs (in the form of cards numbered 2 to 6) is ready to compete against others for different trophies, some of which have better values than others. Players must pick their best, or most appropriate, combination of cards to compete for each trophy of which there are ten. Other players have the same dogs to choose from and the competition can become sneaky! There is a unique bidding mechanism to this game whereplayers carry out mathematical calculations to work out who has won each trophy. The player with the highest value of trophies at the end of the dog-sledding event is declared the winner.
Blink: £12
Blink is the card game where two or more players race to be the first to get of their cards by matching colour, shape or number. If two of these attributes are the same, the player can place an extra card down. Using sharp eyes and speed of thought, the game can be played over a pre-determined number of rounds. If you’re not the first to get rid of your cards, make sure you haven’t many shapes remaining otherwise a big score could be looming! Excellent for spatial-awareness.
Limits: £14
A colour-based game where players try to track the number of cards played in each colour versus a limit card with maximums for each colour. Each player takes a turn to place a coloured-card onto the discard pile, but have they gone over the limit for that colour? Successful challenges result in points for the winner and penalties for the loser! Some of the skills needed for this game include hand management, memory, strategy and probability.
Catch the Match: £14
Catch the Match is an eye-catching, pattern recognition game. There are 15 cards that each have the same 15 objects. Each object is different and is in different colours and various locations on the cards. The game is designed in such a clever way that any two cards always have one (and only one) object that is exactly identical in colour.
All players play at the same time, trying to be the first to find the identical pair. The correct player takes one of the cards as a reward, and the player with the most cards wins! An extremely easy game to learn, playing the game encourages visual perception and promotes pattern discrimination.
Papa Bear: £14
The game of quick colour comparisons! Papa Bear has a little son who is having a difficult time getting dressed. Each time he puts on his clothes, he gets the colours mixed up! When Papa Bear sees him, he gives him some directions on how to switch the colours in his outfit.
Follow the directions and find the correct outfit before your opponents in this fast-paced visual perception game. The rules can easily be changed to include memory skills as a fundamental part of the challenge for older children and adults.
For further details of these resources, as well as other games and puzzles we stock, please ring or e-mail us. Also, remember to get in touch if you want us to e-mail our current Order Form to your computer.
© the 7puzzle company 2012 paulgodding.com