The Picnic Game 1. Print out and put together the gameboard. part 1 and part 2 . 2. Print out and put together the picnic baskets . 3. Print out and cut apart the game cards . 4. Print out and put together the game spinner . Decide which player goes first. The player spins the spinner. The player then goes forward that number of squares. When the player lands on a square, the player collects a card for the item on that square. The cards can be collected in the picnic baskets. It is now another player's turn. The Goal of the game is to have each player collect a place setting (plate, fork, spoon, knife, napkin, and cup) for the picnic. At the square marked TRADE, players can trade cards to help complete their place settings. There are some bonus cards to collect just for fun. Create a Picnic Basket First we talked about what kinds of food each child would like to take on a picnic. Then I presented the various food flyers from the newspaper for the kids to cut out their picnic foods. I had previously cut out construction paper squares (about 2 x 2 in.) and after they had cut all they wanted (of course I cut some out too for the little ones...) they glued their choices on the construction squares. Then we played a little game with the pieces. They had them all in front of them (picture side up) and I said, "Anyone who has apples (for example) turn their food over!", on and on until everyone's pieces were turned over. Once everyone's pieces were turned over, we practiced writing their first initial on their pieces of food. Then came the "basket". I took pieces of construction paper and cut them in half. I folded them so that they would resemble an envelope and stapled the sides. On the flap I wrote, "Kyle's Picnic (or whoever)" and then they decorated their baskets with stamper markers. When they were all done they packed their food in their baskets. This activity took almost 1 1/2 hours to do and I am amazed that even the 2 year olds paid enthusiastic attention the whole time! Pack a Picnic Supply a large picnic basket with a big opening on top. On hand have plastic fruit and other types of food for a picnic. Include plastic ants, napkins and a tablecloth. Make a starting line about three feet away from the basket. Have the picnic items at this line. Take turns tossing items into the basket from behind the line. Have them pay attention to what is easy to throw into the basket and what is hard to get in. Why is this? Discuss size, shape and weight of the picnic items. Have them discover that they can change some items so that they will be easier to throw into the basket. For example they can turn paper napkins into paper airplanes and fly them in, etc. Play a Tisket a Tasket, Guess What's in the Basket Cut out pictures of picnic foods and glue them onto index cards. Place them in a picnic basket. Without showing the rest of the group describe the food using descriptive words such as its colr, shape, smell,etc. The group tries to guess the picnic food. The one who guesses correctly chooses the next card. Continue playing until all the food cards are chosen. Picnic concentration game Make up match cards about things you see at a Picnic, like butterflies, ants, baseball and bat, fishing, ducks, etc. and use the cards to play a memory matching game. Spring Picnic game •blanket •picnic items --thermos, napkins, paper plates, cups, utensils, cooler, table cloth Choose a child to be a mischievous little squirrel who takes 1 item while the others cover their eyes. Children then try to guess which item is missing. Inside the Picnic Basket Secretly place an object in a picnic basket. Have your children guess what the object is from the clues that you give them. For example. if you have hidden a ball in the basket, give your children clues such as these: "It is round. It bounces. You play catch with it." The Picnic "if" Game Pretend that you are going on a picnic and you need to make a list up of what to bring. Say to the kids, "If I were going on a picnic, I would bring _______." Have the kids repeat the phrase adding an item that you would bring on the picnic. Say the same phrase again and have them add another item. Repeat the phrase adding the two items that you would bring on the picnic. Continue on until the kids cannot remember the items.