Hide and Seeds Players shake and roll a jar in an effort to find the items lurking in the seeds. Once spotted, the items are checked off a list. Age Range: 4 to 12 Skills Used: visual discrimination, reading,
record keeping Number of Players: 2 to 6 Noise Level: moderate Activity Level: low Materials: clear plastic jar with a secure lid,
small toys and objects, birdseed, timer, game sheet
Setup Various objects and small toys are used for this game. They can be related to a particular theme or subject of study. For a dinosaur theme, for example, the objects might include toy dinosaurs, archaeological tools (brush and small hammer), bone models, a plastic egg, and a bit of silk fern. A list of the objects is written on a game sheet, which also includes spaces for checking off the items as they are discovered. Once the items have been placed in the jar, the remaining space is filled with birdseed, leaving an inch or so of empty space so that the seeds will move around enough to reveal the hidden objects.
started, and the group begins manipulating the jar. As each item is found, it is checked off the sheet. If desired, teams can compete to find a greater number of items than the first group given the same time limit.
Variations This game can be changed to fit different
holidays and units of study simply by changing the items that are hidden in the seeds. For a unit on space exploration, for example, the toys can be rockets, astronauts, star-shaped beads, foam moon shapes, space program patches, and planet models. A more difficult task is introduced to the
game if alphabet beads are placed on bits of pipe cleaner to spell words that fit the theme of the jar. For the variation above, for example, the beads could spell out “Apollo 13” or use number beads for “1969” as a reference to the first moon landing. A further challenge can be added by ask-
ing players to make a list of the objects that they locate. Lists then can be compared among groups to see which team has located the most items within the time limit.
How to Play Tips This game is best played as a cooperative activity with a group attempting to uncover as many items on the game sheet as they can within a specified time limit. The timer is
8
The jar used for this activity must be clear
plastic. The size of the jar can make the game easier or harder as desired. Larger and wider 101 Great Classroom Games