| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Educational Games for Homeschoolers by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Educational games and puzzles are a great supplement to any homeschool method or curriculum. Let's face it - kids love to play! Whether it is a homemade board game that you and your student have created together, a purchased skill-specific game, or an educational arcade game, games are a wonderful way to promote joyful learning. All children can benefit from playful learning, but game-based learning is an excellent choice when teaching children who need to learn in a more visual, hands-on, or active way, and for those with attentional issues. It is also helpful in teaching "reluctant learners" and children who have been turned off of learning by a bad school experience. Learning the rules and strategies of a new game just doesn't feel like "school", and this is exactly why many children (and parents) prefer this method. If you happen to have a child who has trouble "losing gracefully" you may want to choose games that do not have a clear winner or loser (for instance, avoid board games that involve moving markers to a winning square). For more tips on cultivating "graceful losers" take a look at Family Game Time -- Strategies to Help Poor Losers. Games are also a low-stress way to find out what your student knows, and how well he or she can apply knowledge to new situations. A well-designed game can take the place of flash-card memorization, timed drills, and fill-in-the-blank worksheets. Success at progressively harder skill-based games offers tangible proof of skill mastery... without the stress of "pencil and paper" testing. Educational games can be purchased at teacher supply stores and specialty toy stores, and are also available thru catalog and Internet suppliers. Used games can be found at homeschool curriculum sales and online at places like VegSource.com Homeschool Swap . Keep in mind that many of the standard "family favorites" also have merit as educational games, such as Scrabble (spelling and vocabulary), playing card games (patterns, numbers, and counting), board games like Sorry (counting and reading), and popular trading card games (reading and point-keeping skills). There also are some great strategy games that teach abstract skills such as planning and considering alternatives. You may also modify your existing family games to make them more educational - for instance, you can play "Chutes and Ladders" by using two dice on each roll, and giving the players the option of using any operation on the two numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) to land on the "best" squares. Many homeschool groups hold "Game Days" where families bring their favorite educational games to share. This is a great way to try out games with your child before purchasing them. Curriculum Suppliers and Other Resources: Below you will find some game resources for all needs. There are free online resources, links to educational games, and some Internet suppliers of educational board games and puzzles. Remember that used games can often be found at homeschool curriculum sales, yard sales, thrift stores, and on eBay. Also listed below is a cyber school which uses an interactive video game environment. Be sure to also check out the "Homeschooling by Subject" section -- each subject area includes lists of additional games that promote specific skills in that subject. Free Online Resources Games For Learning Yahoo! Group - for parents who wish to use games as part of the education of their children. The goal of this list is to share ideas for creating games individualized to the needs, interests, and abilities of each child. Make your own playing cards a template you can download and modify Make Your Own Playing Card Box to Put them In! by Craig P. Forbes iKnowThat.com -- online educational games for K - 6, all subject areas, free and subscription content Little Kids Games Online -- a collection of one mom's favorites Game Aquarium - (3-6) free online games for several subjects PlayKidsGames.com - free online educational arcade games for several subjects BBC School Games -- free online games in all subjects for all ages Fun Brain - (K-12) free online games (many subjects) by Pearson Education The Jewish Children's Learning Network - online games for learning Hebrwew and learning about Isreal, Jewish heroes, and traditions Online games for Muslim kids - free games from Muslim Homeschool. LearningPlanet.com -- (preK - 6) free online fames in several subjects Primary Games - (K - 6) free online games for several subjects Curriculum, and Other Products 3D Learn Interactive Academy - (7 - 12) an accredited private school offering a standards-aligned "multi-sensory 3-D curriculum", a high tech interactive online environment - a virtual reality learning framework - that requires an estimated 4 - 5 hours online each day, plus additional at-home hands-on activities, offers full or part-time enrollment, boasts a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, issues accredited high school diplomas Brain-e -Inexpensive downloads for educational games Educational Learning Games - board games for all ages, including rules to the games (handy if you've bought a used games with missing instructions), complete game descriptions may give you ideas for making your own educational board games Cooperative Games and Family Pastimes have fun cooperative games where everyone works together to win or everyone loses. Some of the games have educational themes, such as sailing or farming. Nova Natural Toys and Crafts has cooperative games and activities for young children Bare Books -- Treehouse Publishing offers blank books, puzzles, game boards, and comic books to make your own fun or educational materials Rainbow Resource Center - search their "(Not) Just for Fun" section for tons of educational games, puzzles, and activities, or search by subject (such as "math game"). Learning Resources - K - 6 manipulatives, board games, and activity kits for reading, spelling, math, and science ETA/Cuisenaire - educational products for science, math, reading, and preschool AreYouGame.com - check out their "Learning Corner" section for game products listed by grade level and subject Bright Minds Critical Thinking Books and CD-Roms - workbooks full of puzzles, brain teasers and critical thinking activities, and educational software, download samples for free Bright Ideas for the Gifted and Talented (a.w.peller & associates) - educational games, workbooks, and hands-on activity kits Escapade Direct -- lots of educational games, toys, and kits Brain Station - quality educational toys and classroom accessories for preschool to lower elementary students, check out "Teaching Toys" The Learning Company - children's fun and educational videos, CD-ROMs, and software Other Game Resources Games for Homeschooling -- a blog and separate list of game reviews by homeschol mom, Kris, click on the right-hand menu to read reviews, reviews are sorted by age and subject Kid'sClick.com - reviews of kids educational software, by subject American Mensa Mind Games -- listing of game of the year awards 2006 Annual Holiday Toy List by Parenting for High Potential Magazine NACG Annual Holiday Toy List 2007 Games of the Year Awards by Games Magazine Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked by Prof. Henry Jenkins, MIT Hands-on activities and creative teaching resources can be just as fun as educational games! For fun science kits and activities check out: Hands-On Science Kits and Activities For fun social studies projects: Hands-On Activities for Social Studies For fun math games and creative math resources: Fun Alternative Resources for Teaching Math Looking for free online educational games and activities? Take a look at: Favorite Websites for Free Educational Enrichment |
| "Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds." -- Plato (427 BC – 347 BC) "Try not to have a good time ... This is supposed to be educational." -- Charles Schulz |