The Lifetime Learner

Creating Lifetime Learners

What Are Build It Games and How To Use Them in ANY Grade

 

build it games

Are you looking for fun math or reading games for elementary students? Build It Games are easy-to-learn math games that are fun and engaging to ALL students. Students can play these math and reading activities in partners, independently, in small groups, or as a whole class! There are many Build It Games included. Once you teach students how to play the game, they can play it over and over again with a variety of skills. It’s the perfect game that always produces a different winner and a different gameboard for students every time they play.

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What Are Build It Games?

what are build it games

Students get to “build” a different theme in every game. They add a piece each time they answer a question correctly. The first one to finish wins! The concept of these fun math and reading games for elementary students is very simple. Therefore, students can play independently without the teacher. Show students how to play one time and they’ll know how to play every time you pull out a new set of cards throughout the year.

How to Play Build It Games

how to play step 1

This game can be played a variety of ways, but let’s chat about how to play in partners or small groups first. To begin, each player gets a background to build their theme on. In this example, students are building a soccer field. Playing cards and soccer pieces go in the middle.
how to play step 2
Students answer task cards. You can use the task cards provided in the game OR your own task cards to practice a specific skill you want to focus on. Each time students get an answer correct, they earn a piece for their game mat. In this example, students would earn a piece for their soccer field each time they get a question correct. They get to choose any piece they’d like from the middle!
how to play step 3
The cool part about this game is that chance cards are included! The game would get a bit dull if everyone only got to add one piece to their gameboard each time they took a turn. When chance cards are added, you never know who is going to win! The chance cards spice up gameplay when mixed in with your regular task cards. Some examples of chance cards are “take 3 pieces from the middle”, “take a piece from the middle and give it to another player”, and “trade game mats with another player”. Students never know what’s going to happen next!
how to play step 4
Play continues with each player taking a turn until someone wins. The first person to finish getting 10 items on their game mat wins! In this example, the first person with 10 items on their soccer field would win the game.

What Kinds of Build It Games Are Included?

build it game called build a birthday party

There are 40 Build It Games to choose from and there are 10 included in each game pack! From “Build a Baseball Field” to “Build a Dog Park” to “Build a Breakfast Plate”, there is a game for every student to enjoy. And every game is NON-holiday themed so they can be used any time of the year and are inclusive for students who do not celebrate holidays.

Build It Games Set 1 includes:

  • Baseball Field
  • Basketball Court
  • Football Field
  • Soccer Field
  • Volleyball Court
  • Ice Hockey Rink
  • Aquarium
  • Transportation Scene
  • Pet Shop
  • Dog Park

Build It Games Set 2 includes:

  • Campsite
  • Beach Scene
  • Fall Scene
  • Snow Day
  • Spring Scene
  • Farm
  • Garden
  • Park
  • Swimming Pool
  • Town

Build It Games Set 3 includes:

  • Carnival
  • Castle
  • Comic
  • Dinosaur Scene
  • Pirate Island
  • Robot
  • Space Scene
  • Theme Park
  • Treasure Map
  • Ocean Scene

Build It Games Set 4 includes:

  • Birthday Party
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner Plate
  • Dozen Donuts
  • Grocery Cart
  • Kid’s Bedroom
  • Pizza
  • Science Lab
  • Artist Studio
  • Ice Cream Sundae

Let Kids Color

let kids color the build it games

Since there are 2 versions included, you can let students color their own decorations if you’d like! First, simply print out a game mat for each child and a set of decorations for each group playing. Then, let the group color their decorations either A) ahead of time or B) each time they pull one from the middle.

Change the Content

change the content of build it games

Don’t teach math or reading? Haven’t covered one of the concepts yet? No problem! Simply swap out the set of task cards you don’t need with a set you’d like to use instead. The Build It Games can be used with ANY set of task cards (reading, math, science, social studies)….the possibilities are endless!

Clear Directions for Students

build it games directions

Additionally, every Build It Game also includes a set of simple, printable directions for you to place next to each game. If students forget how to play, they can easily refer back to the directions. I like to print the directions 2 to a page, front and back so I can fold them up and place them in a task card box along with any playing pieces.

In Conclusion

build it games

In conclusion, this game is perfect for EVERY classroom! Every grade level comes with different skills and a different number of fun math or reading games for elementary students. Build It Games are easy to play, easy to differentiate, and come in two different versions. Choose between a color version for vibrant printing or black and white to save on ink. There are also multiple ways to play so you can use the games over and over again. All Build It Games are aligned to common core standards and Texas TEKS. Simply print, laminate, and you can use the games for years to come!

You may also like to learn about Winter Sports Math Activities! You can read about the games here.

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