Things You'll Need:
- 1 wooden preschool puzzle for every four children (puzzles should have the same number of pieces)
- 1 different color/pattern of wrapping paper for every four children
- Tape
- 1 large black plastic trash bag
- 1 whistle
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Step 1
Prepare the wooden puzzle relay race by wrapping the puzzle pieces. Use a different color or pattern of wrapping paper for each puzzle. Wrap each piece individually. Then wrap the base of the puzzle. Place the wrapped bases in a large black plastic trash bag.
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Step 2
Hide the wrapped individual puzzle pieces in the room or outside area in which the wooden puzzle relay race will occur. For very young children, the pieces can be hidden in plain sight--under chairs or on top of bushes.
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Step 3
Divide the children into teams of four. Allow the youngest member of each team to reach into the large black plastic trash bag and pull out one of the wrapped puzzle bases. Since the wrapping on the base matches the hidden pieces, the team now knows what to look for.
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Step 4
Explain the rules for the wooden puzzle relay race. When the whistle is blown, everyone on the team should hunt for puzzle pieces that are wrapped in the same color as the base their team holds. Say how many pieces there are in all. As soon as the team has found and retrieved all of the pieces, they can unwrap them and begin to assemble the puzzle. The winning team is the first to complete the puzzle.
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Step 5
Ask if anyone has any questions about how to play the wooden puzzle relay race. After answering all of the questions, blow the whistle, and let the race begin!
