Kids Popcorn Games
If there are two things kids usually love, it is playing games and eating snacks. Combine the two, and you just cannot go wrong. Using popcorn in games offers much more than just an opportunity for a healthy snack. Whether playing a game to learn or playing just for fun, using popcorn in kids games can lead to some memorable and educational moments for all involved.
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Popcorn Relay Race
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In this game, teams will race to see who can best fill a container full of popcorn. One team member will fasten a cup to his shoe. This can be accomplished using rubber bands and plastic or paper cups. Another team member will be in charge of filling the cup. Opposite the starting line, place a large container. When the race starts, the runner will race to the container, dump the popcorn from the cup attached to his shoe, and race back to the starting line where his teammate will refill the cup. From there the process is repeated. The relay can continue for a predetermined amount of time or until one team runs out of popcorn to dump. The team with the most popcorn in the container at the end of the race is the winner.
Catch a Fly
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In this game, children act like spiders who are catching flying insects, represented by the popcorn. Have a set of various utensils available for children to choose from. Place a covering on the floor to catch stray popcorn. In the middle of the covering, place a popcorn popper. After choosing a utensil, children should sit around the popper on the edges of the floor covering. While the popcorn flies out of the popper, children must stay seated but try to catch the popped corn from where they are using their utensil of choice. Only corn that falls into their utensils counts; students cannot pick up what has already hit the floor. After all the popcorn has popped, children count the number of "insects" caught. Children can be rewarded based on who has the most popcorn.
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Odd/Even Popcorn
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This game is particularly good for teachers to use with younger students who are learning about odd and even numbers. Students bend down by their chairs, and when the teacher calls an even number, they pop up. When an odd number is called, students bend down. If desired, students can be eliminated for wrong answers and the winner could be rewarded. Variations of this game could use it with having children listen for different items for which to pop up or bend down.
Popcorn Count
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This game is especially useful with preschoolers who are learning to count. Give each preschooler a handful of popcorn and several paper plates. Have them separate their popcorn into piles of three, four, and other numbers, and glue the pieces of popcorn to the plate. This game can be extended by asking children to add lower numbers and identify the solution. For example, if they add two plus three, they can hold up the plate with five pieces of popcorn on it. Children can then be rewarded for getting the answers correct or eliminated for wrong answers.
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References
- Photo Credit Popcorn image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
