After last weeks succsess playing “rush hour” with the kids during thinking games space, we decided to make the game with them so they could play at home. In this game, each kid has an individual board made from recylced materials. The goal of the game is to move the cars so that the red car can exit the board. Each kid colored the peices and matched them to the different levels. I enjoyed this activity especailly because I felt the kids had fun making the game on their own and left the class with a final product. In addition, each kid had 30 levels to complete at home. I thought this was really special because it gets the kids thinking even when they are not at the books and things. Also, this activity suits kids of all ages – each kid can challenge himself to complete the next level at his free time at his own pace.
I felt this game really reflects the goal of our volunteering work at the books and things – on the one hand to have fun with the kids at the center, engage conversation and make connections. On the other hand, the kids take the tools we teach them to their individual lives making our volunteering meaningful “in the long term”.
This made me happy knowing these kids are engaging their brains and can always strive to complete new levels at home especailly durring Covid-19 times when many kids were not able to get a steady education.
