Peanuts is a card game that relies on a combination of speed and patience. (It also has other names, such as Pounce, Nerts and Squeal). It involves players using their own personal deck of cards to create different piles of cards while trying to get rid of all cards in one specific pile. It can be played by any number of multiple players but is best with two to four.

Cards and the First Piles
Each player uses his own personal card deck, and each deck must differentiate from the others (they must have different backs). Players deal 13 cards from their deck in front of them, with the top card face up; this is the peanuts pile. They then deal four cards side by side next to the peanuts pile to form the work piles. The remaining deck is the stock; it can be placed face down on the table or held in one hand.

Playing Cards
All players play their cards at the same time, with the intent of removing all cards from the peanuts pile. Any face-up Ace on their side of the table is placed in the middle of the table to start a foundation. Players build foundations by playing the next highest card of the same suit—a Two of Clubs goes on top of an Ace of Clubs—until the king of that suit ends the foundation. They can also play any of their face-up cards onto one of their work piles. but the work piles are built in descending value and alternating colors (a Seven of Hearts goes on an Eight of Spades). When a peanuts card is played, the top card of that pile is flipped face-up. When one work pile's cards are all played, the top card from the peanuts pile forms a new work pile.

Waste Piles
When players cannot play any cards, they draw three cards from their stock and lay them face up on their end of the table. This is called the waste pile, and its top card can be played just like all the other piles. Any time players can't play a card, they draw three from the stock and add them to the waste pile. When the stock runs out, a player picks up the waste pile and turns it face down to reform the stock.

Scoring
Play ends when one player runs out of peanuts cards and calls out "Peanuts," and then points are tallied. Players get a point for every card from their deck within the foundations (this is why you need different-looking decks). They then lose two points for every card still within their peanuts piles. They then reclaim all their cards and shuffle the decks, and play begins again. This continues until at least one player reaches a pre-determined score (usually 100 points), and then the one with the most points wins.

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In this four-round game, four players get four pennies and toss them onto a Twister game mat.

Object of the game:

Earn points by tossing a painted penny onto a circle of the same color. Try not to land a penny on the wrong color.

Scoring:

• Players are awarded two points when their penny lands completely within a circle of the same color.
• If a penny lands on a circle that is not the matching color, the player loses a point. (If the penny is only partially touching the incorrect circle, points are not deducted.)

How to play:

1. Each player chooses a color and receives four pennies of that color.
2. Players take turns tossing each of their pennies onto the Twister mat, trying to land them in a circle that is the same color as their penny. (If their pennies are green, for example, players aim for a green circle.)
3. If a player’s penny lands in a circle that is a different color than their penny, one point is deducted from their score.
4. When all four players have tossed their pennies, each player’s points are tallied and written down. Don’t forget to deduct a point for pennies that landed on the wrong color circle.
5. Players play another round with a new color.
6. The winner is the player with the most points after four rounds (one round for each color).
7. Declare a grand prize winner and award them an aptly colorful prize.
8. Let the next group play or hold a rematch.

Some words just go together, like salt and pepper. Give players the first word and ask them to come up with the second word that forms a natural pair. Saying “and” after reciting the first word is helpful. Some words could have more than one answer. See if players can come up with some of their own word pairs, too.

1. Give players the first word and ask them to come up with the second word that forms a natural pair.
2. Saying “and” after reciting the first word is helpful. Some words could have more than one answer.
3. See if players can come up with some of their own word pairs, too.

Word Pairs

1. cake/ice cream
2. milk/cookies
3. peanuts/popcorn
4. Jack/Jill
5. chips/dip
6. cup/saucer
7. orange/black
8. peaches/cream
9. ketchup/mustard
10. ghosts/goblins
11. fun/games
12. fish/chips
13. hammer/nails
14. Mom/Dad
15. bread/butter
16. pen/paper
17. suit/ tie
18. biscuits/ gravy
19. cheese/crackers
20. Punch/Judy
21. fun/games
22. bride/groom
23. P’s/Q’s
24. pencil/paper
25. arts/crafts
26. shampoo/conditioner
27. mortar/pestle
28. soap/water
29. table/chair
30. rice/beans
31. cats/dogs
32. pure/simple
33. trials/tribulations
34. wait/see
35. huffing/puffing

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Avoid rolling sixes during this fast-paced dice game and you’ll win.

Number of players: This game works best with groups of 2 to 8 players.

Setup:

• 6 dice
• Cup for rolling dice
• Dice tray or sturdy box lid
• Whiteboard and dry-erase marker
• Table(s) large enough to accommodate players comfortably

Object of the game:

Score the most points by rolling the fewest sixes.

Game on:

1. Place all six dice in the rolling cup. Shake and roll them out into a dice tray or box lid.
2. Look to see if any sixes were rolled. If there are no sixes, add up the face value of all six dice. This is the player’s score for the first round.
3. If any sixes are rolled, the player sets them aside and rolls the remaining dice.
4. The player continues until no sixes are rolled. The face value of the remaining dice is the player’s score for that round.
5. Write the score under the player’s name on a whiteboard.
6. It’s possible to score zero points in a round. If a player is down to one die and rolls a six their score will be zero. The highest score possible in a single round is 30 points. (You score 30 points if you roll all fives.)
7. The dice are passed to the next player until everyone has taken a turn. This is considered one round.
8. Play six rounds. Add up each player’s total points at the end of the sixth round.
9. Declare the player with the most points the winner.

Option:

Give an honorable mention to any player with a final score of 66.

Stimulate the senses with a non-toxic salt dough spiced up with aromatic herbs, spices, and extracts.

To make the dough, you will need:

• 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup table salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• Kitchen knife or scissors
• Saucepan
• Foil
• Plastic wrap
• Wax paper

You will also need an assortment of aromatic herbs, spices, and extracts. (See scent suggestions below.)

Prior to the activity:

1. Make the salt dough. Mix flour, salt, water, oil, and cream of tartar in a saucepan. Stir over medium low heat until a ball forms. Remove from heat and place dough on a piece of foil until cooled. Divide the dough into six balls measuring about 3" in diameter.
2. Select your herbs and/or spices. If using herbs, chop them and place in separate containers. Set aside.

During the activity:

1. Give each participant a ball of dough and ask them to select one of the chopped herbs, a spice, or an extract.
2. Instruct participants to flatten the ball and top it with an herb or spice. If using an extract, just a drop should do.
3. Then, roll the scent into the ball and knead the dough until the scent is distributed throughout. If the scent is too faint, simply add more.
4. Discuss the scents. Do they evoke a memory? Does the participant have a story to go with their scent? Does kneading the dough remind them of baking homemade bread?

Scent suggestions:

• Herbs: fresh or dried mint, dill, rosemary, oregano, sage, chives, lavender
• Spices: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, mustard powder
• Extracts: vanilla, almond, lemon, orange, peppermint, anise

Ideas and tips:

• Place the scented dough in an airtight container or bag and use again.
• Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Allow to dry, and you have scented ornaments.

Making and racing paper airplanes is a blast from the past that is still a blast.

Number of players:

The game can be played by 2 to 20 players.

Object:

Fold and launch the paper airplane that has the longest and most

accurate flight to win the paper airplane race.

Pre-game preparations:

• Print paper airplane folding instructions from the Fold’ N Fly website. This fantastic resource has extremely clear pictorial instructions for making 40 different types of paper airplanes. The “basic dart,” “water plane,” and “liftoff” are good styles to start with.

• Prior to game day, make some paper airplanes to pique interest in the activity and serve as samples.

• Make a runway on the floor with tape. It should be at least 2' wide and 8' long, but it could be longer and wider if you have the space.  Add a piece of tape horizontally across the runway every 12" and one at the top of the runway to mark the starting line.

• Place the folding instructions, samples, and sheets of paper on a table.

Directions:

1. Invite people to make paper airplanes. Refer them to the directions. Participants could work

in pairs or small groups to make a plane, or they may prefer to work independently.

2. Encourage people to name their plane. (For example, Shadow Bullet, Free Bird, Deb’s Diver, Gary’s Glider, etc.)

3. Once people are finished making their planes, have them step up to the starting line and launch their planes down the runway, one at a time.

4. The winning plane is the one that goes the farthest and stays within the boundaries of the runway.

5. (Optional) Give the winner a trophy like this or display the winning airplane in a common area.

Keep Flying

Give “pilots” a chance to make a new plane and then conduct the competition again. Talk about which style of plane flew the farthest and/or straightest and if the planes performed better in the second round.

Variations

Use 5" X 8 1/2" paper, which is also a good size for planes. Use decorative or recycled paper, such as maps, wrapping paper, magazines, or scrapbook paper.

Supplies:

• 8 1/2" X 11" printer-weight paper in a variety of colors

• Painter’s or masking tape

• Tape measure

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Do you have early risers in your community? This program can be used as a pre-breakfast activity. Cut the front panel of a cereal box into puzzle pieces. Then discuss breakfast cereal memories as you solve the puzzle.


1. Cut the front panel off of two identical cereal boxes. Tip: Use cereals that are available in your community.

2. Turn one panel over and draw straight intersecting lines on the back using a pen and straight edge. The lines can be diagonal, horizontal, and vertical. The more pieces, the more challenging the puzzle.

3. Put all the pieces in a resealable bag for storage.

4. Give the player the bag of puzzle pieces and the matching uncut panel.

5. Remove the pieces from the bag and place them faceup on a table.

6. The player can try either of the following:

• Put the puzzle together by simply looking at the uncut panel.
• Match and place the puzzle pieces on top of the uncut panel.

7. For an extra challenge, try putting the puzzle together without using the uncut panel.

For discussion:

While assembling the puzzle, discuss breakfast cereals.

• What breakfast cereals can you name? (Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Froot Loops, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Cocoa Puffs, Shredded Wheat, etc.)
• What are some mascots that represent cereals? (Tony the Tiger, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, Crunch, Count Chocula, etc.)
• Do you like sugar or fruit on your cereal?
  
  Supplies:
• Table and chair
• Two identical cereal boxes
• Scissors
• Resealable bag
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Flip it is a simple game using basic addition and simple problem solving.

THE EQUIPMENT:

• Each Player needs cards numbering 1-10.
• (SkipBo Cards work great for this! Nice BIG numbers, but use what you have.)
• Two 6-sided dice
• Dice cup may be used if desired.

THE SETUP: Each Player places the numbers 1-10 FACE UP in front of them.

THE PLAY: A round of FlipIt! consists of each player taking one turn to try to flip over as many cards as they can. A turn consists of a player throwing the dice one time and flipping the corresponding cards. Each turn is taken as follows: The player throws the dice and adds up the pips. The player must then flip available numbers that add up to the total thrown. So for instance, if the total is 8, the player may choose one of the following options:

a)  8

b) 7 & 1        

c) 6 & 2        

d) 5 & 3        

e) 5 & 2 & 1                  

f) 4 & 3 & 1

Assuming that one of the options is available, the player flips over the selected number or numbers and passes the dice to the next person. If none of the options are available because at least one number is already flipped in each case, then the player loses the turn and passes the dice to the next person. As the game goes on, a player may lose their turn several times. Play continues around the table until one player has flipped over all of their cards.

THE WIN: The Player that succeeds in flipping all their numbers first wins!

THE HINT: It is important to not be left with the number 1 card. It is impossible to roll a 1 on two dice!

A fun sensory game to assemble and even more fun to play!

Directions:

1. Gather up some small objects. See list below.
2. Fill a jar halfway with rice. Drop in the items. Then add more rice, leaving 2" unfilled. Screw on the lid and spin the jar to mix up the items.
3. On the Discovery Checklist, write the list of items that can be “discovered” in the jar.
4. Ask the person to spin the jar and look for items. When they discover something, find it on the list and cross it off. See if the person can find all of the items.

Possible items:

Paper clip

Staple

Rubber band

Button

Pushpin

Safety pin

Googly eye

Bead

Penny

Pebble

Dice

Bobby pin

Bean

Piece of pasta

Lego

Ring

Seashell

Silk flower

Guitar pick

Key

Marble

Screw

Bolt

Washer

Feather

Golf tee

Jack

Any small toy

How quickly can you think of a word that begins with the letter “O” when the one of diamonds is turned over? How about a word that begins with the letter “S”when a seven of clubs is turned over? This is a fun card game that will get everyone thinking.

Number of players:

The game works best when played in small groups of 3 to 10 players.

Object:

The object of the game is to win the most cards.

Setup:

• All you need is a standard deck of 52 cards.

• Have players sit in a circle around a table.

Playing the game:

1. Shuffle the cards and deal them one at a time facedown until each player has four cards.

2. The first player begins the game by saying, “I looked through the window and saw....” Before finishing the sentence, the player turns up one of their four cards so all players can see it.

3. Each player, including the player turning up the card, tries to name an animal, object, or place that begins with the same letter as the card shown. For example, if the card is an ace of spades, players might call out, Alaska, apple, or antelope. If the card is a 4 of diamonds, they might say France, frog, or furnace. Players cannot say the name of the card. In other words, they cannot say one for a 1 card or queen for a queen. Examples include:

• One card – oak, Ontario, Oakland, onion, ocean, Oktoberfest, October, octave, orbit, etc.
• Seven card – sister, salsa, salad, soup, school, scissors, scarf,
• Switzerland, squid, etc.
• Queen card – quarter, quarry, Quebec, quilt, quartz, quill, quintuplet, quiche, quail, etc.
• King card – kidney, kite, kit, knee, knife, kickoff, kiln, Kansas, Kentucky, etc.

Tip: Be prepared to cue the group by announcing the letter after the card is turned over.

4. The first player to call out a correct word takes the card. The turn now goes to the player to the dealer’s left. That player then says, “I looked through the window and saw...” and flips over one of their four cards for all to see.

5. During play, players cannot use a word that has already been used to capture a card. For example, if a player uses Florida to capture a 4, players cannot use Florida again to capture a 5. Tip: Keep a list of words that have been used.

6. Only nouns count. For example, funny or fancy would not count.

7. Each player creates a captured card pile that is separate from their originally dealt cards.

8. Play continues in the same way, with each player taking a turn until all the cards originally dealt have been turned up and captured.

Winning the game:

The player who captures the most cards is declared the winner.

Variations:

• Deal players five cards for longer games.
• Play several rounds. However, players cannot use words from previous rounds.
• Play with large playing cards. Hold up one card at a time, and anyone in the group can be the first to respond.