Comments

What a great resource. The best thing about this site is all the ideas for allowing children to take responsibility for their own learning. The activities are meaningful opportunities to consolidate skills taught in direct teaching sessions. More importantly the children are having fun whilst learning. My children choose to use these resources in their free time. What more can one say?

j.neal

Shape Taboo

Shape - a maths game This is a superb mathematics activity based on the game of 'Taboo'. The focus here is on shape vocabulary.

The download contains 27 cards featuring shape related words. The game is for two players, a 'reader' and a 'guesser' The object of the game is for the 'reader' to help his/her partner (the 'guesser') to identify the correct vocabulary word on the card. The 'reader' must describe the word as clearly as possible without using any of the 'Taboo words.

For example, the first player might have to get the 'guesser' to say "triangle" but is not permitted ot use the words "three", "point" or "angle". triangle - shape game This forces the 'reader' to think carefully when describing the object/item. Statements such as:

"This is a 2 dimension object with a number of straight sides - it can be formed from half a square - it will tesselate - six of them could be placed together to form a hexagon..."

... would all be allowed.

The other 'guesser' may make as many guesses as necessary.

The 'reader', however, is not allowed to gesture or use drawing s to help them.

Once the 'guesser' has correclty identified the item it is their turn to choose a card.

Alternative:

Use a timer - once the 'guesser' has identified the word on the card, the 'reade' moves on to the next card, trying to get as many words as possible in the allotted time. When time runs out, play passes to the next adjacent player of the other team.

Use counters - the 'guesser' receives one counter for a correct guess. The 'reader' loses a counter if a "taboo" word is spoken.

Our Toolbar Users can access an editable .docx format of this download.

If you found this useful, subscribe to receive more great content just like it.
Subscribe via RSS Feed

Login or register to post comments
10578 reads

Comments

Another fantastic shape

Submitted by pippag on Sun, 11/27/2011 - 11:45.

Another fantastic shape resource for Chrismaths week. Will be challenging for some!

This is a very useful

Submitted by cahillj86 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 22:20.

This is a very useful resource. Mathematical vocabulary is particularly important for children to grasp and use confidently. I have used the resource in 3 ways- 1. A child describes the top word without using the taboo words. 2. The word at the top is given to the class and they have to guess what the taboo words could be. 3. I have used the cards as an example for the children to then create their own versions for other areas of mathematical vocabulary.

Some terrific adaptations, I

Submitted by johdu on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 22:48.

Some terrific adaptations, I particularly like the idea of asking the children to guess the likely taboo words! - thank you for sharing.

Idea resource to use on its

Submitted by elliottcharlene on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 15:24.

Idea resource to use on its own or to support a feelie bag activity where the kids may need a little help with the vocab :)

wOW EXCELLENT GAME AM GONNA

Submitted by L on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 14:04.

wOW EXCELLENT GAME AM GONNA LAMINATE AND PLAY TOMORROW WITH MY YEAR 3'S ITS COULD ALMOST USE IT LIKE A LOOP GAME AS WELL THANK S ALOT

I love this idea! I will

Submitted by MissSmithElm on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 21:02.

I love this idea! I will play this with my year 5 class and as a plenary they can all make new cards on a different Mathematical area! Love it!!

This looks fantastic offering

Submitted by lanny on Sat, 09/24/2011 - 09:59.

This looks fantastic offering a fun way to engage the children with shape, Thank you.

Thanks! I love these!

Submitted by jeneane0147 on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 14:47.

Thanks! I love these!

Fantastic resource!

Submitted by auntbessie on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 22:18.

Fantastic resource! Wonderful for focus group work, extension activities, starters - there are so many different ways to use them and the idea can be applied to more than just shape. Plus, yet again, you have saved me hours of fiddling with powerpoint or word!

Wow, this will give the

Submitted by rhoneyman on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 02:37.

Wow, this will give the children a new approach to learning their vocab in maths. Great. We can even work in teams and make up our own vocab words for different maths topics!

Great resource to build

Submitted by oldschoolteacher on Wed, 07/13/2011 - 13:31.

Great resource to build vocabulary. Have read about this at other sites and teachers have been using this with blank cards and vocabulary words as prompts. Students then as teams create cards and then switch cards and play game. Very creative way of expanding building vocabulary. Thank you.

You could also use these with

Submitted by chell121 on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 19:16.

You could also use these with a literacy link to questions. Have children play jeopardy and read and answer using the key vocabulary the children must then answer with a question. e.g. Q - it is known to be smooth. - it is known to have a level surface A - What is flat?

Brilliant, just what I was

Submitted by yennx on Sun, 05/22/2011 - 17:04.

Brilliant, just what I was looking for! Colelcted up some old red noses to uses as horns,going to get the children to make their own "challenge cards" after the game. :)

fab idea for using a game to

Submitted by micketh on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 19:55.

fab idea for using a game to aid learning

Great way to get children

Submitted by uniwin on Sun, 03/20/2011 - 09:14.

Great way to get children talking shape! Thankyou.

I had seen a game similar to

Submitted by dspear2 on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 00:24.

I had seen a game similar to this at a Math Conference and had been looking for a copy. My students love playing games and half the time don't realize they're actually working. Thanks for uploading!!!