This is a fun memory game that is perfect for a long car ride or a rainy day. The game doesn’t need any materials other than a few willing folks of any age who want to play! It can be played once or over and over again. I read somewhere that this game has been around for as long as grandmother’s own grandmother. Let’s give three cheers and lots of thanks to all the grandmas out there who are so important to every kid!
How to play:
1) The first player thinks of an object that will be put into a make believe trunk. The object can be anything as long as it fits into a trunk. You can be flexible on this if you wish but I’m thinking an elephant is a little too big. The things in Grandma’ s trunk could have a theme like things found in a house, or animals that live in a pond, or toys. Maybe the objects could be things that are useful for a trip if you happen to be taking one.
If the group decides on objects that can be found in a house, an example that the first player may say is “Grandmother has a TV set in her trunk.”
2) The second player repeats what the first player put in the trunk and then adds something else. For instance, “Grandmother has a TV set and a clock in her trunk.”
3) The game ends when somebody gets the order mixed up or leaves something out. Start over with a new theme or idea that fits your group if you wish. Don’t be surprised if the kids have better memories than the adults!
Kelly Dupre of Grand Marais is an artist, children’s author, and educator with over 20 years teaching experience with all age groups in a variety of settings. The activities in this once-amonth column are spin-offs and combinations of ideas she has used and learned from teachers, parents, kids, books, and workshops. Only some of the activities has she actually thought of herself! Do you have a project or an idea you would like to see on the Whirligigs page? Let us know! Send your suggestion to starnews@boreal.org.
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