Valentine’s Day makes a great theme for exploring vocabulary around friendship, family, love, giving, and receiving.
Valentine’s Day invites:
- Play with words through rhymes, stories, and songs
- Multisensory experiences (bright colors, treats, various textures, etc.)
- Opportunities for exposure to new games!
Board games bring family, friends, and classmates together. The game in this package is designed to be played solo or with a partner. Reading is not required to play. Ideal for multi-language learning, including ASL or AAC.
Playing the adapted Valentine’s Day board game
As players place their tokens on each corresponding square, they explore new vocabulary (also known as “low-frequency” or “fringe words” for AAC users). The words get repeated two more times in gameplay.
This game targets the basics of playing a board game:
- Building connections with others
- Taking turns
- Following directions
- Completing a task
- Spatial awareness
- Rolling a die
- Counting dots on a die
- Matching/recognizing the number of dots
Required materials
- “Roll the Die” Game board (provided), printed (and laminated, optional)
- Player tokens (provided), printed (and laminated, optional), or save paper and ink by using tokens/chips you already own (two different colors/shades or shapes)
- Hook and loop dots (suggested for players requiring more stability with the game board, add dots to each of the board game squares and underneath player tokens)
- Die of the best size for the player (with dots to match this game or with numbers for an extra challenge)
- Communication methods or devices the learner uses (including ASL, low- or high-tech AAC, etc.)
Benefits of the adapted Valentine’s Day board game
- No reading is required, yet it can easily target literacy skills (variations offered in the package).
- Since it’s images only, it can be used for multi-language learning.
- The size of the board and the use of loop and hook dots make this a great game for on-the-go.
- Unlike games that test players’ strategic skills, this inclusive game design takes the pressure off and allows for a stress-free experience.
- Simple and visually appealing.
Strategy versus luck in board game play
Games like Tic-tac-toe or Connect 4 might be difficult for some players because they require logic and strategy. This game was designed to offer a similar experience with the alternative element of chance.
While games that rely on chance can sometimes be frustrating, they don’t strip away at the players’ self-esteem like logic games might because the onus is not on the player but on the “luck of the draw.” This game is a great introduction to Tic-tac-toe as they learn that they must get three tokens in a row to end the game.
Included in the package:
- Two sets of player tokens
- One board game
- Directions for variations
Download the FREE Valentine’s Day “Roll the Die” board game package here!
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