Ages: 3-5, 6-8
Location: Indoors, Outdoors
Skills: Physical, Thinking
What you'll need:
Masking tape or chalk
6 beanbags (3 of one color, 3 of another color)
Background:
The simple strategy of tic-tac-toe strengthens thinking skills by prompting children to predict the outcome of each toss.
Setting up:
Make a tic-tac-toe board on the floor by placing masking tape on carpeting or by drawing with chalk on concrete. If the children have not played tic-tac-toe before, demonstrate how to play before beginning.
What to do:
Divide the children into two teams. Give each team several beanbags of one color. For example, the x's could use red beanbags and the o's blue. Have the teams take turns tossing the beanbags onto the board.
Help the children watch for opportunities to complete a row or block the other team. After each toss, allow the next player to move to the board and prepare to make a toss. Encourage the children to play without your help as soon as possible.
Advanced version: Put a letter or word in each square. Challenge the older children to say the word or letter in the square their beanbag lands on.
