“Pumpkin Pairs” is a fun and educational game that helps players practice various mathematical concepts like times tables and number bonds, as well as language skills such as homophones. The objective of the game is to find matching pairs of questions and answers hidden under a layer of orange lentils on a tray.
What You Need
Pumpkin Sheets: Prepare sheets with questions/words related to the chosen concept (times tables, number bonds, or homophones). These questions/wprds will serve as the basis for the game. You can download a blank copy here.
Tray: Use a tray to create the game surface.
Orange Lentils: Use orange lentils to cover the questions and answers on the tray, giving it a pumpkin-themed look.
Players: Gather a group of players to participate in the game.
How to Play
Prepare the Sheets:
Create pumpkin sheets with questions related to the chosen concept. For example, if practicing times tables, write multiplication questions; if working on number bonds, write addition questions; for homophones, write a homophone in each pumpkin. You can also download a blank template here.
Cover with Lentils:
Place the question sheet on the tray and cover it with a layer of orange lentils, creating a “pumpkin patch” effect.
Player Turns:
Players take turns choosing two spots on the tray where they think there might be a matching question and answer pair hidden beneath the lentils.
Reveal and Check:
When a player selects two spots, they carefully remove the lentils from those spots to reveal what’s underneath. If they reveal a matching question and answer pair, they keep them and score a point. If not, they must cover the spots again with lentils.
Continue Playing:
Players take turns until all the matching pairs have been found and collected.
Winning:
The player with the most matching pairs and the highest score at the end of the game wins.
Variation:
To make the game more challenging, you can introduce a timer and see how many matching pairs players can find within a certain time limit.
“Pumpkin Pairs” is a versatile game that can be easily adapted to reinforce various educational concepts. It’s a creative and hands-on way for players to practice their skills while having fun searching for matching pairs beneath the lentil-covered tray.
