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| Playing comprehension games with children helps to reinforce the meaning of the story and provides an enjoyable context in which to extend the discussion of the book currently being read.
- Playing Cards
Come up with a list of questions that will require a child to think back to what he/she has read and express his/her understanding of the material. In addition to asking for factual information, ask your child questions which relate to his/her opinions and feelings about the story. Use your judgment as to the kinds of questions that are right for your child. Using 3 x 5-inch index cards, write a different question on one side of each playing card.
Examples:
- Describe where the story takes place.
- Which character do you wish were part of your family?
- Tell about the most exciting part of the story.
- How could the story end differently?
- Tell something you did not like about the story.
- What did you think about the ending?
- Describe the problem in the story. How was it solved?
- Is the story fiction or non-fiction? How do you know?
- What other books have you read that are like this one?
- Would you like to live where the story takes place? Why or why not?
- What questions do you have about the story?
- What part of the story would you read to a friend?
- What do you think might happen next?
- What kind of stories do you like best? Why?
- Who do you think was the most interesting character in the book? Why?
- Spinner
(See general instructions for how to make a spinner.) Design spinner so that each slice of the wheel has a different number. Note: You may choose not to play with spinner by having players roll a die for every turn instead.
Example:
- For smaller game boards, a spinner may only have the numbers 1 through 4. When playing with a larger game board that has more playing spaces on it, you might make a spinner that goes up to number 6.
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- Game Board
(See general instructions for how to make a game board.) Indicate the "start" space and "finish" space on the game board. In all other spaces, write instructions for the players to follow.
Examples:
- Pick; Choose; Go Back 4; Skip Ahead 2 spaces, etc.
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- Playing Pieces
Ask your child to find or make small objects to be used as playing pieces. Some possibilities are a thimble, a rock, a miniature car or an action figure, a Lego or some other small block. Pieces may also be borrowed from a store-bought game.
- Shuffle the playing cards and place them in a stack, face down.
- Each player selects a playing piece.
- Determine the order in which players will take their turns by discussing it with each other or rolling a die and going in the order of highest to lowest roller.
- Begin by placing each person's piece on start.
- After spinning or rolling, a player moves his/her playing piece the number of spaces indicated by the spinner or die.
- The player then follows the instructions in the space he/she lands on. When instructed, he/she chooses a playing card from the deck, reads it aloud, and answers or comments accordingly.
- Play continues until the first player reaches Finish.
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