In this board game, children roll a die and then move their robot game pieces across the rungs of a jungle gym to the finish line.
To play the Jungle Gym board game, children roll the die, QUICKLY call out the number, and move the correct number of spaces.
Children may count aloud as they move the game pieces. It reinforces everyone’s counting skills.
Materials
- Jungle Gym: Game Pieces (PDF)
- Jungle Gym: Game Board (PDF)
- Cardstock or plain paper
- Three- or four-inch-square, white, fold-up gift box (purchase at party stores or order online)
- Speedy Dice: Diagram (1s, 2s, and 3s) PDF, showing how to layout the dots
- 14 three-quarter-inch round labels (dots)
- Scissors
- Tape, if adding additional game board pieces
Preparation
- To make the five game pieces: Print the Jungle Gym: Game Pieces PDF (in color and on cardstock, if you can) and cut out the game pieces along the cut lines. Follow the directions on the sheet to make the game pieces stand.
- To make the Jungle Gym game board: print the game board template. To create the larger game board, print multiple copies of the second page of the game board, then overlap the ends, and tape them together.
- To make a Speedy Die:. Fold the box per the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the Speedy Dice Diagram to see how to lay out the dots on the box. Add the dot formations representing each number set to the sides of the box to create the dice.
Directions
- Ask the children what they remember about the Jungle Gym iPad game. Ask, What characters did you see? What did you learn?
- Have each child select a robot game piece and place it at the starting line. Select a character piece for yourself so you can play along, modeling the steps for how to play the game by taking a turn first.
- Model rolling the speedy die, quickly picking it up, and then moving your game piece that number of rungs/spaces on the game board. Be sure to count out loud as you move your game piece to reinforce number skills. Have each child take a turn rolling the speedy die, quickly identifying the number, and then moving that number of rungs on the Jungle Gym game board. Have the children check to make sure everyone moves the correct number of spaces. They can also help each other by counting out the correct number of spaces.
- The first player who gets to the finish line (the last rung) wins!
Note: Extend the game by printing additional game boards and attaching them end-to-end to the original board. You can also place additional game boards at an angle to the straight track to make interesting paths (with twists and turns).