Thinking out of the GAME Box. This recycle project is a recipe for creativity, ingenuity and resourcefullness.

An old game board with no pieces.  What to do!?  

Simple:  Make a new one. 

We came across this old game board by Parker Brothers Called "Across  The Continent".  The first thing that came to mind was that it was too bad it had no pieces, because the kids could easily learn geography of the USA.  

I am not even sure what the game play is for this particular game, but thought "What if we made our own game?".  Having been a game designer at Parker Brothers myself, the process of game design not only excited me, but I knew it would inspire the kids, too (5-7-9).

It did just that.  Each kid was inventive and stimulated.  Even, five year old Chris, kept coming up with ideas and couldn't wait to tell us when he got up in the morning or when he came back from school.  

What we did:

• Decide how to play the game
• Determine what we would play with (cards, dice, men) 
• Made a prototype
• Played it over and over
• Changed some rules 
• Made several more prototypes , changed from dice to a spinner  etc
• Worked out kinks 
• Got it (almost)!

Using a recycled cereal box to create the Spinner.

 The Parts:

Cards

Spinner

Players

Vintage Board

Game Play:

The idea was to make it personal by adding cards that had some familiarity to us and was not only educational but fun.  Cards like: "Visit Puppy in Florida", "Take tour of Cadillac Ranch on Route 66 Texas"  and  "You squished the peaches you got in Georgia, go back and get more". Of course we had OHNO cards such as  "Flat tire lose a turn" to add excitement, too.

• Made "Destination Cards".  At the beginning each player chose a destination (ie: San Francisco).  Each going to a different place.
• Created "Travel Cards".  These  were marked with a car and varied from messages like " "Go to the family Cape Cod House" "Your car broke down get another in Detroit Michigan"  
• We used recycled game pieces from an old Parchesi game...but plan to make small Cars.
• We added Stay Where You Are cards (much like get out of jail in Monopoly). This was one of our last additions. (Nothing worse than being so close to your destination and getting sent across country!)
• Made a spinner: This included different sections. (Originally we used dice)

This was one of our favorite projects ever.  It turned game night into our OWN game night.

So, next time you look at something like an old game board , see it in a new light!  Remember think out of the box...the Game box.

For more recycle craft projects: 

Build a building or doll house from recycled Materials

Greenville Recycle City Project Extend Play with Recycled Materials

Make Recycle and Natural Crafts Great collection of recycle crafts, natural crafts, gardening carfts  and food art crafts for all ages

© Judith Gorgone all rights reserved.   Do not reproduce without permission.