Messy Back Yard....

There is no reason why games can't teach children at the same time as they are enjoying themselves.

You may already know of the game Messy Back Yard. If not, the game is simple. There are two teams, one barrior between the teams (could just be a line on the floor that neither team is allowed to cross) and soft throwable objects. Each team starts with the same number of objects. When the game begins the object of the game is to pick up all the "trash" (soft throwable objects) and throw them onto the other teams "lawn" (other side of the barrior or line). At the end of the time period which can be determined by the teacher, but I reccomend a 3 min. maximum, all the throwing of objects stops and each team must count up the number of objects on their lawn. The team with the least amount of objects wins that round.

This game is easy, fun and teaches math skills, throwing skills, teamwork and a sense of good cleaning :)

To make this fun around the Holiday Season, I reccomend using all white objects and have a "Snowball fight". With this modification classroom teachers can use this game with white pieces of paper, in a controlled classroom setting.

Happy Moving!