Make this easy game your students will love for next to nothing.
Tricky Sticks is a perfect quick-play game for speech therapy.
Here's why I love Tricky Sticks:
1. I can use it for any target2. It's perfect for mixed groups
3. I use it with all ages- so easy and they all love it.
4. Quick-play- so you get plenty of repetitions/ responses, maximizing therapy time.
5. Play as long as you like, no set finish time means it lasts your whole session.
6. Space-saving. You can store your sticks in a cup or baggie.
7. Super cheap and easy to make!
I first got this idea from a wonderful resource teacher.
Wow- simple and fun, I had to make a set for speech. I stopped at the dollar store and got a package of colored craft sticks for less than two dollars. Can't beat that!I opened the package and separated out 1/3 of the sticks. The rest I put aside. Next, I took a black marker and added stars on the bottom of a few of the third I had separated out, and squares on the bottom of the rest of the third. (ok, maybe it's rectangles) Not too fancy, but it doesn't matter a bit.
That's it! You can make this game in just a few minutes. Easy peasy. Now if only writing IEPs and evaluation reports was this quick and easy. A girl can dream...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ready to play? Here's how.
1. Pop your sticks in a colorful cup, shape ends down.
2. Have your students answer a question or practice their articulation word.
3. After they respond, they pick out a stick and look to see if it has a shape.
4. If the stick has no shape, it's a "keeper." The child keeps the stick in his pile and gets one point.
5. If the stick has a square, you give it to the player on your right.
6. If the stick has a star, pass it to the player on your left.
A variation for older children who are mature enough not to be upset if they lose... I tell them the star means boom! and they put all their sticks back in the cup.
Why Tricky Sticks?
Actually, I am not really sure why I started calling this game Tricky Sticks, other than it sounded catchy and interesting to my students. We have been playing this favorite for years, and my kiddos love it. I have seen some people call a version of this game Kaboom, that sounds catchy too.
What do you think?
You don't have to use the colored sticks, but I think it's more fun that way. I hope you give this little game a try. Have fun!