Oh the Games We Play

The other day I was sitting at my desk creating some scrabble-like letter tiles for the following week.  The kids will use the tiles to build spelling words and figure out the value of each word.  I got to thinking about how I can tell my 1st graders that anything is a game and they go nuts for whatever activity I just deemed a "game."  And why shouldn't they?  Games are fun.  They make people happy.  An entire night's fun level can be kicked up a notch by announcing it's game night.  Games can make time go by quickly because time flies when you are having fun, right?  Well, that got me thinking even more.  I am ready for this kid to be here.  At 36 weeks and 5 days I still have a ways to go so I need something to make the time go by quickly.  I give Preggo Girl Games...

Project (Oh Dear Heavens Do Not Break The) Runway

Number of players: 1

Object:  Get dressed and out the door on time

Some days getting dressed is just hard, but this handy point system might make things a bit more interesting:

Clean and unwrinkled = 2 points

Comfortable (and by comfortable I mean stretchy and awesome) = 5 points

Shoes that are cute, fit (oh the swelling!), and do not highlight the cankles = 6 points

Matches = 7 points (this one can be tough if only 1 out of your two pairs of pants are in the washer)

Accessorized correctly and proportionally = 8 points (does this moo moo make me look fat?)

Cute and makes you feel awesome = 12 points

52 Pick Up

Number of Players: 17 overly eager and helpful 1st graders

Object: Don't bend over.  Seriously, like I can anyway.

I am ashamed to admit this, but I play this game 5 days a week from 7:30-2:30.  My students are really good at helping me win this game.  They are excellent at crawling on the floor to pick up a dropped paper clip or marker.  The challenge is making sure that they retrieve the dropped item quickly and not get distracted by crawling under desks to get out of doing work.

1 Teacher Pick Up

Number of Players:  17 1st graders who have not quite grasped the concept of weight

Object: Get up from the floor without falling down.

At school this one is pretty easy.  The kids like to fight who will help me get up.  No need to fight children.  I probably need all 17 of you and the class across the hall to get up.   Unless I have just explained a "game" and then all bets are off. 

Are You Smarter Than A Pregnant Lady?

Number of Players:  As many players that are willing to play

Object:  Of course you are smarter than a pregnant lady, but the object here is to make me feel that I am not crazy.  Yes, I will need things repeated because I probably was daydreaming about baby or nightmaring about labor.  Yes, I will confuse dates and forget things.  But can you help me not feel like a moron who has lost her mind?  Bonus points if you get to me before I start crying.  This game is play at your own risk!!

Jeopardy

Number of Players: Limitless

Object:  Don't upset the pregnant lady 

Come to think of it, this is not a very good game.