Games are often used as a means to improve social skills and promote teamwork among learners (i.e. Social Studies skills).  Research has shown that memory, concentration, logical reasoning and analytical skills (i.e. Math and Science skills) are also enhanced while learning and playing games, as are the personal attributes of fair play evident in the rules and etiquette of the various games. (i.e. Character Trait development). This lesson is intended to teach learners that games can be fun if the rules to the games are known and followed by all, and that there are consequences if rules are not followed even at home, the school, the community, and the World as well.

The learner will:

• identify the need for rules in a game and in life.
• recognize consequences for not following the rules of a game.
• determine geographic location by North, South, East, West.
  

Anticipatory Set:

While shuffling a deck of playing cards, announce to the class that today they will begin learning a game that is played with a set of cards like the one you are shuffling.  Ask the class what, if any, card games they already know how to play. Explain that in the next few lessons they will have fun while playing card games as well as learn many useful skills! Ask the class what, if any, card games they already know how to play. Explain that in the next few lessons they will have fun while playing card games as well as learn many useful skills!

 

• Arrange the class into groups of four and distribute the playing cards to a designated “Deck Holder” (the person who is sitting with his back to the direction North) in each group.
  
  
• Announce that each of the “Deck Holders” have something in common given their location in the group. Challenge the learners to come up with the commonality that each of the “Deck Holders” is sitting in the North position of their group. (Point out the directional posters posted in the room if the students have not already observed them.) Challenge the learners to determine the person occupying the South, East and West positions in their groups.
  
  
• Announce that these are the positions often used in table games and that knowing this will come be helpful in future games. To determine the level of understanding, ask those in the North position to raise their hands, and then continue the process until all the learners have had an opportunity to identify their position at the table.
  
  
• Instruct each “Deck Holder” to start to play the game in their group.
  
  
• Observe what happens. This will most likely result in confusion and questions. After a few moments, announce that you forgot to mention earlier that each group should come up with their own way to play the game (most groups will continue to feel frustrated). Allow a few more moments for students to react.
  
  
• Using teacher judgment about student frustration level, at an appropriate time ask the “Deck Holders” to collect the cards from his/her group.
  
  
• Encourage the learners to share their experience, frustrations and questions and list these on the display board.
  
  
• Ask the learners to share how their experience might have been made better.
  
  
• Lead the learners to conclude that in order to play a game, certain rules need to be in place so everyone knows how to play the game and that knowing those rules before beginning the game, makes it possible to play the game together.
  
  
• Place the word rules on the display board and have the learners help define the word. Ask them to reflect and share how and why rules need to be in place not only in a game but also in the home, the school, the community, and the world.  Describe these rules to the learners as rules for playing in the "game of life."
  
• Ask the learners to share with you their prior experience with “playing cards,” identifying any games that they might have learned to play using them.
  
  
• Tell them that tomorrow they will meet this deck of playing cards “up close and personal,” as well as learn new card game.
  
  

• For additional Web Sites that feature children’s games using playing cards

http://www.usplayingcard.com/gamerules/childrenscardgames.html

http://thehouseofcards.com/

• For additional related Units and Lessons see also www.learningtogive.org
  
  
• For additional rationale and support see also http://www.acbl.org/documentlibrary/news/statisticallyspeaking.pdf