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Make-It, Take-It Family Night
  1. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
      1. Benchmark E.4 Demonstrate listening skills.
    2. Standard PCS 05. Philanthropy and Government
      1. Benchmark E.1 Define community as the degree that people come together for the common good.
      2. Benchmark E.7 Describe why the classroom, school, or neighborhood is a community governed by fundamental democratic principles.
  2. Strand PHIL.IV Volunteering and Service
    1. Standard VS 03. Providing Service
      1. Benchmark E.1 Provide a needed service.

As families get busier, "together time" often decreases. This lesson promotes family togetherness during the "Make It, Take It Night" and also at home as they play with the new games. This lesson brings parents and students together for the purpose of creating family games to play at home. Families will make a math game, a language arts game and a family favorite.

Duration: 
PrintOne Evening for One Hour and Thirty Minutes
Objectives: 

The learner will:

  • create three games with family members to take home.
  • cooperate with family members in a community setting.
  • communicate with family members and take turns with classmates.
Materials: 
  • Invitations
  • Cookies and punch
  • Gallon-size resealable plastic bags (one per family at each station)
  • Math Game Station:
    • Copies of Handout One: Number Cards 0-9 (four sheets per student)
    • Markers and scissors
    • Copies of game directions Handout Two: Addition War
  • Language Arts Game Station:
    • Copies of Handout Three: Sight Word Cards (two copies per student)
    • Markers and scissors
    • Copies of game directions Handout Four: Sight Word Memory
  • Family Favorite Station:
    • One egg carton per student
    • Colored pasta (enough for each student to have 48 pieces)
    • Copies of game directions Handout Five: Mancala
Home Connection: 

Families come to school one evening to create games for future family game nights at home.

Instructions: 
Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Send home invitations to a family Make-It, Take-It Night in which the students work with family members to create games to bring home for family game night. The evening also promotes unity in the larger community as families work side-by-side, sharing materials. On the chosen evening, play music, provide snacks, and set up the classroom in three stations with the materials indicated to make each of the three games. As families enter, instruct them to move around the stations together at their own pace. Encourage them to have a snack and meet the other families. If time, they may also practice playing the games within their families while the teacher is there to guide and instruct them.

  2. If possible, arrange to have three volunteers lined up, one per station, to explain the process of making each game and to lend a helping hand when needed. If this is not possible, provide written directions at each station:

    1. Addition War: You need four copies of Number Cards, 0-9. Help the student cut out the number cards on the lines and trace the numbers with a marker. Put the cards and directions in the bag and seal it.
    2. Sight Word Memory: You need two copies of the Sight Words. Help the student cut them out on the lines and trace the words with a marker. Put the cards and directions in the bag and seal it.
    3. Mancala: You will need an egg carton and 48 pieces of pasta. Put these and the directions in a bag and seal it.

  4. After every 20 minutes, make sure families are moving along. For example, after 20 minutes, you may say, "You should have at least one game prepared by now."

  5. At the end of the evening, thank the families for coming and encourage them to play these games regularly to reinforce skills and promote family togetherness. Ask the families to report back to you their reactions to the games and family time.

Assessment: 

Send home an evaluation form of the evening and of the family game nights that follow. Ask families to report back their reactions to the quality of the family night at school as well as the family game nights. Ask questions about communication, positive feelings, sense of unity, etc.