Study Game: Planets!

What You Do:

1. Cut paper into approximately 60 cards. Make:

   • 27 planet cards (3 sets of planet names)

   • 27 cue cards (3 descriptions, or “cues”, for each of the 9 planets)

The following chart contains the planet names and 3 cues for each:

2. Once you have finished labeling the cards, begin the game by making one pile of planet cards and spreading out the cue cards face down. Player 1 turns over the first planet card and chooses a cue card. If the planet card and cue card match, Player 1 keeps the pair. If Player 1 does not make a match, the planet card goes into a discard pile and the cue card is turned face down.
3. Player 2 now takes a turn. He can either choose the top planet card from the discard pile or a new planet card, and then turn over a cue card. If Player 2 makes a match, he keeps the pair. Play continues in this way, resembling the old “Memory” game where players try to remember where certain cards are on the table. Once all planet cards are used, choose from the remaining cards in the discard pile. The game is over when all planet cards have been matched up with a cue card. The player with the most pairs wins.

Tips:

• Play variations of the game depending on the facts your middle schooler is required to memorize.
• Motivate your child by providing prizes for the winner (and a consolation prize for the runner-up). A stargazing excursion, perhaps?
• Immediately following the game, give your child a verbal “quiz” to see what facts she remembers about planets. The next day, give her the same quiz to determine how many facts she has retained.