A quick, engaging and fun way to review several different concepts is a hands-on activity called “I Have, Who Has?”. Players compete with the clock, reviewing facts as quickly as possible. It's a game that you can play around the dinner table – before and after you eat. Your kids will be finishing their dinner faster than ever, ready to beat the clock again!
What You Need:
- 3x5 cards (cut in half)
- black marker
- stopwatch
What You Do:
- Choose a concept your child needs to review, such as vocabulary, spelling, people or dates. For the purpose of this demonstration, simple math facts are used to show how to make the cards.
- Begin with the “Start” card.
On the first card, write:
I have START, Who has 1 x 2?
On the next card, write:
I have 2 Who has 2 x 2?
On the next card, write:
I have 4 Who has 3 x 2?
Continue making cards in this way through 12 x 2.
The last two cards should read:
I have 24 Who has END?
I have END. THE GAME IS OVER!
- Shuffle and deal the cards. Depending on the number of cards and the number of players, deal players multiple cards (this makes it more challenging). Now you are ready to play!
- The first round is practice. The player with the “START” card begins by reading her card, “I have START. Who has 1 x 2?”. The person who has the “2” card reads his card, “I have 2. Who has 2 x 2?”. The person with the “4” card reads her card and play continues in this way until the last card is read. Now, read through the cards again and time yourselves with a stopwatch. Record the time and repeat the game, trying to finish faster each time.<
- Eat dinner and set a goal for how fast you will get through the cards after you eat!
Tips:
- “I Have, Who Has?” is a fast, hectic game. Be prepared for players to get loud – and a little impatient!
- With this activity, you and your family can review any concept that requires rote memorization.
By Brigid Del Carmen
Brigid Del Carmen has a Master's Degree in Special Education with endorsements in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders/Emotional Impairments. Over the past eight years, she has taught Language Arts, Reading and Math in her middle school special education classroom.
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