Matching Ducks

I'm often looking for games that will keep the class occupied while one student is taking an individual turn.  These matching games have been working well and are adjustable for many ages/venues.  All of the games below use:

• Rubber duckies (Monster, 123, Superhero)
• Laminated cut outs (Monster, Buckets, Superhero, Superhero Clipart, Bucket Clipart)
• Velcro, glue
• Small discs (1.5" wood, 1" plastic)
  

You can write directly on the ducks, but since I want to use the same tools for multiple games, I placed a small piece of Velcro on the bottom of each duck and disc using superglue.  

Oriental Trading has a variety of character ducks, so I have also used this game in specific themes such as Monster Mania, Superhero Day, & Fairy Tale Adventure.  I like the Monster & 123 ducks best for everyday use.  

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Jump to: Swimming Games, Climbing Games, Yoga & Active Movement

Climbing Safety:
We play lots of matching games in the climbing gym by hiding the ducks on climbing holds and placing the laminates on the floor.  Kids climb to a duck and bring it down to match it up!  Non readers bring the duck to their instructor first for a translation.

To reinforce safe climbing rules I use pictures of climbers in different situations.  Each duck has a disc saying "safe" or "unsafe".  Each child climbs to retrieve a duck and then match it to a corresponding safe or unsafe picture.  I have made up flash cards for this game with an easy level (green circles for "safe" and red No Symbols for "unsafe") and a hard level (no hints).  

You can download my safety matching cards below:  

pbj_climbing_safety_game.pdf
File Size:	71645 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Climbing Terminology:
Using the Monster ducks, I placed the wall angle discs on the ducks and drew stick figure walls on the speech bubbles to show overhang, slab, vertical, arete and dihedral.  You can also use photographs to review lots of topics with this game.  We have done wall angles, hold types and types of moves (matching, backstep, sidepull) so far.

Each duck has a label on the bottom

Each climber decides where to place his/her duck

Each laminate has a drawing or photograph

Warrior II

Tree Pose

Yoga Poses:
I've drawn crude stick figures in various poses on the wooden discs and I usually select the 3-4 poses we will be learning that day with each pose repeated for reinforcement.

I often use this game as a "random pose generator".  All of the 123 ducks are swimming in a yoga mat pond.  Children take turns retrieving a duck and teaching the class the pose depicted on the bottom.  

Yoga Obstacle Course:
For an active movement game I place the ducks throughout the room.  Children use a specified movement (crab walk, lunges, etc) to retrieve a duck and then freeze in that pose.  When every child is frozen you can ring a chime or gong to signal that it's time to match their duck to the corresponding colored bucket.

Swimming Scramble:
You can "waterproof" this game by using the plastic tokens listed above (the wooden discs don't hold up in the pool) and waterproof plumbing glue to hold the velcro.  I have made a beginner set and an advanced set that I can switch out as needed.  The beginner set lists skills such as "eyes in", "kicks", "swimming arms" by showing a picture of each body part.  The advanced set lists strokes and drills such as "butterfly", "3 arm backstroke", and "flip turns".  One student swims to retrieve a duck and everyone performs the skill listed.

Duck In a Bucket:
In the pool it's especially important for waiting children to be engaged.  In beginner lessons I scatter the ducks throughout the pool and place the laminates on a floating mat by the platform or on the pool deck within easy reach.  I take each child out to swim for a duck and then they can match it up while they wait for their next turn.  To maintain engagement I change up the criteria.  They can place each duck on a bucket based on color, number (write a number on each laminated bucket), letter, etc.