Baffling Balloons

crayola supplies

Fabric Markers
Pointed Tip Scissors

household supplies

ruler
painting shirt
felt

Why?

Balloons are both colorful and mysterious. What a perfect match for a challenging matching game of Concentration!

Steps

1. How good is your memory? Playing matching games are fun ways to test your tricks for remembering. You might even start to remember better! Here’s one way to create a game that can be as difficult or as easy as you like.
2. Measure at least 20 small squares on heavy felt with Crayola® Fabric Markers. Draw brightly colored, matching pairs of balloons on the squares. Cut out your memory squares with Crayola Scissors.
3. Fill the back of every square with the same colorful design. You’re ready to play! The game’s portable, so you can take it anywhere.

adaptations

Ask your family and friends for their memory tips. Try them yourself. Share ideas with classmates.

Collect and play memory games like this one: Place several items on a tray. Stare at the tray for a few minutes. Cover it. Write down everything you remember seeing on the tray. Change objects and see if the number of things you remember increases.

Learn the hand-clapping game that requires you to concentrate by remembering the rhythym that was just clapped. Use it with vocabulary words, math facts, or other material.

benefits

Students choose a variety of design elements to create playing squares for a challenging matching game of Concentration.

Students distinguish matching patterns, numbers, and colors as they test their memories.

Students hone skills and techniques to strengthen their memory capacity.

grades

Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6

subjects

Math
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.