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Overview Table Games Movement Making Adaptations Help

Make and Play Together

There is immense satisfaction in building the tools you are about to use. The 'Make and Play' approach extends the lifespan of the activity, beginning with a calm period of construction and ending with active engagement. By relying on recycled materials like shipping boxes and wrapping paper tubes, we keep the process highly accessible.

Cardboard Tube Target Toss

The empty tubes left over from wrapping presents are structurally sound and perfectly suited for creating an indoor target range. This activity splits naturally into a decorating phase and a throwing phase.

Materials to Gather

  • 3 to 5 empty cardboard tubes (various heights if possible).
  • Plain paper, markers, or scrap ribbon for decoration.
  • A flat, stable base (a sturdy shoebox lid works well).
  • Tape or gentle adhesive.
  • Lightweight rings (cut from paper plates or fashioned from stiff wire/chenille stems).
Decorated cardboard tubes secured to a base, with paper rings beside them

Preparation (The Making Phase)

  1. Cut the cardboard tubes to varied heights. Assign a point value to each based on height (taller equals more points).
  2. Allow participants to wrap or draw on the tubes using the scrap materials. This is an excellent time for quiet, seated focus.
  3. Firmly tape the base of each tube into the shoebox lid so they stand vertically.
  4. Create the throwing rings by cutting the centers out of paper plates.

Play

  1. Place the target box on the floor or a low table.
  2. Establish a throwing line a few paces back.
  3. Players take turns throwing three rings, attempting to loop them over the cardboard tubes.

Standard Rule

Calculate points based on which tubes are successfully ringed.

Adaptation

If physical dexterity makes throwing difficult, attach a string to the ring and lower it like a crane from above, focusing on spatial alignment rather than tossing.

Wrapping Paper Puzzles

Large pieces of visually intricate wrapping paper can be transformed into bespoke jigsaw puzzles. This leverages the Montessori principles of visual discrimination and fine motor control, packaged in a festive theme.

Materials to Gather

  • A piece of heavy cardstock or side of a shipping box.
  • A smooth piece of patterned wrapping paper.
  • Glue stick or double-sided tape.
  • Scissors.
A sheet of wrapping paper glued to cardboard and cut into jagged shapes

Preparation (The Making Phase)

  1. Apply glue evenly over the heavy cardstock.
  2. Carefully smooth the wrapping paper over the glue, ensuring there are no air bubbles. Let it dry flat.
  3. Using scissors, cut the board into interlocking shapes. For a simpler puzzle, cut straight lines to form squares or triangles. For a harder puzzle, use curved, irregular cuts.

Play

  1. Scramble the pieces in the center of the table.
  2. Work individually or together to reconstruct the original image.

Standard Rule

Assemble the puzzle from a totally randomized pile.

Adaptation

To provide extra support, keep a second, uncut piece of the exact same wrapping paper nearby to act as a visual map.