My Obstacle Course: Engage, Encourage and Empower

A fun, structured, systematic way to work on your child's strengths and weaknesses at home!

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Farm Themed Memory Match

This is a really easy way to create a thematic memory match game using stickers and index cards (or cutouts). Here is a link to an earlier memory match post I wrote. I like including this game because it helps to build concentration, encourages basic game skills like turn taking and provides a good opportunity to make connections and build vocabulary based on the stickers.

My Obstacle Course Station Activity: Thematic Memory Match

This station activity takes me only about 5 minutes to prepare and has been a favorite of Andrew’s for a while now.

Step 1: Get stickers. Some stickers come with a matching pair on one sheet (like this one) and other packs do not. For the packs that don’t have matchers on one sheet, I just use two sticker sheets and get the matching sticker that way.

Farm Themed Stickers

Step 2: Get something sturdy to place the stickers on. I like to use index cards and found these small, blank, colored cards at my teacher store. I choose one color to use per memory match game and try to choose a color that goes with the theme or season we are in. For this one, I chose to use the red ones.

Small, colored index cards (2x3) are perfect for this activity.
I've also used 4x6 index cards and cut them in half with my paper cutter.

Step 3: Place matching stickers on two separate cards to make a matching pair.

A matching pair.

Continue until you have made all of the matching pairs that you can.

Matching pairs

Step 4: Mix them up or shuffle them. Set them out in rows and it is ready!

Memory match game set up and ready to play.

We take turns turning over cards to try to find matches and continue until all matches have been found.

Matching pair found!

When I began doing this with Andrew, we only did three pairs at a time and the cards were face up so I could show him what we were looking for – “Can you find the card that looks the same?” We did it like this until he understood that we were matching and then began turning them over. Remember to think about the skills your child is ready for and modify the activity so they can build those skills without immediately getting overwhelmed by rules and details they are not ready for. That way, it will be more beneficial and fun for both of you!!

Engage, Encourage and Empower!

Summer Themed Memory Match

If you’ve been following my posts, you know by now that Andrew is crazy about memory match games. Using colored index cards and stickers makes it so easy to create new, thematic memory match games that go with whatever we are doing. (Here is the link for the original Thematic Memory Match post with step by step instructions.) Since it is summer and we are still in our “beach” theme, I made a game with lots of different colored fish.

Through this basic game, we work on social skills and game playing rules by taking turns (which isn’t always easy when one of us knows where the matcher is! 🙂 ). It also allows me to work on visual discrimination skills and descriptive vocabulary while noticing out loud how each pair is unique.

My Obstacle Course Station Activity: Summer Themed Memory Match

Colored and unruled index cards + thematic stickers = Fun and easy memory match game!
Stickers on in the middle of the card.
Matching pairs ready to mix and play.
Memory match game set up.
Matching pair of fish found!

This activity can be modified to incorporate some movement by creating a “Crawl and Match” or “Run and Match” station where the child picks up a card and has to go down and match it with its partner.

Engage, Encourage and Empower!

 

April Memory Match Games

This month I have two different memory match games to share, one using butterfly stickers and the other with Easter themed stickers.

My Obstacle Course Station Activity: Memory Match Game or Find the Same

Spring Butterfly Themed Memory Match Game:

I like to use calendar cutouts or colored index cards cut in half…

Umbrella Shaped Calendar Cutouts (April Showers)

and thematic stickers. Place matching stickers on two separate cutouts or cards.

Sheet of butterfly stickers that I used.

(The butterfly memory match is one of the more difficult ones we have done because he really has to pay attention to the details of the butterflies to distinguish between them.)

Set them out face down and that’s it!

Note: When we first began doing this game, I placed the cards face up and we played “Find the Same” to work on finding matching pairs. This helped him with visual discrimination and also gave him an introduction to what we were going to be doing once the cards were turned over.

Memory Match Game Set Up
Matching pair found!
Matching pair up close.

Easter Themed Memory Match Game:

Memory Match Game with Easter Stickers
Matching pair!

Note: There are tons of different kinds of stickers out there so if you don’t celebrate the holidays I am sharing about or if you have a child who is really into something, like vehicles or sports, you can substitute those kinds of stickers and make a game that will be appropriate for your family and motivating for your child.

Engage, Encourage and Empower!

 

March Themed Memory Match

My Obstacle Course Station Activity: March Themed Memory Match

This is a super easy March Themed Memory Match game to make. I used some shamrock shaped calendar cutouts and some St. Patrick’s Day themed stickers (I usually use colored index cards cut in half but grabbed these because I needed something quick and easy and these fit the bill perfectly!).

I know that I have said this before, but this game is great because it provides you with an easy way to work on basic game playing skills, such as turn taking, while also building vocabulary, strategy and concentration/memory skills!

You could use any kind of thematic stickers you want (They don’t have to be St. Patrick’s themed. Our teacher supply store has lots of different stickers ranging from letters, ladybugs, transportation or sports.) Spelling or vocabulary words could also be incorporated by writing them on the cutouts. The only thing you have to do is make a matching pair. Super easy!

 

Matching pair!

You can find the link to my original “How To” post on how to make a Thematic Memory Match here.

Engage, Encourage and Empower!

Winter Themed Memory Match

I am in the process of gathering and creating materials for Andrew’s Obstacle Courses this month and am going to share one of his favorite station activities, memory match.  This was one of my first posts but feel it’s worth revisiting because I have had many new visitors since then.  (Click here to view the original detailed Memory Match post.)

Creating Your Own Thematic Memory Match Game

This game is really easy to make and as I was shopping for the holidays, I noticed all sorts of character themed memory match games for sale out there.  I love creating my own because it allows me to incorporate vocabulary for whatever themes or concepts I can find stickers for.  Right now, he is learning about the winter season in school so I will use winter themed stickers and talk about them when they get flipped over.

These are some examples of what I might ask or comment on for the card with the snowman on it:

  • What would it feel like outside if you were building a snowman?
  • What kinds of things would you bring out to put on your snowman?
  • Do you notice how the bottom snowball is larger than the top snowball?
  • What would happen if the bottom snowball was the smallest?
  • Is a snowman a real man?
  • Was the movie Frosty the Snowman fact or fiction?

(Keep in mind I wouldn’t ask all of these at one sitting, but would choose questions that were appropriate for him during that time.)

In addition to language building, this game allowed us to work on play and social skills.  Since it is a game with few rules, it was perfect for teaching him about turn taking, something he definitely needs to work on.  I discovered that we needed to do more things like this because he did not like it all when someone else found the card he was looking for!  Once again, an activity that combines what he likes to do with building skills he needs.

Materials needed: Â Index cards, seasonal stickers and my paper-cutter or scissors
Cut the index card in half
Place one sticker in the middle of one of the cards.
Place the matching sticker on another card.
Sets of winter matching cards
Labeled and stored in a small bag to keep them organized.

I have made a new thematic memory match game each month for two years and am now working to create some different kinds that move beyond seasonal themes.  I will share soon!

Engage, Encourage and Empower!

Thematic Memory Match

One of my original goals when I began doing My Obstacle Courses with my son was to work on building his play skills, particularly turn taking since he is an only child and doesn’t have to do that very often.  As I looked through his toy closet, I noticed that we had accumulated a number of different memory match games (Sesame Street characters, shapes, colors, etc.) and I also remembered how much I used to love playing this game as a child.  I decided to try it out with my son and found it to be a perfect game for introducing turn taking and following directions when playing card games.

My son studying the card he flipped over. He loves the mystery of not knowing what is going to be on the other side of the cards!!

I realized that I could make my very own memory match games that would be unique to our theme and would allow me to work on attention to details and building vocabulary.  I could change it up frequently and easily by using thematic stickers and index cards.  It is so easy to make and the possibilities are endless!  Most importantly, my son loved the mystery of what stickers would be waiting for him when he flipped them over!!

How to make your very own thematic memory match game:

These are the three things I need to make a thematic memory match game: 10 4x6 index cards (will make 20 playing card size pieces), paper cutter (scissors work but the cutter is quicker and straighter), and a sheet of thematic stickers.
Step 1: Choose a package of stickers. If they don't have matching stickers on the same sheet like this one does, you can use the same sticker from two separate sheets.
Step 2: Get 4x6 index cards. I usually use blank colored cards but white ones work as well.
Step 3: Cut the card in half so you have two "playing card" size pieces.
Index card after cutting in half.
Thematic stickers with cut index cards- ready to put the game together!
Step 4: Choose a sticker and place it in the middle of the card.
Step 5: Place the matching sticker on another card.
Continue with the other stickers...
until you have a full set ready for a game of Thematic Memory Match!

See it in action!

When first introducing this game to your child, you may want to start with a few cards facing up and working on finding the cards that are the same.
Matching up the cards that are the same. Next person's turn!
Another pair matched! Who's turn now?
Continue until all cards have been matched up into pairs.

Too easy?  Ready for a challenge?

Thematic Memory Match game with cards face down.
Flip one card over at a time. Talk about what it is, any specific details about the sticker, any details or information about the object to help the child relate (Where or when do we see it? Is it real or make believe?)
Flip over another card. If they match, remove them from the game area. If they do not match, flip them both over and the next person takes their turn. It is important to watch what the other person flips over because it could help make a match later on!
Continue taking turns and finding matching pairs until they are all matched up.

Easy Add Ons:

  • More cards can be added to make it even more challenging.
  • If your child is ready for and is motivated by competition, keep track of the number of matched pairs to determine a winner.