Ancient Finds
Ancient Finds
2-5 players • 30 min • 8 & up
Focus: Addition
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Mediterranean adventures await as you explore with a math twist! Add up numbers, predict your next move, and gather artifacts. Hire archaeologists, buy excavation sites, and use adventure cards to boost your ancient finds.
Skills: Addition, Predicting
Game Includes
Game Includes
- 5 Site Boards
- 10 Bonus Site Boards
- 40 Discovery Cards
- 20 Adventure Cards
- 10 Archaeologist Pawns
- 50 Ancient Artifacts 5 Eight-Sided Dice
- 1 Rules Booklet
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How to Play
Educational Standards
Core Standard*: None
Skills
Determine
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players determining where to place dice, whether to pick Adventure Cards, how to play their Adventure Cards, and whether to spend Artifacts for a Bonus Site or Archeologist.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help children develop more thoughtful decision-making, parents can ask them to justify before they make a decision. Ask questions like, "How will that decision help you reach your goal?"
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Ancient Finds is a good game for building planning and determining skills as children have multiple decisions to make each turn. This means the game is also good for developing focus and self-control. Ancient Finds helps children learn to set priorities while balancing investing and saving. Educators can ask children to justify their thinking, before they make a decision. Ask questions like, "How will that decision help you reach your goal?" To help develop social emotional skills like perspective-taking, encourage children to think about the consequences of giving a negative or positive Adventure Card to another player.
Compare
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players compare the numbers on the dice they roll to the numbers on their Discovery Cards.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
No special adult support is needed.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
No special adult support is needed.
Predict
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players develop analytical skills as they think about the effects of hiring an archeologist or buying bonus site, as well as the effect of using or holding on to Adventure Card.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can encourage children to think ahead. Have them look at the cost of items on the card, so they can anticipate how much money they need for various items.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Being able to hypothesize risk and reward consequences of actions helps children develop strategic thinking. Educators can encourage children to think ahead by having them look that the artifact collections of each player compared to the number of Discovery Cards remaining. As the game progresses, it becomes increasingly important to adjust buying and saving strategies based on what you think may happen on subsequent turns.
Plan
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Ancient Finds involves a little planning as players sequence dice or collect artifacts to buy a Bonus Site or hire an Archeologist, as well as deciding how and when to use Adventure Cards.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help children develop more thoughtful decision-making, parents can ask them to justify before they make a decision. Ask questions like, "How will that decision help you reach your goal?"
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Ancient Finds is a good game for building planning and determining skills as children have multiple decisions to make each turn. This means the game is also good for developing focus and self-control. Ancient Finds helps children learn to set priorities while balancing investing and saving. Educators can ask children to justify their thinking, before they make a decision. Ask questions like, "How will that decision help you reach your goal?" To help develop social emotional skills like perspective-taking, encourage children to think about the consequences of giving a negative or positive Adventure Card to another player.
Solve
What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players solve the game as they adjust their saving and investing strategies while adapting to Adventure Cards they draw or are given.
How Parents Can Assist Learning
Ancient Finds is good for trying different strategies to win. For example, is it a good be more investment oriented (ex: buying Bonus Sites as soon as possible) or saving oriented (not spending any Ancient Artifacts). Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.
Learning Implications and Educator Support
Ancient Finds is good for trying different strategies to win. For example, is it a good be more investment oriented (ex: buying Bonus Sites as soon as possible) or saving oriented (not spending any Ancient Artifacts). Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Special Needs
Cognitive
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Play the game without the options for purchasing an Archeologist or Bonus Site. This will make the game less complex.
Let the child be the "banker" or "curator" of the Ancient Artifacts. This will allow the child to practice addition as they learn how the game is played by observing others.
Communication
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
The directions are involved and somewhat complicated, so it can be helpful to demonstrate each action and option in the game. This will help children who have difficulty understanding auditory directions. Play several turns for practice.
Encourage discussion of how the decisions were made to place dice on specific cards when a match was not found. Discuss what reasoning was used and how to experiment with other approaches next time.
Sensorimotor
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Use a dice cup for dumping dice, if needed.
Let the child be the "banker" or "curator" of the Ancient Artifacts. This will allow the child to practice addition as they learn how the game is played by observing others.
Social Emotional/Behavioral
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Simplify the game, if needed, by eliminating the options for the Archeologist and the Bonus sites. This will make the game uniform across players. Some children will see this as more "fair."
Allow the child who doesn't like to lose to be the "banker" of the Ancient Artifacts. After doing this for one round, the child will probably want to play the next round. Partner the child with another player to build confidence.
Vision
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
The dice are challenging to read and the amounts written on the Ancient Artifacts chips are small. For children with low vision, another player can read and arrange the dice by amount, so the player can remember which die has each number.
Children can learn to recognize amounts by the different size of the Ancient Artifact chips.
Hearing
Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Hearing concerns should not be a problem in Ancient Finds.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Autism
Autism Strengths & Interests
Short Summary of Strengths & Interests
- Has good nonverbal reasoning and basic strategic thinking
- Can do simple addition with 3 digit numbers
- Can consider risk and reward in making decisions
Is good at matching visual items
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Players match the numbers on the dice to the numbers on their Discovery Cards.
Has a good memory for sensory details, including visual, touch, taste and smell
This game is not appropriate
Has a good memory for words, phrases and dialouge
This game is not appropriate
Has a good memory for pictures, numbers and patterns
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Players need know simple addition in order to determine if different combinations on the dice will match the numbers on the Discovery Cards.
Likes to put things in order or a sequence
This game is not appropriate
Learns through visualizing or "replaying" actions in their mind
Description VERBIAGE GOES HERE
Likes activities with rules, such as math and phonics
This game is not appropriate
Is very concrete and literal
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Ancient Finds is very concrete and easy to follow. For example, picture symbols on the Discovery Cards indicate which Ancient Artifacts have been earned; character pawns represent each Archeologist; and the numbers on the Dice and Discovery cards correspond directly.
Learns in small "chunks" (for example, phone numbers are 3 chunks of number xxx-xxx-xxxx that are combined together)
This game is not appropriate
Is good at nonverbal reasoning and logic
Is This Game Appropriate? Yes
Description
Ancient Finds is a game of nonverbal logic. Players have to think about which die to pick to try to increase the odds of collecting a higher value artifact. They also need to determine the risk and reward involved in purchasing an Archeologist or a Bonus Site. Similarly, they need to assess the strategic value of using, saving or giving an Adventure card to another player.
Likes spatial problem solving
This game is not appropriate
Can read well with good vocabulary, though may not fully comprehend content
This game is not appropriate
Likes to use and has good fine motor skill
This game is not appropriate
Likes established routines or set ways of doing things
This game is not appropriate
Likes manipulating, constructing or building things
This game is not appropriate
Likes to use and has good musical abilities
This game is not appropriate
Likes to use and has good drawing skills
This game is not appropriate
Autism Special Considerations
Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Players can concentrate on the game itself rather than other players.
Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The directions are somewhat complex, but with demonstration and practice, the game play becomes clear.
Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The game does not require extensive concentration, so echolalia speech may not be too distracting to other players.
Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Others play does not influence the child's actions or play, so there is no need to attend to others actions. If the child persists in physical actions or an unrelated topic, encourage the child to arrange the Ancient Artifacts in a pattern for players to choose from. Or, the child could pretend to be the "banker", responsible for giving Ancient Artifacts to players based on their rolls and exchanging Ancient Artifacts for Bonus Sites and Archeologists.
Has difficulty producing speech/communication
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Communication is not essential to the game, though comments on play can be encouraged.
Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Children may need to be prompted for different options available in the game. For instance, do you want to pick up an Adventure Card and maybe earn more Artifacts? You have lots of Artifacts, do you want to purchase an archeologist or a Bonus Site? Explain the risk and benefits to each option. If these options are too complex to understand, allow the child to play the basic game without the options.
Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Although no social interaction is needed to play, the child can be encouraged to be the "curator" who counts out the Artifact values players earn in a turn.
Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Involve the child in arranging Artifacts in patterns, counting values of tokens as they are earned, or being a "curator" in charge of the handing out the Artifacts collected by different players.
Has short attention span for non-preferred activities
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Even if the child is not interested in Ancient civilizations, the child may enjoy matching numbers or doing the simple math involved in playing the game. If math is not of interest, the game may not be a good match.
Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
The game is played in the same way each turn, with possible variations for adding options. Children may be enticed to the game with the possibility of playing with the tokens for the Ancient Artifacts.
Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.
Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes
Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes
Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Players do not to understand others' feelings, thoughts, or intentions.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
Extended Play
Extra Ways to Play the Game
Play Ancient Finds so that a triple roll gives (ex: three 300s) the player a free Bonus Site.
Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.
Developmental Benefits
The addition of a Bonus site gives a player one more option for making a match with the dice. This is can be an advantage, especially for players who may not be drawing large numbers on their Discovery cards or who have not made many matches on their Discovery cards, and, thus, have not earned enough Ancient Artifact tokens to buy a Bonus Site.
Extra Ways to Play the Game
Allow one player to be the "curator" or banker for the artifacts. The banker gives and takes Ancient Artifact chips based on the rules of the game and the actions of the players.
Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.
Developmental Benefits
Having a banker allows one more person to play the game. It also allows children who may not be able to understand the abstract aspects of the game to play with older children or adults.
*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards
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How to Play Video & Transcript
Today we’re going to explore the Mediterranean and search for ancient artifacts as we learn to play Simply Fun’s Ancient Finds.
Ancient Finds is an exciting game for people ages 8 and up, and can be played with 2 to 5 players.
In each Ancient Finds game box you’ll find:
Five Site Boards, where you’ll place your discovery cards. Plus 10 Bonus Site Boards which may be purchased to expand your discovery card territory.
40 discovery cards that display the artifacts and values players can collect…
20 adventure cards that may help you gain artifacts or make an opponent lose them.
There are 50 ancient artifacts of varying value that players collect on their turns, and 5 eight-sided dice which players will roll to match or exceed values on their discovery cards.
Finally, you’ll find 10 Archaeologist pawns that players may “hire” to help them discover and collect more artifacts.
In Ancient Finds, players will learn addition skills, as they add dice values to match discovery cards and add the artifact values to make purchases.
They’ll also learn prediction skills, determining the best time to purchase bonus sites and archaeologists to ensure the highest values at the end of the game.
To set up the game, shuffle the discovery and adventure cards separately and place them in 2 face-down stacks in the center of the play area, with space for a discard pile beside each stack.
Place all the ancient artifacts near the cards, as shown, and set 3 of the dice out in the play area.
Give each player one site board. Then, players will draw 3 discovery cards and place them, number-side up, on their site boards.
The remaining 2 dice, the archaeologist pawns and bonus sites stay in the box for now.
To start the game, the first player will roll the dice three times. Each time they roll, they will place one die on a discovery card. The goal is to place the die on a discovery card so that the number on the die is equal to or greater than the number on the card. On the second roll only two dice are rolled and the player adds one dice to an existing or new discovery card. If they place two dice on the same card the number on the dice are added together. Now the players rolls the last die and like the previous roll adds the die to an existing or new discovery card.
Once all the rolls are complete, the player reviews the dice on the cards and collects his discovered artifacts.
Here’s how it works: if the number on the die or the sum of dice is equal to the number on the card, the player collects that value of artifacts and discards the discovery card.
If the number on the die or sum of dice is greater than the number on the card, the player collects the value of artifacts shown at the bottom of the card and discards the discovery card.
If the number on the die is less than the number on the card, the player may not collect any artifacts and the discovery card remains on the board.
Once a turn is over, the player passes all the dice to the left and play continues with the next player.
Once each player has taken one turn, it is time to start the second round of play. On each players second turn and all following turns, players may choose to a few additional actions each turn.
On each turn players must, replenish their site boards to replace any discovery cards that were discarded last turn and roll the dice.
Before they roll the dice, players may also:
1. Draw an adventure card. Players may use adventure cards at any time during their own turn. Or they may give it to another player at the start of their turn. When given to an opponent it must be given before their opponent rolls the dice and their opponent must use the adventure card on that turn.
2. Sell artifacts to purchase a bonus site – Bonus sites cost $500 worth of artifacts and give players an additional discovery card that they can match to collect artifacts. Each player may have no more than 2 bonus sites at any time during the game.
3. Hire an archaeologist. Archeologists costs $700 and give players an additional dice to roll on their turn. Players may have no more than 2 archeologist at any time during the game.
Once a player has completed their rolls and collected their artifacts, it is the next player turn. The game continues with players rolling dice, collecting artifacts, drawing adventure cards, purchasing bonus sites, and hiring archaeologists until the stack of discovery cards runs out. Once there are no more cards – and players cannot replenish their sites – the game is over.
Players then count their artifacts and the player with the highest total value wins the game.
Take a chance on adventure and collect ancient treasures with Simply Fun’s Ancient Finds!
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