Whirly's World

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players examine the board to see where other players' Snail Pawns are located, and study the board when following some of the activities on the Odd/Even Cards, such as counting the pots on the board.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
When children land on a hose, remind them to look at where other player's Snail Pawns are located, and where the hose ends. This will help them decide whether to pay a Whirly Token or move backwards.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
When children land on a hose, remind them to look at where other player's Snail Pawns are located, and where the hose ends. This will help them decide whether to pay a Whirly Token or move backwards.

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Determining occurs throughout Whirly's World, including the number of spaces to move based on roll of the dice, actions to take based on where a player's Snail Pawn lands, whether to pay Whirly Token when landing on hose, and whether the amounts are odd or even based on card activities.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Most of the determining is straight forward in Whirly's World, except for whether to pay a Whirly Token when landing on a hose. Encourage children to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help with impulsivity, considering options and looking closely. Also, using such cues can give children a model for future play in order to think more strategically.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Most of the determining is straight forward in Whirly's World, except for whether to pay a Whirly Token when landing on a hose. Encourage children to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help with impulsivity, considering options and looking closely. Also, using such cues can give children a model for future play in order to think more strategically. Whirly's World presents an opportunity to learn about odd and even numbers. Teachers can Integrate odd and even activities throughout the day for generalization and practice.

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players compare the color on the spot where their Snail Pawns land to the Odd/Even Cards, and images on some of the cards to game board (ex: clipping shears).

How Parents Can Assist Learning
If children do not notice all of the objects on a card (ex: they count 7 pots), encourage them to recount by starting at space 1 and moving in a circular motion along the path to the center.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
If children do not notice all of the objects on a card (ex: they count 7 pots), encourage them to recount by starting at space 1 and moving in a circular motion along the path to the center. Encourage them to compare amounts. For example, "Matt just counted hats. Are there more hats or pots?"

Remember

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
On some cards, players need to think of a word that starts with W or S.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
If children are having difficulty thinking of a word, give a hint or two to help spark their memory. For example, "it's the color of clouds and whipped cream" to help a child think of "white."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Whirly's World involves light memory practice. If a child is having difficulty thinking of a word, give a hint or two to help spark their memory. For example, "it's the color of clouds and whipped cream" to help a child think of "white."

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
The more children play Whirly's World, the better they will become at basic adding, counting, and understanding odd and even.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
If children have difficulty remember odd and even, write down numbers 1-20 in two columns on a piece of paper. Column one can be odd, and column 2 can be even. Allow children to reference this sheet until they have memorized odd and even numbers.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"Whrily's World is good practice for basic adding, counting and understanding odd and even. If children have difficulty remember odd and even, write down numbers 1-20 in two columns on a piece of paper. Column one can be odd, and column 2 can be even. Allow children to reference this sheet until they have memorized odd and even numbers. Whirly's World presents an opportunity to learn about odd and even numbers. Teachers can integrate odd and even activities throughout the day for generalization and practice. They can also have children think of words starting with W or S as a transition activity when lining up or moving between activities."

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
As the game proceeds, player's need to make simple strategic decision whether to pay a Whirly Token or keep it when landing on a hose space.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Encourage children to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help with impulsivity, considering options and looking closely. Also, using such cues can give children a model for future play in order to think more strategically.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Whirly World introduces basic strategic thinking for young children. During the game, players need to decide whether to pay a Whirly Token when they land on a hose space. They also need to decide whether they want 3 Whirly Tokens when they get near the end of the game path. This requires looking and evaluating the positions of other players, which is constantly changing throughout the game. Encourage children to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help with impulsivity, considering options and looking closely. Also, using such cues can give children a model for future play in order to think more strategically.

Demonstrate

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
On most turns, players demonstrate their ability to add and count, as well as their knowledge of whether a number is odd or even. Additionally, they may show that they know words that start with W or S.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
"No special adult help is required. However, if children are having difficulty thinking of a word, give a hint or two to help spark their memory. For example, ""it's the color of clouds and whipped cream"" to help a child think of ""white."" If children have difficulty remember odd and even, write down numbers 1-20 in two columns on a piece of paper. Column one can be odd, and column 2 can be even. Allow children to reference this sheet until they have memorized odd and even numbers."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"No special adult help is required. However, if children are having difficulty thinking of a word, give a hint or two to help spark their memory. For example, ""it's the color of clouds and whipped cream"" to help a child think of ""white."" If children have difficulty remember odd and even, write down numbers 1-20 in two columns on a piece of paper. Column one can be odd, and column 2 can be even. Allow children to reference this sheet until they have memorized odd and even numbers."

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children with cognitive delays can play Whirly's World if they understand "odd" and "even," can count, and can identify words starting with W and other consonants. The game can be modified if these skills are difficult
When a player with cognitive delays lands on a space with a W or draws a card requiring the child to identify a word starting with a specific letter, the other players can assist by giving the child the option of two words, one that starts with W (or the requested letter) and one that does not. This will help children focus on the first letter and its sound association.
If children do not understand the concept of odd and even, start by eliminating the cards and play by just moving around the board. Focus on identifying which numbers are odd and even as players move around the board. Once the child understands the concept of odd and even, add the cards to the game to increase the challenge.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Whirly's World only requires simple communication in response to where the child lands on the board (say a word that starts with W) or cards the child draws (how many hats are on the board).
If the child has difficulty producing words, give choices that only require the child to point to confirm a choice. Have cards that say "ODD with one ." and another card with "EVEN and two .." The child can then point to the correct card. Use fingers for counting and give choices for words beginning with different sounds. "Which word starts with S? Silly or happy? Silly? (wait for response) Happy? (wait for response).
Cards have directions for actions by players, but these can be read by other players if needed.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children have to move tokens around the board and slide them backward down the hoses. Children also have to draw cards from the odd and even piles. These requirements may be difficult for children with fine motor concerns. In addition, children with oral motor problems, such as from cerebral palsy, may have difficulty producing words.
If the child has difficulty producing words, give choices that only require the child to point to confirm a choice. Have cards that say "ODD with one ." and another card with "EVEN and two .." The child can then point to the correct card. Use fingers for counting and give choices for words beginning with different sounds. "Which word starts with S? Silly or happy? Silly? (wait for response) Happy? (wait for response).
Other players can assist in movement of tokens and turning cards.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
The hoses on the board require the play to move backward which can be aggravating to children with low frustration tolerance.
Remind the child that sometimes there are good events at the end of the hose that will help move forward. Reward tolerance for setbacks with encouragement. "You handled going backwards so well! It feels good to be calm, doesn't it?"

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Whirly's world has a busy board. Cards often require players to identify the number of small items on the board.
Remove the cards that require counting of small items on the board.
Help players read the cards drawn and move tokens to the right place on the board.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children need to hear the cards being read when drawn to understand what each player is doing. Unless the hard of hearing player can read each card that is drawn, this may be an issue for enjoying the game.
Use sign language if possible.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Play the game according to original rules. Except, if a player lands on a W space, they can try to win 2 Tokens by saying three new W words. If the player chooses this option but is unable to think of three words, the player loses one Token if they have it.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
This adds an extra risk and reward assessment to the game, increasing the strategic thinking involved.