Shape Whiz

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players need to quickly look at all of the face up Shape Cards to see if any have characteristics that match the Whiz Card criteria.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Even though this is a race game, in that the first person to find a matching card will win the round, it is important to remind children to look closely at the face up Shape Cards.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Even though this is a race game, in that the first person to find a matching card will win the round, it is important to remind children to look closely at the face up Shape Cards.

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players need to decide which shape(s), if any, will meet Whiz Card criteria. Also, they must determine if the presenting player accurately picked a winning Shape Card.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
"Even though this is a race game, in that the first person to find a matching card will win the round, it is important to remind children to look closely at the face up Shape Cards. Allow children who are just learning about shapes to play without the timed factor until they feel confident about the different equations."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"Shape Whiz helps develop observational, visual spatial and association skills. To help children determine winning geometric matches to the Whiz Card criteria, encourage them to use appropriate math formulas or estimate answers, if they do not know the formula. Shape Whiz is also good for developing quick thinking skills as all players are racing to play a matching card before the other players."

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Shape Whiz involves lots of comparing as players can look at all face up Shape Cards to find one that meets the Whiz Card criteria.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
"To help children determine winning geometric matches to the Whiz Card criteria, encourage them to use appropriate math formulas or estimate answers, if they do not know the formula. Allow children who are just learning about shapes to play without the timed factor until they feel confident about the different equations."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"Shape Whiz helps develop observational, visual spatial and association skills. To help children determine winning geometric matches to the Whiz Card criteria, encourage them to use appropriate math formulas or estimate answers, if they do not know the formula. Shape Whiz is also good for developing quick thinking skills as all players are racing to play a matching card before the other players."

Remember

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players will do better if they remember the math formulas, such as area or perimeter, for the different geometric shapes.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
"Encourage children to review the Principles of Geometry content in the instructions prior to game play. It can also be helpful to draw the shapes and discuss their properties such as number of sides or number of parallel sides. Allow children who are just learning about shapes to play without the timed factor until they feel confident about the different equations."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"Shape Whiz is a good game for teaching geometry and math formulas. Some players may already know the applicable math principles and formulas. For those who do not, encourage them to review the Principles of Geometry content in the instructions prior to game play. It can also be helpful to draw the shapes and discuss their properties such as number of sides or number of parallel sides."

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Shape Whiz allows players to practice mental math and visualization as they try to solve the Whiz Cards problems.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
When children are first learning the game, practice by holding up a card and having the child name the attributes of the shape such as number of sides, number of parallel sides, estimated size and number of angles less than 90 degrees.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
When children are first learning the game, practice by holding up a card and having the child name the attributes of the shape such as number of sides, number of parallel sides, estimated size and number of angles less than 90 degrees.

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Shape Whiz players to solve the Whiz Cards problems when they find a Shape Card that meets the criteria.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
"To help children determine winning geometric matches to the Whiz Card criteria, encourage them to use appropriate math formulas or estimate answers, if they do not know the formula. Allow children who are just learning about shapes to play without the timed factor until they feel confident about the different equations."

Learning Implications and Educator Support
"Shape Whiz helps develop observational, visual spatial and association skills. To help children determine winning geometric matches to the Whiz Card criteria, encourage them to use appropriate math formulas or estimate answers, if they do not know the formula. If you notice a player falling behind others, discuss the strategy they are using and the thinking behind their actions or inactions. Are they trying to estimate quickly or spend more time to make accurate determination of Shape Card criteria? Do they have a specific approach for looking at all the cards efficiently? Are they having challenges with certain geometry principles? Shape Whiz is also good for developing quick thinking skills as all players are racing to play a matching card before the other players."

Review

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players review the presenter's solution for accuracy by affirming with their own knowledge or by looking at the back of the Shape Card the presenter used.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help bolster confidence and motivation, provide positive reinforcement if children accurately make matches correctly. If children make a mistake, review it with them learn how to do it accurately next time or to improve memory skills.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
To help bolster confidence and motivation, provide positive reinforcement if children accurately make matches correctly. If children make a mistake, review it with them learn how to do it accurately next time or to improve memory skills.

Demonstrate

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Demonstrating is not required, but children may do so if encouraged to explain why they were correct or thought they were correct.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help bolster confidence and motivation, provide positive reinforcement if children accurately make matches correctly. If children make a mistake, review it with them learn how to do it accurately next time or to improve memory skills.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
To help bolster confidence and motivation, provide positive reinforcement if children accurately make matches correctly. If children make a mistake, review it with them learn how to do it accurately next time or to improve memory skills.

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Shape Whiz is not recommended for children with cognitive delays. It requires understanding of abstract geometric figures and equations for solving spatial problems.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Shape Whiz requires movement of cards to match a formula. No communication is required to play.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
The game requires turning and moving cards. This may be difficult for some children with restricted movements. Playing in pairs allows for children to solve problems together and have one team member handle the cards.
Provide a stick or pointer that the child can handle. This will enable the child to point rather than have to pick up a card. When a card needs to be turned, other players can assist.
Place a number at the top of each players three cards so that numbers start at 1, 2,3 in front of the player with motor problems and progress through subsequent numbers in front of the other players' shape cards. The player with motor concerns then announces the number of the shape card that is the correct response to the Whiz card. If this is the first card called, all players then check this card for accuracy. Replacing cards can be done by other players.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Shape Whiz requires a high level of concentration and understanding of geometric relationships. If children have this understanding, the game can reinforce self-confidence. If children do not have this understanding, the child with behavioral and/or emotional problems may find the game frustrating.
Play the game in teams, so that players can discuss and work together to find the solution.
Remove the need for speed by letting all players see if they have a solution. Keep track of points scored.

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
This game is not recommended for visually impaired. The shapes are difficult to see and the words on the Whiz cards may be difficult to read.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Children with hearing impairments can play the game, although explanations of why cards are accurate may be difficult to grasp.
Use physical and visual means of demonstrating answers, such as with string, measuring sticks, toothpicks, etc.

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

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Play the game as defined in the rules, but the presenter must declare the correct formula to win the round.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
This variation makes the game more challenging by removing the ability to guess the correct answer. Therefore, it helps strengthen memory, accurate estimating, observation and demonstration skills.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Start by having each player stack 12 cards face down in front of them in a Game pile. The rest of the cards are placed in a Replenish pile. Place a Whiz Card face up in the center of the play area. Then, all players turn over one card at a time from the top of their Game pile. The first person who thinks they have a match places it on the Whiz Card. If correct, the player keeps the card in a personal discard pile and picks a new card from the Replenish pile. If the player is incorrect, they take their card back. Play moves to the left. Continue until the first person has used all the cards from their Game pile. The person with the most Shape Cards in their personal discard pile wins the game.

Materials Needed
No additional materials needed.

Developmental Benefits
This variation makes it easier to look for winning cards by limiting the player to their own Game pile. Thus, it would be a good introduction to the game for younger children. Additionally, this variation adds an element of speed and physical action that may make it more enjoyable for certain children.