Educational Games: Game 8, Get in Line

  
Players compete to put a set of cards in order, according to a characteristic, in the fastest time.

Age Range: 5 to 8
Skill Used: sequencing
Number of Players: 2 to 8
Noise Level: low to moderate
Activity Level: low
Materials: pack of cards for each player

Setup

For each player, prepare a pack of cards of items that can be put in sequence, such as numbers from 1 to 10; the alphabet; numbers 
counting by 2s, 5s, 10s; words to alphabetize; and so on.

How to Play

Each player takes a pack of the same type of cards. When all of the players have a pack, in unison they say, “1, 2, 3, get in line!” Each 
player tries to put his or her set of cards in the right order. When complete, the player announces, “I’m in line!” When everyone is 
finished, players compare sequences. Play multiple times until a player is the fastest three times. That player is the winner.

Variations

Play in teams with no talking. Signaling is okay. Everyone on the team must agree with the sequence before they can say, “We’re in 
line!”

Award points as players finish  their sequence. If there are four players, the first one done receives four points, the second one gets three points, the third one earns two points, and the final player gets one point. Keep track of points earned during the time of play.
 
Flip a coin with heads being “high” and tails being “low” prior to sequencing the cards. If heads (high) is flipped, players will sort the cards from high to low and vice versa.

Tips
 
Let younger players take a token each time they are the fastest to help them remember how many rounds they have won.
 
Place packs of matching cards in a plastic self-sealing bag. Label the bag with the skill and the number of packs.

 Source
Alexis Ludewig and Amy Swan, 101 Great Classroom Games New York, 2007.