Playing Games

Thanks to Ruth Ayres for providing this space for others to share their celebrations.  Please visit her site to read other celebrations.

 As I posted earlier, I have been participating in the Connecting Learning Summer of Making.  Each week provides a new "assignment" and this week's is all about playing/making games.

Now, I'm someone who is really good at word games, but when it comes to sports, not so much.  I was the girl who, when playing baseball with the neighborhood kids, pitched the ball and then hit the ground and covered my head so that I wouldn't get hit by the ball.  (I know, not such a great plan).  I was the last to be picked for teams, the first to get out when playing Dodgeball (don't get me started on Dodgeball).  To keep with tradition, the only C I ever got in college was in bowling.

 Again, this week's make was a little challenging for me.  I don't know much about the gaming culture, although I'm willing to learn. I decided to just join some of the games others posted.

Kevin Hodgson invited us to Folding Story, which was really fun.  He began the story and others added to it.  After someone adds up to 200 characters, they "fold" the story.  The next person, can see only what the previous person wrote, and nothing else.  Once everyone has added to the fold, Kevin was able to produce a PDF where the story "unfolds" and you can read everyone's additions.  It's definitely something I want to try with kids.

 Later in the week, someone posted on the Google+ community, "What kinds of games do you play in the car?"  Since we were traveling to my in-laws yesterday, it was the perfect time to come up with some new games to play.  I already have 41 of the 50 states on my License Plate App.

As we drove by a huge RV, I turned to my husband and asked, "What's their story?"

"Huh?"

 I encouraged him to make up a story about the people in the RV. Who are they? Where are they going?  What have they been doing?  We went back and forth, pointing out trucks, sports cars, and family minivans.  Our stories became funnier and funnier.  Then Annie joined in.  She told us about a game she and my nephew play, "Guess who's driving?"  While still driving behind a vehicle, we guessed who was driving (maybe a bunch of guys on their way to the beach or a grandpa on his way to visit his grandkids).  Then, as we drove by, we'd whip our necks around to see if our predictions were correct.

Our car was filled with belly laughs.  It felt good to be silly and laugh.  I don't do it enough.  It's been a good reminder that it's important to make time to play, especially when you're a grown-up.