by Lynn Gordon
Picture Windows
Materials: Colored paper; Tape; Window markers
With some sheets of colored paper and tape you can make picture windows. Tear shapes out of the paper and tape them to the side windows (make sure you aren’t interfering with your driver’s view). You could even tear out letters and spell words backward so people driving by can read them. Or make stained glass windows. Use a black dry erase or window marker to draw several thick lines going from any side of the window to any other side. Your lines can be wavy or straight. After you have made a bunch of intersecting lines the window should be divided up into many small shapes. Color in the shapes with different bright colors.
Packing a Suitcase
Somebody starts by saying, “I’m packing a suitcase and in it I’m putting a ______.” Then the next person repeats what the first person said and adds another item, and so on. Soon there is a whole list of things going into the suitcase that you have to remember. When somebody forgets one of the items, they drop out. The round ends when there’s one person left who can repeat all of the items in the suitcase. Then start packing another suitcase.
If I were…
To play “If I were…,” choose a kind of person you want to be and ask other people to pretend they’re a part of your character. If you decide to be a cowboy, for example, you’d start by saying “If I were a cowboy…“ Then the next person might say “I would be the cowboy’s boots,” or “I would be the cowboy’s horse.” Go around in a circle, with each person adding what they would be, until no one can think of anything more. Then it’s someone else’s turn to start “If I were…”
Back Words
In this game you need to say every-thing backward. Start by saying the alphabet backward and then try saying words backward. For example, “car” becomes “rac.” Then say whole sentences backward: “Where are we going?” becomes “Going we are where?” See how long you can talk in backward sentences. If you get really good at sentences, try singing a song backward.
Car Gobbler
Each person picks a color. The goal is to count more cars of your color than the other side counts of their color. If a car the color the other side is counting passes your car from behind, you lose all your cars and have to start over. See who can get up to one hundred cars first.
Hanimation
Hand animals are a challenge to make since you just use your hand to imitate different animals and show how they move. Take turns choosing an animal and then making it with one or both of your hands. Show each other what you’ve created and then pick another animal.
Amazing Braiding
Materials: Strips of yarn or ribbon
The back of a car seat is a great place to braid necklaces, belts, bracelets, or anything you want. Knot the ends of three pieces of yarn or ribbon together and tie them to the headrest in from of you. Separate the three pieces and put the left piece over the middle piece. Now take the right piece and put it over the new middle piece. Keep alternating sides by putting the left piece over the middle piece and then the right piece over the new middle piece. Braid until you get to the length you want and then knot it.
Invent-a-map
Materials: Crayons or markers; Paper
With crayons and paper, draw an adventure map. You can make an adventure out of where you are going by making up funny or exciting names for things in the area. The supermarket could be The Land of Endless Lines, your school could be The Fortress, and the police station The Island of the Sirens. Or you can make an imaginary treasure map. Create symbols for mountains, roads, buildings, pit traps, dangerous beasts, and live volcanoes. Make a key for your map.
Categories
Materials: Pencil or pen; Paper
To play Categories, each player makes a grid on a piece of paper with six squares across and five squares under each of those. In each square, write a description of something. For example, one row might read “black car, squirrel, stop sign, mountain, flag pole, mail box.” Then, when you see that thing, put an X in the box. The first person to get a straight line of Xs going down or across or diagonally, wins.
Ship’s Trip Log
Materials: A small notebook; Pen or pencil
Create a ship’s log of your adventures. Ask each person to describe the day’s events as one person writes them down in a notebook. At your destination see if you can find something textured to make a rubbing for your log book. Placards at parks and scenic overlooks often have raised metal letters which make good rubbings. National parks have ink pads and stamps you can stamp in your book. Then every time you get into the car for a trip, you can enter another adventure in the log book.
Super Heroes
Pretend you are a superhero. What is your name? What do you look like? Design a costume for yourself. What are your special powers? What do you do with them? What is your weakness? Are you a good superhero or a bad one? Draw a picture of your secret hideout. Do you have a super nemesis? What is his diabolical plan and how will you prevail? Are the other superheroes in the car in your adventures, too? Make up a story to include all the superheroes in the car.
Activity Lap Box
A lap box is a convenient thing to have in the car so you can play and draw easily. Make it in the house and then once it’s finished, keep it in the car. Find a box that is a good size for a desk and that fits nicely over your lap. Remove the top of the box and cut arches on both sides to fit over your legs. You could even attach a little box on one side to keep your crayons and markers from rolling away when you draw.
Alphabet Story
Say the alphabet by making a long sentence out of words starting with each letter of the alphabet. For example, “All Baked Cakes Don’t Equal Four Giant Hats…“ (who said the sentence had to make complete sense?!). See if you can get through the whole alphabet. Or you can make a story by having 26 sentences, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet: “A storm began. Big raindrops plopped on Calico’s nose. Calico hated the rain. Destiny knew that. Every time it rained she would…”
Crack Up
This is a game where the person who is “it” comes up with a funny phrase like “slimy salamanders.” Then everyone takes a turn asking them a question, like “What’s that coming out of your ear?” or “What did you have for lunch?” The person who is it has to answer every question with “slimy salamanders” without laughing. If he cracks up, the one who made him laugh is now it.
Other eTitles from the 52® Series
Look for these titles and others at your digital store:
52 Fun Things to Do in the Car
52 Fun Things to Do on the Plane
52 Cool Tricks for Kids
52 Rainy Day Activities
52 Amazing Science Experiments
52 Ways to Pamper Yourself
52 Tips for New Parents
52 Things to Try Once in Your Life
52 Great Cheap Dates
52 Relaxing Rituals
52 Ways to Stay in Love Forever
Copyright
52 Fun Things to Do in the Car
© 1994, 2008 Lynn Gordon. A Spark! production.
All rights reserved. No part of this deck may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
eISBN: 978-1-4521-0400-3
Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
