Favorite Websites
For Families
National Association for Gifted Children
http://www.nagc.org
National Society for the Gifted & Talented
http://www.nsgt.org
Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth
http://www.wcaty.org/
Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted
http://www.watg.org
Midwest Talent Search
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/numats
Summer Institute for Gifted and Talented
www.giftedstudy.org
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org
Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted
http://sengifted.org
GT World
http://gtworld.org
Gifted Sources
http://www.giftedsources.com
TED Talks
https://www.ted.com
For Children
http://www.braingle.com/Math.html
https://www.testprep-online.com/olsat-sample-questions.aspx
http://www.mensaforkids.org
http://www.coolmath-games.com
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org
www.sumdog.com
http://gregtangmath.com/kakooma
http://mrnussbaum.com
www.madewithcode.com
studio.code.org
http://mathantics.com
For teachers
http://illuminations.nctm.org
math4clay.weebly.com
National Association for Gifted Children
http://www.nagc.org
National Society for the Gifted & Talented
http://www.nsgt.org
Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth
http://www.wcaty.org/
Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted
http://www.watg.org
Midwest Talent Search
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/numats
Summer Institute for Gifted and Talented
www.giftedstudy.org
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org
Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted
http://sengifted.org
GT World
http://gtworld.org
Gifted Sources
http://www.giftedsources.com
TED Talks
https://www.ted.com
For Children
http://www.braingle.com/Math.html
https://www.testprep-online.com/olsat-sample-questions.aspx
http://www.mensaforkids.org
http://www.coolmath-games.com
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org
www.sumdog.com
http://gregtangmath.com/kakooma
http://mrnussbaum.com
www.madewithcode.com
studio.code.org
http://mathantics.com
For teachers
http://illuminations.nctm.org
math4clay.weebly.com
Age Appropriate Books for High Level Readers
Kindergarten
Princess in Black
By: Shannon and Dean Hale
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
By: Kate Di Camillo
Biscuit Series
By: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Frog and Toad Series
By: Arnold Lobel
Henry and Mudge Series
By: Cynthia Rylant
Little Bear Series
By: Else Holmelund Minarik
Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
By: Marc Brown
Nate the Great
By:Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure
By: Laura Numeroff
Henry and Mudge
By: Cynthia Rylant
Splatt the Cat
By: Rob Scotton
1st
Charlotte's Web
By:E.B. White
Cam Jansen
By: David Adler
Amelia Bedelia
By: Peggy Parish
Henry Huggins
By: Beverly Cleary
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
By: Louis Sachar
Poppy
By: Avi
Mercy Watson
By: Kate DiCamillo
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
By: Erica Silverman
Mathilda
By: Roald Dahl
The Little Go Exploring
By: John Peterson
2nd
James and the Giant Peach
By: Roald Dahl
Ivy and Bean
By: Annie Barrows
Boxcar Children
By: Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
By: Beverly Cleary
Little Dog Lost
By: Marion Dane Baueer
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Just Grace
By: Charise Mericle Harper
Liberty Porter
By: Julia DiVillers
Waiting for the Magic
By: Patricia MacLachlan
3rd
Hatchet
By: Gary Paulsen
How to Train Your Dragon
By:Cressida Cowell
A Nest for Celeste
By: Henry Cole
The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate
Look Into the Stars
By Buzz Aldrin
Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Penderwicks
By: Jeanne Birdsall
The Thief Lord
By: Cornelia Funke
Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate DiCamillo
War With Grandpa
By Robert Kimmel Smith
Sarah, Plain and Tall
By: Patricia MacLchlan
Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes
By: Eleanor Coerr
Holes
By Louis Sachar
4th
Ella Enchanted
By: Gail Carson Levine
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
Shiloh
By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman
By: Marc Tyler Nobleman
Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure
By: Elizabeth Raum
11 Birthdays
By: Wendy Mass
Wonder
By: R.J. Palacio
Rain, Reign
By: Ann M. Martin
5th
Because of Mr. Terupt
By: Rob Buyea
Lightning Theif
By: Percy Jackson
Redwall
By Brian Jacques
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By: Ginnifer Choldenko
Rapunzel’s Revenge
By: Shannon hale
Inside Out and Back Again
By:Thanhha Lai
Uglies
By: Scott Westerfeld
The City of Ember
By: Jeanne Du Prau
The Maze Runner
By: James Dashner
A Long Walk to Water
By: Linda Sue Park
Out of my Mind
By: Sharon Draper
Kindergarten
Princess in Black
By: Shannon and Dean Hale
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
By: Kate Di Camillo
Biscuit Series
By: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Frog and Toad Series
By: Arnold Lobel
Henry and Mudge Series
By: Cynthia Rylant
Little Bear Series
By: Else Holmelund Minarik
Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
By: Marc Brown
Nate the Great
By:Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure
By: Laura Numeroff
Henry and Mudge
By: Cynthia Rylant
Splatt the Cat
By: Rob Scotton
1st
Charlotte's Web
By:E.B. White
Cam Jansen
By: David Adler
Amelia Bedelia
By: Peggy Parish
Henry Huggins
By: Beverly Cleary
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
By: Louis Sachar
Poppy
By: Avi
Mercy Watson
By: Kate DiCamillo
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
By: Erica Silverman
Mathilda
By: Roald Dahl
The Little Go Exploring
By: John Peterson
2nd
James and the Giant Peach
By: Roald Dahl
Ivy and Bean
By: Annie Barrows
Boxcar Children
By: Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
By: Beverly Cleary
Little Dog Lost
By: Marion Dane Baueer
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Just Grace
By: Charise Mericle Harper
Liberty Porter
By: Julia DiVillers
Waiting for the Magic
By: Patricia MacLachlan
3rd
Hatchet
By: Gary Paulsen
How to Train Your Dragon
By:Cressida Cowell
A Nest for Celeste
By: Henry Cole
The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate
Look Into the Stars
By Buzz Aldrin
Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Penderwicks
By: Jeanne Birdsall
The Thief Lord
By: Cornelia Funke
Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate DiCamillo
War With Grandpa
By Robert Kimmel Smith
Sarah, Plain and Tall
By: Patricia MacLchlan
Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes
By: Eleanor Coerr
Holes
By Louis Sachar
4th
Ella Enchanted
By: Gail Carson Levine
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
Shiloh
By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman
By: Marc Tyler Nobleman
Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure
By: Elizabeth Raum
11 Birthdays
By: Wendy Mass
Wonder
By: R.J. Palacio
Rain, Reign
By: Ann M. Martin
5th
Because of Mr. Terupt
By: Rob Buyea
Lightning Theif
By: Percy Jackson
Redwall
By Brian Jacques
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By: Ginnifer Choldenko
Rapunzel’s Revenge
By: Shannon hale
Inside Out and Back Again
By:Thanhha Lai
Uglies
By: Scott Westerfeld
The City of Ember
By: Jeanne Du Prau
The Maze Runner
By: James Dashner
A Long Walk to Water
By: Linda Sue Park
Out of my Mind
By: Sharon Draper
Age Appropriate Books for High Level Readers
Kindergarten
Princess in Black
By: Shannon and Dean Hale
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
By: Kate Di Camillo
Biscuit Series
By: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Frog and Toad Series
By: Arnold Lobel
Henry and Mudge Series
By: Cynthia Rylant
Little Bear Series
By: Else Holmelund Minarik
Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
By: Marc Brown
Nate the Great
By:Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure
By: Laura Numeroff
Henry and Mudge
By: Cynthia Rylant
Splatt the Cat
By: Rob Scotton
1st
Charlotte's Web
By:E.B. White
Cam Jansen
By: David Adler
Amelia Bedelia
By: Peggy Parish
Henry Huggins
By: Beverly Cleary
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
By: Louis Sachar
Poppy
By: Avi
Mercy Watson
By: Kate DiCamillo
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
By: Erica Silverman
Mathilda
By: Roald Dahl
The Little Go Exploring
By: John Peterson
2nd
James and the Giant Peach
By: Roald Dahl
Ivy and Bean
By: Annie Barrows
Boxcar Children
By: Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
By: Beverly Cleary
Little Dog Lost
By: Marion Dane Baueer
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Just Grace
By: Charise Mericle Harper
Liberty Porter
By: Julia DiVillers
Waiting for the Magic
By: Patricia MacLachlan
3rd
Hatchet
By: Gary Paulsen
How to Train Your Dragon
By:Cressida Cowell
A Nest for Celeste
By: Henry Cole
The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate
Look Into the Stars
By Buzz Aldrin
Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Penderwicks
By: Jeanne Birdsall
The Thief Lord
By: Cornelia Funke
Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate DiCamillo
War With Grandpa
By Robert Kimmel Smith
Sarah, Plain and Tall
By: Patricia MacLchlan
Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes
By: Eleanor Coerr
Holes
By Louis Sachar
4th
Ella Enchanted
By: Gail Carson Levine
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
Shiloh
By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman
By: Marc Tyler Nobleman
Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure
By: Elizabeth Raum
11 Birthdays
By: Wendy Mass
Wonder
By: R.J. Palacio
Rain, Reign
By: Ann M. Martin
5th
Because of Mr. Terupt
By: Rob Buyea
Lightning Theif
By: Percy Jackson
Redwall
By Brian Jacques
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By: Ginnifer Choldenko
Rapunzel’s Revenge
By: Shannon hale
Inside Out and Back Again
By:Thanhha Lai
Uglies
By: Scott Westerfeld
The City of Ember
By: Jeanne Du Prau
The Maze Runner
By: James Dashner
A Long Walk to Water
By: Linda Sue Park
Out of my Mind
By: Sharon Draper
Kindergarten
Princess in Black
By: Shannon and Dean Hale
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up
By: Kate Di Camillo
Biscuit Series
By: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Frog and Toad Series
By: Arnold Lobel
Henry and Mudge Series
By: Cynthia Rylant
Little Bear Series
By: Else Holmelund Minarik
Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
By: Marc Brown
Nate the Great
By:Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure
By: Laura Numeroff
Henry and Mudge
By: Cynthia Rylant
Splatt the Cat
By: Rob Scotton
1st
Charlotte's Web
By:E.B. White
Cam Jansen
By: David Adler
Amelia Bedelia
By: Peggy Parish
Henry Huggins
By: Beverly Cleary
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
By: Louis Sachar
Poppy
By: Avi
Mercy Watson
By: Kate DiCamillo
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
By: Erica Silverman
Mathilda
By: Roald Dahl
The Little Go Exploring
By: John Peterson
2nd
James and the Giant Peach
By: Roald Dahl
Ivy and Bean
By: Annie Barrows
Boxcar Children
By: Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
By: Beverly Cleary
Little Dog Lost
By: Marion Dane Baueer
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By: Kate DiCamillo
Just Grace
By: Charise Mericle Harper
Liberty Porter
By: Julia DiVillers
Waiting for the Magic
By: Patricia MacLachlan
3rd
Hatchet
By: Gary Paulsen
How to Train Your Dragon
By:Cressida Cowell
A Nest for Celeste
By: Henry Cole
The One and Only Ivan
By: Katherine Applegate
Look Into the Stars
By Buzz Aldrin
Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Penderwicks
By: Jeanne Birdsall
The Thief Lord
By: Cornelia Funke
Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate DiCamillo
War With Grandpa
By Robert Kimmel Smith
Sarah, Plain and Tall
By: Patricia MacLchlan
Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes
By: Eleanor Coerr
Holes
By Louis Sachar
4th
Ella Enchanted
By: Gail Carson Levine
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
Shiloh
By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman
By: Marc Tyler Nobleman
Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure
By: Elizabeth Raum
11 Birthdays
By: Wendy Mass
Wonder
By: R.J. Palacio
Rain, Reign
By: Ann M. Martin
5th
Because of Mr. Terupt
By: Rob Buyea
Lightning Theif
By: Percy Jackson
Redwall
By Brian Jacques
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
By: Ginnifer Choldenko
Rapunzel’s Revenge
By: Shannon hale
Inside Out and Back Again
By:Thanhha Lai
Uglies
By: Scott Westerfeld
The City of Ember
By: Jeanne Du Prau
The Maze Runner
By: James Dashner
A Long Walk to Water
By: Linda Sue Park
Out of my Mind
By: Sharon Draper
Games
Bazaar by Gryphon Games
Through skillful trading and re-trading, each player attempts to gain the right combination of colored stones from the Bank to purchase the wares displayed in the Bazaar. Values of the various wares are determined by the number of stones the purchaser holds following his transaction. Trading is governed by the current rates posted at the Exchange. When all the wares from two of the stalls have been sold, the Bazaar is closed, the game ends, and the player with the highest score wins!
Mancala by various manufacturers
Mancala is one of the most popular board games in the world, and one of the oldest; game boards have been found in Egypt dating back to 1400 B.C. It's a relatively simple game for two players that only requires counting, and it's very fun, for both kids and adults.
Mind Trap by Mindtrap Games Inc.
Over 500 classic puzzles, murder mysteries, conundrums and trick questions that will challenge the way you think! The question is read and your team must solve it. You will encounter questions that look so easy, they'll make you jump at the answer. What you think is a clue is really a trap. Then you will confront the type of "head scratcher" that appears impossible to solve. It seems there just isn't enough information to go on -- until you hear the answer. Then you will realize you overlooked the obvious and it was easy after all. Another type that you will encounter is the classic unsolved murder -- a situation as bizaare as it is ingenious. Much of the fun is watching the other team struggle with a question while you know the painfully obvious answer. It makes you laugh! At times the solution will hover there, tantalizingly out of reach. The puzzle begs you to apply logic and insight, while striving to avoid the beaten path. Your team asks questions that can be answered "yes" or "no," clearly narrowing in on the solution, until suddenly you're hit with the "aha!" as it clicks into place.
Beat the Parents by Spin Master Games
Take family game night to the next level. Beat The Parents brings kids and parents together for a head-to-head fun-filled family trivia game. Adults answer questions about kids’ stuff, and the kids answer questions their parents should really know. Be careful of landing on wild cards, they can send you flying forward or a long ways back. The first team to get both mover pieces across the board wins. Make family game night one you and your kids will never forget with Beat The Parents.
MindWare Logic Links Puzzle by MindwareLogic Links
This game requires you to think sideways, backwards, right to left and up and down as you read the clues that lead you to the one and only correct answer. Each puzzle is comprised of a series of clues that instruct the player where to place colored chips and solve the puzzle.
Qwirkle by Mindware
Qwirkle is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but this game also requires tactical maneuvers and well-planned strategy.Earn points by building rows and columns of blocks that share a common shape or color. Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces with matching attributes. The player with the most points wins! 108 wooden blocks. 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up.
Blokus by Mattel
Looks refreshingly simple on the surface, and even young kids can understand the simple rules. Place as many tiles as you can on the board, and when you place them, you have to have it touching a corner of one of your other pieces already on the board (not any sides or edges, just the corners). Gameplay You start from your own corner and build out. Though it may be tempting to stay close to your starting point, the farther you’re able to branch out, the more options you’ll have for placing new tiles as the game continues and the gameboard squares start filling up. Scoring and Winning The player who places all their tiles first is the winner!
MindWare Noodlers Puzzle Box by MindwareA
Box of Puzzles for Your Class to Noodle Over. Students use their noodles and these sticks to separate each symbol into its own space. The catch? The instructions tell you how many (or how few) sticks you get to use. Great for enhancing spatial learning. Includes 80 full-color puzzles.
Quadrillion by Smart Games
Click and play! Quadrillion offers countless challenges and thousands of solutions...but can you find even one? Play Quadrillion by simply clicking the 4 magnetic grids together in any order to create your personal game board. The object of the game is to fit the 12 colored puzzle pieces on the game board you've just created. All possible board configurations can be solved, sometimes with thousands of variations, so you will never run out of challenges. The big, sturdy puzzle pieces are perfect for players of all ages. Starter booklet included...but not needed to play the game.
Gravity Maze byThink Fun
This gravity powered logic maze is sure to put your visual perception and reasoning skills to the test. The colorful, translucent towers can be arranged in a plethora of visually stimulating structures but, for each challenge, you'll have to think carefully to build a path that will successfully carry your marble to its target. 60 challenges, ranging in difficulty, will give you plenty of creative building time while you maneuver the maze in your mind!
Canasta
A Rummy type game, originating in Uruguay played with two decks of cards and the jokers. Players can work as a team or play individually to make groups of 7 similar cards. Great introductory strategy game.
Bananagrams by Bananagrams
The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. The award-winning word game that needs no pencil, paper, or board. Fast and fun. Players race against each other to build crossword grids and use all their letter tiles first. Great for travel.
Quiddler by Set Enterprises
The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone.
Funglish by Hasbro
There's no time to lose…so grab some clues! Can you get the other players to guess the word Kangaroo? You can't talk or act but you can find, grab and play just the right clues from 120 descriptive tiles as everyone shouts out their guesses. You play living, wild and tall. Is it a Redwood? A giraffe? A basketball player? Nope. Keep playing tiles like furry, brown and bouncy. Once another player yells out Kangaroo, try a new word before time runs out! That's the funny, noisy, unique, entertaining, magical, fast-moving fun of Funglish!
Hoot Owl Hoot! by Peaceable Kingdom
Hurry Owls! It's time to go home! In this game, winner of multiple awards including Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and Dr. Toy Best Green Product Award, players help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Play a color card and fly to that space. Draw a sun card and you're one step closer to daylight. Help all the owls get home before the sun rises and everyone wins! Two levels of play allow this game to grow with your child. Game includes 1 game board, 6 owl tokens, 1 sun token, 14 sun cards, 36 color cards and instructions for two versions of game play.
Balderdash by Mattel
Time to grab the “bull” by the horns and hope other players don’t call your bluff! Balderdash game features interesting, unbelievably true content and categories about people, words, initials, and movies. Players make up phony definitions to read along with the legit ones as others decide which is real. How well can you fake it? Score points if you do and call other players’ bluffs. You will laugh out loud as you hear the hilarious, clever, creative definitions! This party favorite includes clue cards, game board, movers, die, and instructions. Colors and decorations may vary.
Snake Oil by Out of the Box
In the Old West, the sly snake oil salesman had a special talent. He could get the most skeptical customer to buy the most dubious products. Now it’s your turn. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Choose one player to be the first “Customer” and have that player pick a Customer Card. The other players quickly combine two Word Cards from their hand to create something for the Customer. Each player persuades the Customer that their item is the best. The Customer picks the one they like the most and that player wins the customer card!
Bazaar by Gryphon Games
Through skillful trading and re-trading, each player attempts to gain the right combination of colored stones from the Bank to purchase the wares displayed in the Bazaar. Values of the various wares are determined by the number of stones the purchaser holds following his transaction. Trading is governed by the current rates posted at the Exchange. When all the wares from two of the stalls have been sold, the Bazaar is closed, the game ends, and the player with the highest score wins!
Mancala by various manufacturers
Mancala is one of the most popular board games in the world, and one of the oldest; game boards have been found in Egypt dating back to 1400 B.C. It's a relatively simple game for two players that only requires counting, and it's very fun, for both kids and adults.
Mind Trap by Mindtrap Games Inc.
Over 500 classic puzzles, murder mysteries, conundrums and trick questions that will challenge the way you think! The question is read and your team must solve it. You will encounter questions that look so easy, they'll make you jump at the answer. What you think is a clue is really a trap. Then you will confront the type of "head scratcher" that appears impossible to solve. It seems there just isn't enough information to go on -- until you hear the answer. Then you will realize you overlooked the obvious and it was easy after all. Another type that you will encounter is the classic unsolved murder -- a situation as bizaare as it is ingenious. Much of the fun is watching the other team struggle with a question while you know the painfully obvious answer. It makes you laugh! At times the solution will hover there, tantalizingly out of reach. The puzzle begs you to apply logic and insight, while striving to avoid the beaten path. Your team asks questions that can be answered "yes" or "no," clearly narrowing in on the solution, until suddenly you're hit with the "aha!" as it clicks into place.
Beat the Parents by Spin Master Games
Take family game night to the next level. Beat The Parents brings kids and parents together for a head-to-head fun-filled family trivia game. Adults answer questions about kids’ stuff, and the kids answer questions their parents should really know. Be careful of landing on wild cards, they can send you flying forward or a long ways back. The first team to get both mover pieces across the board wins. Make family game night one you and your kids will never forget with Beat The Parents.
MindWare Logic Links Puzzle by MindwareLogic Links
This game requires you to think sideways, backwards, right to left and up and down as you read the clues that lead you to the one and only correct answer. Each puzzle is comprised of a series of clues that instruct the player where to place colored chips and solve the puzzle.
Qwirkle by Mindware
Qwirkle is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but this game also requires tactical maneuvers and well-planned strategy.Earn points by building rows and columns of blocks that share a common shape or color. Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces with matching attributes. The player with the most points wins! 108 wooden blocks. 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up.
Blokus by Mattel
Looks refreshingly simple on the surface, and even young kids can understand the simple rules. Place as many tiles as you can on the board, and when you place them, you have to have it touching a corner of one of your other pieces already on the board (not any sides or edges, just the corners). Gameplay You start from your own corner and build out. Though it may be tempting to stay close to your starting point, the farther you’re able to branch out, the more options you’ll have for placing new tiles as the game continues and the gameboard squares start filling up. Scoring and Winning The player who places all their tiles first is the winner!
MindWare Noodlers Puzzle Box by MindwareA
Box of Puzzles for Your Class to Noodle Over. Students use their noodles and these sticks to separate each symbol into its own space. The catch? The instructions tell you how many (or how few) sticks you get to use. Great for enhancing spatial learning. Includes 80 full-color puzzles.
Quadrillion by Smart Games
Click and play! Quadrillion offers countless challenges and thousands of solutions...but can you find even one? Play Quadrillion by simply clicking the 4 magnetic grids together in any order to create your personal game board. The object of the game is to fit the 12 colored puzzle pieces on the game board you've just created. All possible board configurations can be solved, sometimes with thousands of variations, so you will never run out of challenges. The big, sturdy puzzle pieces are perfect for players of all ages. Starter booklet included...but not needed to play the game.
Gravity Maze byThink Fun
This gravity powered logic maze is sure to put your visual perception and reasoning skills to the test. The colorful, translucent towers can be arranged in a plethora of visually stimulating structures but, for each challenge, you'll have to think carefully to build a path that will successfully carry your marble to its target. 60 challenges, ranging in difficulty, will give you plenty of creative building time while you maneuver the maze in your mind!
Canasta
A Rummy type game, originating in Uruguay played with two decks of cards and the jokers. Players can work as a team or play individually to make groups of 7 similar cards. Great introductory strategy game.
Bananagrams by Bananagrams
The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. The award-winning word game that needs no pencil, paper, or board. Fast and fun. Players race against each other to build crossword grids and use all their letter tiles first. Great for travel.
Quiddler by Set Enterprises
The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone.
Funglish by Hasbro
There's no time to lose…so grab some clues! Can you get the other players to guess the word Kangaroo? You can't talk or act but you can find, grab and play just the right clues from 120 descriptive tiles as everyone shouts out their guesses. You play living, wild and tall. Is it a Redwood? A giraffe? A basketball player? Nope. Keep playing tiles like furry, brown and bouncy. Once another player yells out Kangaroo, try a new word before time runs out! That's the funny, noisy, unique, entertaining, magical, fast-moving fun of Funglish!
Hoot Owl Hoot! by Peaceable Kingdom
Hurry Owls! It's time to go home! In this game, winner of multiple awards including Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and Dr. Toy Best Green Product Award, players help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Play a color card and fly to that space. Draw a sun card and you're one step closer to daylight. Help all the owls get home before the sun rises and everyone wins! Two levels of play allow this game to grow with your child. Game includes 1 game board, 6 owl tokens, 1 sun token, 14 sun cards, 36 color cards and instructions for two versions of game play.
Balderdash by Mattel
Time to grab the “bull” by the horns and hope other players don’t call your bluff! Balderdash game features interesting, unbelievably true content and categories about people, words, initials, and movies. Players make up phony definitions to read along with the legit ones as others decide which is real. How well can you fake it? Score points if you do and call other players’ bluffs. You will laugh out loud as you hear the hilarious, clever, creative definitions! This party favorite includes clue cards, game board, movers, die, and instructions. Colors and decorations may vary.
Snake Oil by Out of the Box
In the Old West, the sly snake oil salesman had a special talent. He could get the most skeptical customer to buy the most dubious products. Now it’s your turn. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! Choose one player to be the first “Customer” and have that player pick a Customer Card. The other players quickly combine two Word Cards from their hand to create something for the Customer. Each player persuades the Customer that their item is the best. The Customer picks the one they like the most and that player wins the customer card!