Apples. Pears. Cherries. Plums. Basket. Raven. Any of these words ring a bell?
A few weeks ago, teachers introduced a new board game, “Orchard.” Players work together to collect all of the apples, pears, cherries and plums off of the trees in the orchard before a raven (or black bird) comes to eat the fruit. Kids watched as teachers showed how to roll the die and select 1 fruit that matches the color on the die. If the raven image is rolled, a piece of the raven puzzle gets added to the middle of the game board. If the basket image is rolled, the player can choose any 2 pieces. The goal is to “pick” all of the fruit off of the trees in the Orchard before the raven puzzle is finished. Otherwise, the raven comes to eat the fruit and the game is over. Teachers once again demonstrated the process of game play, and modeled how to communicate about turn-taking, give reminders about the rules, express any feelings that come up during their turns, “I really wanted “blue” for a plum! I don’t have a plum yet.” Kids and teachers offered ways to support each other during those moments. Since then, groups of kids have enjoyed playing rounds of this game during play time. Sometimes kids like to pretend to make fruit pies and jam with the gathered fruit. There are even times when a piece of fruit is offered to the raven even though the players have won. Cooperate board games such as Orchard are great ways to practice waiting for a turn, following a procedure, noticing and talking through what is happening, strategizing about what will help the team and delaying self-gratification (this means sometimes picking from the tree that still has a lot of fruit as opposed to your favorite kind).
Here is the version we’ve been playing at school:
There is also a version for younger children (24 months+), called “My First Orchard.”
All the best,
Anita and Sarah