There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover {Barrier Game}

St. Patrick’s day is less than two weeks away and I have a few FREE activities lined up so I thought I would give you one today! It’s another barrier game, this time to go along with a super fun book  There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover.

I LOVE all the There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a…..” books by Lucille Colandro. I think I own ALL of these books and use them all the time in my speech therapy sessions!

What is a Barrier Game?

A barrier game requires two or more players sitting around a table with some kind of barrier(s) so that players cannot see each other’s materials (books, file folders, or binders can work as barriers). Every player has the same set of materials in front of them. The players take turns giving the other players very specific directions (per ability level) on how to arrange the materials in front of them, without any visual cues. The goal of the game is to have all the players’ materials look the same at the end of the activity. Check out my post on Barrier Games for more information and barrier game ideas.

Here is what you get: Picture scene and several  objects from the story. Like the clip art? I got it at Scrappin Doodles ( background image purchased from ClipArtOf))

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover Barrier Game Directions- for two or more players.

1. Print out copies for all children in the group.
2. For durability, print on cardstock, cut out the individual characters, and laminate the scene and characters.
3. Each child needs his/her own scene picture and set of characters and trees.
4. Have children all sit at a table or on the floor, with barriers up so that children cannot see one another’s materials.
5. Have children take turns giving the other group members directions on where to place the different objects. The goal is to use very specific directions so that everyone’s pictures will end up looking identical at the end of the game.
6. To increase difficulty, rather than have the child name the item, have the child describe the item. For example “Put the large green plant with four leaves next to the fence.”
7. To add complexity I included some variations of the items in the story. For example there are two pots, birds, and butterflies of different colors, two flowers of different sizes, and three clovers of different sizes. You can choose if you want to include all item or some of the items, depending on your child/students’ ability level and goals.
8. Are there specific concepts you want your students to use? Write the concepts on 3×5 cards and place in a pile and have the children pick a card on each turn and use that concept within their direction.

Grab your FREE copy HERE! Directions are included in the download. And if you like this…make sure to keep checking back as I have more freebies coming!

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Cheers!