Here’s an example of an opening sentence created by a four-person car load: If a player thinks a sentence sounds complete, any passenger can insert punctuation by shouting “Period!” or “Exclamation point!” If possible, choose a scribe to write or record the words as they are generated. The entire story lasts four or five sentences. Each rider contributes one word at a time. In this game, car riders use the round-robin style to create a groupthink story. Teachers have used round robin reading strategies in the classroom for decades. Whoever spells the word “PIG” first loses the game. For example, Player One earned a “P” for this round. Each time someone loses a round, they take one letter of the word. You can play as many rounds of the Related Words Game as you like, but if you wish to limit the game, choose a random word like PIG. Player Two might create a list like this:īecause Player Two created the shorter list, he/she wins. Whoever creates the shortest list wins.įor example, Player One might create a list like this: The subsequent list must bring the topic back full circle. The Related Words Game requires each player to brainstorm a list of words that relate to a specific starting word.

suggests that children “collect” plates from the different states or try to find all the letters of the alphabet – first forwards, then backwards. If you’re traveling with little ones, consider using license plates to reinforce geography and phonics lessons learned at school. “YHB 711” becomes “Your hair looks bad seven days a week, eleven hours a day.” License Plate School The game works especially well when you’re caught in traffic because you have plenty of time to peruse and “decode” the license plates around you. What if every license plate harbored a secret meaning within its letters and numbers? That’s the premise behind the License Plate Decoding Game. These thumbnails often morph into the fascinating characters we meet it books. If you’re stumped, start by answering these questions about the folks in the other car:įiction writers use character sketches to spur their creativity. Each person makes up a backstory about the passengers in the other vehicle and shares it with the others. Character SketchesĬhoose another car and take a good look at its passengers. Pack these nifty word-related car games in your overnight bag the next time you hit the road. One of the fastest ways to bust boredom is to keep your mind active. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going to Aspen, New Orleans, or Disney World.

Games to play on car rides