Inside and Out is an adult facilitated board game for preschoolers (ages 3-5). The learning goal is to have players develop skills to manage, regulate, and label their and others’ emotions while also touching upon themes of self-love, identity, and goal setting. The game takes inspiration from the structure of CandyLand, the timeless classic analog board game. Inside and Out incorporates elements of progression, categorization, socialization, and teamwork through activities assigned to each card. On their turn, players will roll a die and count out loud the number of spaces to move. When they have moved that number of spots on the board, they will pick a card corresponding to the color of that spot. The spot will have a question, activity, or task on it that falls into one of four categories: emotions, affirmations, mindfulness, and conversations. The game finishes when all players have made it to the end. Players will be motivated to progress through the game by acquiring the cards after they complete the prompt and collecting stickers. This is not a race or competition, it is a journey! Through this game, players will get to know each other better, know themselves better, and learn from one another through their emotions.
For accessibility purposes, we have included a transcript of the game video. It can be found here:
INSIDE AND OUT: A JOURNEY INTO THE REALM OF EMOTIONS AND IDENTITY
Game Rules
Learning Goal: By traveling through Inside Out, players will develop skills to manage, regulate, and label their and others’ emotions while also touching upon aspects of self-love, identity, and goal setting.
Goal of the Game: Players travel through Inside Out along the path of colored spaces. The progression is determined by the die rolled by the players. The spot determines the category and corresponding card. Players travel through Inside Out with the help of an instructor and collect stickers along the way for a fun and interactive experience! Positive teacher scaffolding and player collaboration (opposed to competition) is encouraged to invite optimal socioemotional learning. This is not a race or competition, this is a journey!
{green font refers to specific teacher instructions}
Players: Ages 3+, 1-4 players
Materials:
● Game board
● 6-sided die
● 4 playing pieces (Mini-Me Pieces)
● 4 paper characters
● 4 decks of different color category cards
● Stickers as rewards
How to Set Up the Game:
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Lay out all of the materials on a flat surface
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Organize cards into neat stacks according to their color
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Each player picks a Mini-Me Piece and one blank card to go in the piece
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The instructor allows about 2 minutes for players to decorate their Mini-Me
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Instructor note: Encourage players to get creative with their designs by expressing themselves!
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Have all players put their now decorated card on their Mini-Me piece
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Put all Mini-Me Pieces on the start spot!
How to Play the Game:
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The youngest player goes first. Play then proceeds counterclockwise
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On a player’s turn, they roll the 6-sided die
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Players then move their Mini-Me forward that many spaces
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Instructor tip: Have players count out loud the spots as they progress! A great opportunity to practice early numeracy skills.
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Once the player lands on the correct spot, the player should pick a card from the pile corresponding to the color of the spot they landed on. More than one player can be on a single spot at the same time.
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The instructor should guide the player in executing the task of answering the question on their card. These tasks may involve more than one player or the whole group.
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Card Categories
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Emotions
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Affirmations
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Mindfulness
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Conversation
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Instructor tip: all answers should be accepted regardless of their “correctness.” Feel free to guide and converse with the player as they answer the question. If you feel an answer was inappropriately answered, provide constructive feedback on how the question should be answered.
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Players keep their cards at the end of their turn and collect them as the game proceeds.
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Continue passing play to the left until all players have reached the end of the game board.
Shortcuts:
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There are two shortcuts on the path. If your Mini-Me lands there you immediately move the piece to where the path is directed. Then, proceed to pick the card corresponding to the color of the spot you land on after the shortcut.
How to Finish the Game:
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If you move through all the colored spaces and make it to the finish line, you have completed the game!
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For every card the player has, they can cash in their cards for stickers! For example, if one player has 4 cards, give them 4 stickers.
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Instructor Tip: Have players count out their cards and ask them how many stickers they would then need. Again, a great opportunity to practice early numeracy skills!
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Players can keep their stickers or be encouraged to decorate their Mini-Me pieces.
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