What's rubbish?
A useful game made by a favourite of mine- Orchard Toys.
This begins to teach children about recycling and encourages them to think about sharing and playing together. As with most if not all of the Orchard Toys products, it is linked with the National Curriculum- this ... Read review
Advantages: Teaches children about environmental issues Disadvantages: They have to know what can be recycled and it can't be played all the time
...by a favourite of mine- Orchard Toys.
This begins to teach children about recycling and encourages them to think about sharing and playing together. As with most if not all of the Orchard Toys products, it is linked with the National Curriculum- this time, Maths and Science.
Who is it for?...
This is a game for 2-4 children, ideally between 5 and 10 years old. It is quite a complex game until children ... ...As with most of the Orchard Toys games, I buy the games online at www.orchardtoys.com, but a catalogue can be requested from Orchard Toys, Formlend Ltd., Keyworth, Nottingham.
How much does it cost?...
This costs £9.00
Other Products…
Great range of good quality products, often linked to the requirements of the National Curriculum, including:
Bus Stop
Chicken Out more
What's rubbish?
A useful game made by a favourite of mine- Orchard Toys.
This begins to teach children about recycling and encourages them to think about sharing and playing together. As with most if not all of the Orchard Toys products, it is linked with the National Curriculum- this time, Maths and Science.
Who is it for?...
This is a game for 2-4 children, ideally between 5 and 10 years old. It is quite a complex game until children get used to the rules and so younger than 5 would probably be struggling- this is one little miss has yet to be introduced to…
I have had to select age 6-8 on the pull down list as there is no option for a wider age range
What do I get?...
Inside the jolly box, you get: • a game board • 8 recycling bin boards • 50 small cards showing bottles, materials etc • 4 litterbug cards • 4 plastic counters • Spinner with numbers 2,3,4,5,6 and a litterbug section • 3-D refuse bin (not Dusty Bin!!)
How do I play it?...
The object of the game is to be as competitive as possible and fill your own recycling bin with the correct materials.
1. So, once the game board is in the middle of the table with the refuse bin to one side, each player then takes two recycling bins. 2. The small cards are shuffled and 12 of these are placed face down on the game board. 3. Players take a counter and after placing it anywhere on the board, the youngest player spins the spinner (we play oldest so that I get to spin first!).If they spin a number, then they must move the corresponding number of spaces around the game board. 4. If a player passes a square with a small card on it, they look at the card and if it can be recycled, they put it in their recycling bin, and turn over another card which can be placed face down anywhere on the game board. If not, then it is returned to the pile. This is the stage at which children have to be a certain age to play the game- they have to know which materials can be recycled. 5. If a litterbug card is turned over, then it is shown to everyone and they have to take a card out of their bin and return it to the pile. This all sounds a bit complex but when you play it, the game becomes quite simple. 6. If a card is turned over that can't be recycled, then it is shown to the other players and posted into the litter bin. 7. If the spinner lands on the litterbug section then they take a card and without looking at it, place it anywhere on the board. 8. This type of play continues until a player has filled both their recycling bins
All of this does sound complicated, but the instructions are clearly explained on the box, and as with most games, it's easier once you start playing. I find that I adapt the game depending on the age and knowledge of the children. Essentially it is just a game of picking up cards and deciding if the materials can be re cycled or not.
Note…for 3 players, 2 recycling bins and their matching small cards must be removed and for 2 players, 4 bins must be removed. The first time we played, we forgot to do this, and it does affect play.
Where do I buy it?...
As with most of the Orchard Toys games, I buy the games online at www.orchardtoys.com, but a catalogue can be requested from Orchard Toys, Formlend Ltd., Keyworth, Nottingham.
How much does it cost?...
This costs £9.00
Other Products…
Great range of good quality products, often linked to the requirements of the National Curriculum, including:
Bus Stop Chicken Out Colour Match Express
If you are interested in looking for age appropriate games and activities, the website is worth checking out.
What do I think?
I think this is a great game to introduce children to environmental issues. I have played this many times with children in Key Stages 1 and 2, and will introduce little miss to it when she is just a little bit older. It's useful to make a list together of items which can't be recycled, and which they will come across on the small cards such as fish bone, broken television, broken cup. There is lots of discussion to be had before even playing the game, letting children look at the small cards and deciding as a group which can and can't be recycled.
With older children, I tend to let them be a bit more strategic and look at the card when it is picked up from the table, and place it anywhere on the game board, thereby making it more difficult to be collected.
The game is actually really easy to play once you get started and children enjoy making decisions about what they can recycle- usually there are some varying decisions.
As with most of these products, it is well made and sturdy and although this has been "manhandled" on many occasions, it shows no signs of being grubby or tatty.
Useful game for anyone wanting to introduce environmental concepts, and worth looking out for at charity shops if you don't want to pay full price, because it is quite expensive for a game teaching a specific concept. I bought mine from a charity shop for £3 and all the pieces were there so it was a great buy for a game which I will continue to use.
