Homemade “Rack-O” Game

You’ll need:

  • 2 cardboard egg cartons
  • X-acto knife (adult’s job)
  • acrylic craft paint
  • paintbrush
  • index cards (3 by 5-inch)
  • rubber stamps (numbers and objects)
  • ink pads
  • white paint marker

Directions:

  1. Make the rack first.
    1. Ask an adult to do this step. On the bottom of each carton, slice the cardboard crosswise between egg cups, making 5 pairs of slits. Slits should stop at the flat section at the middle of carton. (See photo.)
    2. Slide index card through slits a few times to enlarge them.
    3. Paint the carton and let it dry.
  2. Make the game cards.
    1. At upper left corner of one card, stamp the number “0”. Turn the card upside down. Stamp another “0” in that upper left corner. Make a second zero card to match the first one. (Cards can be used in either direction.)
    2. On a new card, stamp “1” just to the right of zero’s location on the first card. Turn it upside down and stamp again as before. Stamp one small object next to the number 1. Make a second “1” card to match.
    3. Stamp 2 matching cards for each of the other numbers, from 2 to 10. Stamp both the numerals and correct number of objects on each card. (Place the numerals gradually moving to the right across tops of cards.)
  3. Print numbers 1–10 in order on each egg cup of carton.

TO PLAY:

Introduce cards to young children. See if they can identify numbers, count the objects correctly and put the cards in order from 0 to 10. If children cannot do these things, play game 1 or 2. If they can do those things, play game 3.

Game 1: Memory (2 players, no rack)

Scatter cards face down on table or floor. Players turn over 2 cards at a time to find a matching pair. When all pairs are found, put cards in numerical order.

Game 2: Number Rack-O (2 players)

Object: To recognize numbers and put them in order from 1 to 10.
Play: Remove the “0” cards. Mix other cards. Set them face down in a draw pile. Players take turns drawing a card and placing it in the slit behind its matching number. If a player draws a card he already has, put it in discard pile. Next player can choose that card or pick one from the draw pile.
Winner: First player with all 10 cards in the right slits.

Game 3: Sequence Rack-O (2 players)

Object: To put any five cards in progression from smallest (at front of rack) to largest (at back of rack.
Play: Mix the cards. Deal 1 card to each player. Players put card into a slit at the front, middle or back of rack according to size of the number card. Put remaining cards face down in a draw pile. Take turns drawing a card and placing it on rack before or after the first card so cards go in the correct progression. A card can be discarded face up if it isn’t useful. Next player can take discarded card or a new one from the draw pile.
Winner: First player with 5 cards in increasing order.