KABOOM! Game Variation

Hi everyone! Planning reading, writing and math lessons for six different groups with varying skill levels is a challenge. I like to have activities that engage the kids and let them have fun while learning and practicing, but sometimes all that thinking and making things is exhausting! Here is a game I sort of made up. It is actually a variation of the KABOOM! game that many teachers have used before (also sometimes known as BANG! and other loud noises)

The original KABOOM game goes like this: There are a bunch of craft sticks in a can. On most of the sticks, a number, letter, sight word, math problem, etc (whatever you want the students to practice) is written on the end of the stick that is at the bottom of the can and can't be seen. On a few of the sticks, the word KABOOM! is written, but also can't be seen. Without seeing what is on the sticks, players take turns drawing a stick. If they can say the letter or number, read the word, solve the problem, etc, they keep the stick. But if they get a KABOOM stick, they have to put back all of the sticks they've collected so far!

I actually first invented a variation of KABOOM while working with a first grader who would have gotten very upset and possibly violent if he had to put all his craft sticks back in the cup when he got a KABOOM stick. In my variation, the KABOOM sticks also say either -1, -2, -3, or -4, and that is how many sticks the player must put back if he draws the stick.

More recently, I added some more variations for some of my math groups.
For my first graders who are practicing number identification, tall players draw at the same time, and whoever has the highest number gets to keep all of the sticks... but if a player has KABOOM, he has to put back some of his sticks instead.

For my first graders who are starting addition, each player draws two sticks, and add the two numbers together, Whichever player has the highest sum gets all the sticks. Again, if a player has KABOOM, he has to put back some of his sticks. To help the kids who are struggling with addition, I added dots on the other side of the stick, so that they can count if they have to.

Just wanted to share that with you, in case anyone is looking for a last minute activity to throw together for a group!