Game Adaptations: Don't Break The Ice

I'm back with another Game Adaptation post! We love playing games in my therapy room, so I love finding ways to incorporate goals into game play. It's motivating, practical, and easy to plan. I know Don't Break The Ice (affiliate link) is not a fan favorite in the SLP world. And I completely understand - SO. MANY. PIECES. But it does seem to be a fan favorite with my students. So I worked hard to come up with as many ways to target language and articulation as I could. If I'm going to deal with all those pieces - it better be worth it! :) So here are some of my favorite ways to use Don't Break The Ice across the language and articulation spectrum! 

1.) Asking for More - This is pretty straightforward - Have your students request more blocks to put in the frame or to play more when they have finished.

2.) Asking for Help - It's often hard to put the final pieces in the frame. This is a great, natural opportunity to get a few trials of asking for help. 

3.) Indicating All Done - As soon as the last pieces falls out, I will start signing and saying "all done." This gives a great visual to go along with the concept. 

4.) Counting - Count the blocks as you put them in. Count how many are in a row. Count how many fell out with each turn. 

5.) Add Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Letters - I have used dry erase markers to write on the sides of my blocks. However, I noticed the new versions of the game have a rough side. Writing on this side doesn't work very well. Have your students label or identify the number/shape/letter/color before knocking out the block. 

6.) Answering Yes/No Questions - When I take my turn, I will hit the block softly several times - asking "did it fall?" after each hit. This gives them a chance to practice answering yes/no questions. The next time, I might knock it out with one hit, just to keep them on their toes! 

7.) Taking Turns - Don't Break The Ice is the ultimate test of turn taking abilities. Once a little one starts pounding away, it's often hard for them to stop when the block falls out. 

8.) Spatial concepts - Using the blocks I have written on, I will ask kids to "hit the one next to the star" or "hit the one above the heart", etc. You can also have them tell you which one they are going to hit to practicing using spatial concepts expressively. 

9.) Mini objects - Place a few mini objects on the top of the ice. Have your students name the ones that have fallen off after their turn. It's best to make sure there is plenty of room for them to hit the blocks without hitting the objects. We also have a rule in my room that they can't hit the object directly with the hammer. This adds an element of self-control also. 

10.) Exclamatory Phrases - I love using Don't Break The Ice to get my younger/minimally verbal kiddos making some noise. There are so many great exclamatory phrases you can use - bang, boom, ow, uh oh, oh no, whack, tap, whoa. 

11.) Opposites - Give your students directives likes "tap it fast/slow," "hit it hard/soft," "hit one on the edge/in the middle," "tap the block on the top/bottom," etc. Have them do the OPPOSITE of whatever you tell them to check for understanding. Kids love Opposite Day! 

I hope this gave you some ideas to use. If we HAVE to deal with all the little pieces, we might as well get the most out of it, right?! 

Thanks for stopping by!