The folks at Pressman Toys have sent me a new game to review and to give away!

Way back in February, during Black History Month I posted on some books I gave to my girls’ classrooms. I also mentioned that like to make sure the class rooms have the Mancala game in them. This new game  Path to the White House is a new one for the classrooms I am excited to give out.  When searching for ways to put Black History in my kid’s class rooms I find books, but not a lot of interactive things that actually teach facts.  I think this game will help me fill that gap in the older classrooms.

Path to the Presidency: From 1619 to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is for ages ten and up and 2-5 players can play at one time. There are four historic eras in this game: Slavery, Building Democracy, Civil Rights and the Modern Era.  There are also Adversity and Overcoming cards that effect the game as you try to move your pawn to the White House. 

The games cards are filled with history and trivia that is easy for kids to learn and remember. The Modern Era cards feature figures such as Serena Williams and Colin Powell while the Adversity cards tell of facts about things like Plessy V. Ferguson (1896 “Seperate but equal” is legal.”)   From Jamestown to Motown the trivia and facts cover a lot of territory.  The game board is covered with illistrations and pictures of Black History that are sure to get kids asking questions as well as identify with history they allready are familiar with. I think it is important that we teach our kids history, both black and white together.  Unfortunately the black education is rather lacking in our school books and a game such as this could help with that gap.

I like that this game is easy to play and makes learning about history enjoyable for kids. My three older girls really enjoy playing.  The age  range is 10 and up, but I have found that if they team up the eight year old is holding her own as well.  Playing with an adult helps to add some experience to the game as well.  You can also use the cards as trivia cards and forget the board game if you kids just want to learn some fun and easy facts.

The one drawback to the game is that from the packaging it looks like a game about President Obama. While I am more than fine with learning about our current President, I fear that many will overlook the game simply because of the emphasis of Obama. Whatever your feelings are for our President, Black History is important for us to learn.

Path to the Presidency can be bought here.

Pressman Toys is letting me give  four games away two games for two readers, one to keep at home and one to giveaway to a school or community center. You have two ways to enter: 1) Simply leave a comment on where you would donate your second game to.  2) Like Pressman Toys on Facebook and tell them FourAgainstTwo sent you and come back here to tell me you did this.  Winners will be chosen by Random.com.  Easy as pie! Make sure I have your correct email address.  Giveaway is from July 10th through July 15th 5pm.

 

(Disclosure:  Pressman Toys sent me two copies of the above game (one to play, one to donate to my daughters’ school) for an honest review of the game. They also are offering four copies to two winners on my blog, again one to keep at home and one to giveaway.  I recieved no other compensation.)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-4645-Twister/dp/B00000DMBK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304556979&sr=8-2The other night the girls wanted to play Twister. After telling them I would be right there I quickly ran upstairs and put on my pajama bottoms. Who wants to play Twister in Jeans?  Apparently my four girls have no problem playing in jeans, it must be an over 30 almost 40 thing. Anyway, as I called out different combinations (Right Hand Blue, Left Foot Green) I watched my girls playing.They are adorable.  Meg plays to win, Elle is amazingly bendable and tries her hardest, she just needs a few more inches to be able to straddle the board.  Mita primps the entire game. She is taking off jewelry, adjusting her clothes. This drives Meg crazy as she  insists that Meg is out.  Enu is bouncing off the board, loosing her shirt and just doing crazy combinations. 

Elle was out first and we sat back and used the spinner and laughed. Elle said she was glad she got out because sissies were so funny.  I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.

 
Then it was my turn to play. Let’s just say that it didn’t go well and that it actually hurts a bit when you call playing Twister.  I still laughed though.  The big deal was that there was no arguing and we all had a nice time.

I hope we play more often.  Have you played Twister lately? If so how did you do?

Photo Credit by Hasbro

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