Common Sense is a card game for use in a small group of students or with the entire class divided into teams. The game allows students practice with word associations and main idea. GIven four words that have something n common, the students must determine what the commonality is. If a correct answer is given, the student or team keeps the card. If an incorrect answer is given, the card is returned to the bottom of the pile. The winner is decided by the student or team who has the most points.

Directions:

1. Prepare cards from posterboard or card stock. Clip off one corner. This allows for easy sorting.
2. With permanent marker write the four common words on the front of the card. Remember to make one card for the title of the game. I prefer to use a database and label making software for this entire step. The finished cards look professionally made. See the list of possible words for the cards below.
3. With the marker, write the answer on the back of the card.
4. Laminate the cards for durability if you choose.

Possible Common Words Cards:

• stocking, present, star, tree...Christmas items
• lion, tiger, panther, lynx...animals in the cat family
• dime, quarter, nickel, penny...U.S. coins
• cake, cookies, pie, ice cream...desserts
• mother, father, daughter, son...family members
• knife, fork, teaspoon, spatula...utensils
• rye, wheat, raisin, pumpernickel...breads
• pig, cow, chicken, duck...farm animals
• lemon, grapefruit, orange, lime...citrus fruits
• Earth, Mars, Saturn, Venus...planets
• crimson, azure, forest, turquoise...colors
• rose, tulip, carnation, orchid...flowers
• Alice, Anna, Marie, Esther...feminine first names
• Grant, Truman, Ford, Lincoln...presidents
• Iowa, Nevada, South Carolia, Ohio...states
• elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra...wild/ zoo animals
• gloves, coat jacket, hat...outer wear
• January, June, July, October...months
• hand, foot, fingers, toes...appendages/ parts of the body
• table, ottoman, sofa, chair...furniture
• ham, sausage, chicken, beef...meats
• sun, moon, stars, clouds...celestial objects
• pumpkin, ghost, witch, goblin...Halloween items
• violet, rose, lily, pansy...spring flowers
• elm, oak, maple, beech...trees
• nine, one, ten, eight...numbers
• lungs, liver, stomach, pancreas...organs
• peaches, plums, cherries, kiwi...fruits with seeds
• cat, dog, goldfish, hamster...pets
• hammer, saw, screwdriver, pliers...tools