Focus Bingo Game

Objective: To reinforce active listening and focus skills in a fun, interactive way.

Time: 10-15 minutes (can be adjusted by the number of bingo squares)

Materials:

• Focus Bingo Cards (one per student)
• Small markers (beans, pennies, small paper squares) for each student
• Story Time Script (for the teacher to reread sections or key sentences)

Instructions:

1. Introduce the Game (2 minutes):

   • "Great job with our story and drawings! Now, let's play a fun game called Focus Bingo! This game will help us practice our listening skills even more."
   • "Everyone will get a Bingo card. On your card, you will see pictures or words related to our story, Barnaby Bear, and focusing. As I reread parts of the story, or say sentences about it, listen carefully. If you hear or see something on your card, you can put a marker on that square."
   • "The goal is to get three markers in a row – across, down, or diagonally – and shout 'Bingo!'"

2. Distribute Materials (1 minute):

   • Hand out one Focus Bingo Card and a small handful of markers to each student.
   • "Take a moment to look at your card. What pictures or words do you see?"

3. Play Focus Bingo (7-10 minutes):

   • "Ready? Remember to listen with your ears and look with your eyes!"
   • The teacher will slowly reread specific sentences or sections from the Story Time Script, or explicitly state key details or concepts related to the story and focusing. Examples:
     • "Barnaby Bear was hungry for berries."
     • "He saw a bright blue butterfly."
     • "Barnaby got distracted."
     • "His mom said, 'Stop, look, and listen.'"
     • "Barnaby used his focus superpower."
     • "He heard the river."
     • "We use our ears to listen."
     • "We use our eyes to look."
     • "We use our brain to think."
     • (Include squares like 'Barnaby,' 'Woods,' 'Happy,' 'Lost,' 'Breathe')
   • When students hear a word or concept on their card, they place a marker on it.
   • The first student to get three in a row calls out "Bingo!"
   • Verify their bingo by having them point to the squares and recalling the related story detail or concept.
   • Continue playing for a few more rounds or until a few students have achieved Bingo.

4. Wrap-Up (Optional):

   • "Great listening and focusing, everyone! Focus Bingo was a fun way to remember our story and practice staying focused. Give yourselves a pat on the back!"

Focus Bingo Card

Name:

Instructions: Listen carefully as your teacher talks about the story. If you hear a word or see a picture on your card, put a marker on that square! Get three in a row to win Bingo!

Focus Bingo Card

Name:

Instructions: Listen carefully as your teacher talks about the story. If you hear a word or see a picture on your card, put a marker on that square! Get three in a row to win Bingo!