What You’ll Need

• 8 same-size jar lids
• Acrylic paint
• Small plastic bottle cap

What to Do

Using acrylic paints, paint four jar lids in one color and four lids in another color. Let them dry, then decorate each set of four with its own design. Let dry.

To Play

1. On a smooth surface, one player sets a plastic cap some distance from all the players.

2. Each player or team chooses a color and takes turns sliding their four lids toward the cap.

3. After all the lids have been played, the player or team with the lid closest to the cap gets 1 point. If there is a tie, both players get a point.

4. Keep playing. The first player or team to reach 5 points wins.

Extend the Fun

For younger kids: Keeping track of their own score gives kids counting and addition practice in disguise. With paper and pencil in hand, each child can tally his or her points, adding 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 to equal the winning score of 5. Children too young to play the game will be happy just painting the jar lids and decorating them in their own inimitable way.

For older kids: Expand the game into a hockey game of sorts, using a large dining table or Ping-Pong table as the playing surface, and an empty box at either end as a “net.” Then “shoot” for points.

Game by Kelly Theobald; text by Mary Sears.