ideas for 8y/o Birthday Party Games

[G-gang]

My son is turning 8 years old and we are having his birthday party at home and have a "Mad Science" party scheduled, but we'll have about 15 minutes to kill--any fun-fast games we could play besides the old standbys? (Hot Potato, Musical Chairs, Pin the Tail on the Donkey). TIA

 

[Nutsy]

There's always pass the parcel

or this one we played at my DS's 10th b'day party

You get some old postcards or even photos & you cut them in two.......you go hide one piece of them around the house or yard & you give the kids the other bit. Usually this would be done in pairs. The kids then need to go in search of the other half & bring both bits back to you hoping it's a match.


Have fun

 

[tiggerlover]

I can't remember what the game is called, but this game was a hit with kids 5-9. You get a good size box and a few smaller boxes (you will be nesting the boxes one inside the other). Wrap each box inside a bigger box until all boxs are wrapped.....I think we wrapped 7 boxes. The game is similiar to hot potato because the kids sit in a circle and pass the box to music and when the music stops the person holding the box gets to unwrap it....never knowing if it is the last box or not. The person who opens the last box wins the prize. The kids had a ball and the anticipation of getting the last box was fun to watch. We opted for this to be the special game and the prize inside the box was 5 Euro, which at the time was about $5, but you could always have a smaller less expensive prize that isn't even in the box. If you chose to not have the gift in the box, just put a piece of paper in there that that says Winner.

Have fun and Happy Birthday to DS!



The name just came to me....it is so simple you will laugh.....the game is called "Pass the Box"!

 

[Nutsy]

Hot Potato sounds very much like what we call Pass the Parcel.

All the kids sit in a circle & you wrap a surprise in some newspaper & then re-wrap & re-wrap as many times as you like, but in between each layer we usually put a little lollipop so that every kids gets something & it's done to music as well.

Another version of this is that you tape messages to each layer like for eg..

To the girl with the longest hair, or to the boy with the bluest eyes etc...........the child who opens that layer has to decide on who to give the parcel too & then the game goes on.........

 

[tiggerlover]

I looked on one of my favorite party sites and found this for you:

EXPLOSIVE FUN

A science birthday party from FamilyFun
by Rani Arbo

From a secret formula to rocket launches, this birthday plan has all the elements for a good time.
Science Party Pointers
•Have a few quick backup experiments you can add to the agenda if time permits. For ideas, check out Bill Nye's activities at www.nyelabs.com.
• Place a pile of science-related Trivial Pursuit cards at the lunch table.


THINGS TO MAKE

Optical Illusion
This tricky beaker is filled with all the facts about a certain upcoming birthday, but to see them, you have to pull the invitation out from behind the mystery solution that makes the words invisible.

To make one like it, cut out a 4- by 5-inch white card stock rectangle and trace around it with a pencil onto a clear report folder. Cut around the tracing through both layers of the folder 1/4 inch out from the pencil line.

Keeping the two transparent beakers stacked with the edges matched up, trim a 1/2-inch strip off the tops, then tape the sides and bottoms together.

Next, trace around the paper shape onto one layer of a red plastic folder. Cut out the red tracing on the line, then trim an inch off the top, making the edge slightly concave. Slide the red solution into the clear beaker and staple through the bottom center of the three layers to hold it in place.

Now use blue and red crayons to print an invitation on the white card. Keep in mind that red words will be invisible once you slide the card behind the red plastic, so be sure to draw an arrow and the word "Lift" in blue at the top. Lastly, use a permanent black marker to add measurement marks along the side of the beaker.

Rubber Blubber
A fun way to kick off this gathering is to invite young scientists to see what happens when glue molecules interact with a borax solution--you end up with a rubbery substance that actually bounces!

Lightbulb Piñata
Science Party guests are sure to light up when it comes time to test the strength of this giant candy-filled bulb.

Bunsen Bow Ties
Q: Why do scientists wear bow ties? A: So their ties don't get caught in petri dishes, singed on the Bunsen burner, or nibbled on by lab rats.

GAMES TO PLAY

Fingerprint Lift
Here's an amazing trick that lets birthday guests try their hands at a little forensic science by lifting their own fingerprints. Individually, have each kid press his or her fingertip on a pocket mirror. Cover the entire print with graphite dust by rubbing a soft pencil with sandpaper. Blow gently to remove excess dust. Now carefully stick a strip of tape to the print and slowly peel it off. Stick the tape to a piece of white paper, and the print should be distinct.

Rocket Balloon
This party activity lets visiting scientists turn balloons into rockets and learn about Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction) in the process. That's because the balloon gets its lifting thrust from air rushing out of the neck.

What you need:
Long, torpedo-shaped balloons
Drinking straw
String
Tape

For each rocket, securely tape one end of a long string to the ceiling. Thread a drinking straw onto the string, then stretch the string taut and tape the other end to the floor.

Have each kid inflate a long, torpedo-shaped balloon and keep the neck pinched shut while you tape it to the straw.

While everyone holds their balloons near the floor, count down to takeoff and see whose balloon goes fastest and highest.

What Am I?
Get birthday guests' minds spinning with this scientific version of a classic party game.

What you need:
Index cards
Pens
Tape

Inscribe index cards with science words, such as atom, constellation, electricity, magnet, microscope, or test tube. Then tape a different word to each guest's back without letting him or her read it.

Now everyone tries to figure out their identities by walking around asking fellow scientists questions that can be answered with a yes or a no. For example, someone might ask, "Do you need a microscope to see me?" or "Do I move around?"

The first person who says the word on his or her back wins the game, but encourage the group to keep playing until everyone has guessed correctly.

SPECIAL TOUCHES

Science Fare: Set up a buffet of sandwich fixings and beverages so guests can invent their own combos, then wow them with an Erupting Volcano cake.

Lab Favors: Supply scientists with magnifying glasses, magnets, notebooks, and gel pens.

There are some other links on this site that may be of interest to you. Go to:http://familyfun.go.com/parties/birthday/feature/famf1001_sciencebday/

Have fun!

 

[G-gang]

Thank you Nutsy and Tiggerlover!

I remember the pass-the-box game from a school party I volunteered for moons ago. I recall the children really enjoying that one. The picture hunt also sounds interesting--I'll let you know what we choose as I will let my DS decide.

I've stayed up very late to clean the house and put up all the decorations--but I still managed to find some time to check out these boards. I haven't been a member for too long, but I really do love it here. Thanks again!

Lisa

 

[Nutsy]

Not a problem.............have fun at the party