Kids love “mini” holidays! And while days like Valentine’s Day aren’t technically holidays, to little kids they can be as exciting as Easter and Thanksgiving … (okay, maybe not Christmas!)
When exciting days pop up on the calendar, I always make sure to turn them into a big deal. Any opportunity to use a tool (like a special day) to inspire kids to have fun with learning is an opportunity that should not be wasted!
So, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Trevor and I thought you might enjoy a great game to play with your lovely little note readers. It’s cute for Valentine’s Day… but the puppy theme can be used at any time during your teaching year!
Puppy Love – A Note Reading Game
The game we’ve included at the bottom of this post is designed to reinforce recognition of notes on the staff. The instructions, game board, and playing cards are all included in the downloadable file. All you’ll need to do is print the file out, laminate the materials (if you like) and find 10 nickels and 10 dimes.
Puppy Love is based on a game we released to our PianoGameClub members last year. Every month we send 4 incredibly creative, inventive and educational games to our subscribers… for just $8 a month! If you want to inspire your students with game-based learning, click here to learn more about PianoGameClub.
To download the Puppy Love piano game, click below.
Gisele Wilkie says
February 4, 2016 at 6:36 amI LOVE you guys–you have helped bring new life to my tired piano studio–21 years and counting! Worth every penny–a bargain really! Keep up the good work.
Andrea says
February 4, 2016 at 8:22 amYou’re so sweet Gisele – thank you! 🙂
Sandra says
February 4, 2016 at 7:19 amI have a question about laminating materials: Where do you get your materials laminated ….or do you own a laminator yourself? To the best of my knowledge I know of no commercial place where I can get laminating done for me in the community where I live…
Heidi says
February 4, 2016 at 7:42 amSandra, check out buying a laminator from Amazon– easy to use and in the long run much cheaper than Office Depot, Office Max or Staples. Laminating pouches also available at Amazon. And yes, great games Andrea & Trevor! My students LOVE them!
Andrea says
February 4, 2016 at 8:21 amHi Sandra – yes, purchasing your own laminator is very worth it. The one I use is on sale right now on Amazon.com for $33.19 (regular$80)! You can’t beat it – it pays for itself in the materials you “preserve” really quickly. If you plan on using games in your lessons more often then it’s definitely something to consider. Search “Scotch Thermal Laminator” on Amazon to find it.
Sandra says
February 4, 2016 at 2:09 pmThanks, gals!!
Jolene says
February 4, 2016 at 7:42 amI played a previous version of this game from you (I think it’s called Nuts About Note Reading?) and it was around Christmas time. We used 10 red m&m’s and 10 green m&m’s. Winner gets to keep all the m&m’s! 🙂 For this game you could use 10 purple conversation hearts and 10 pink conversations hearts (because those are my favorite colors). I mean, who likes the white and green conversation hearts anyway? 😉 THANKS for this great idea! Printing and laminating today! LOVE Teach Piano Today!
Andrea says
February 4, 2016 at 8:21 amHi Jolene – great suggestion! Thanks for your comment 🙂
emily says
February 4, 2016 at 2:58 pmThat’s a great idea! I hate the way my hands smell after touching coins–but I have absolutely no problem with the candy smell… 😉
Jolene says
February 4, 2016 at 6:48 pmI can’t stand the smell of coins on my hand, either! 🙂
Ellen says
February 4, 2016 at 8:35 amWe loved the Sheldon Squirrel version of this game. I’m excited to print this one out today! I’m going to borrow Jolene’s idea, but use pink and red jellybeans! Thank you!!!
Andrea says
February 5, 2016 at 8:44 amHi Ellen – we’d love to hear how your kiddos liked it! Have a great weekend.
Robin says
February 4, 2016 at 10:45 amThank you so much! You help make happy students, which = happy parents, which = pumped-up teacher!
Andrea says
February 5, 2016 at 8:44 amOur goals exactly Robin 🙂
Louise says
February 4, 2016 at 11:38 amWhen you use candy hearts or m and m candies or even jelly beans for game pieces,do the kids eat them after the game?
Do they take them home and eat them or eat them there!
Do you ask the parents permission to give them candy?
Thank you for your answers.
Jolene says
February 4, 2016 at 6:50 pmHi Louise! I keep a stash of “snack size” baggies in my studio. I have all my game boards laminated, so I just bend the game board a bit and “funnel” all the candies into a snack size baggie. I seal it, and tell them, “Put this in your piano bag and you can enjoy these at home!” The kids all know: NO eating in my studio. 🙂 I did a survey on giving candy out to students and I only had a couple parents who would prefer to NEVER see it, most parents agreed it’s a fun treat once in a while, but not every week.
Jolene says
February 4, 2016 at 6:50 pmAnd if I win, I keep the candy! LOL! They know I play to win!
Eileen Warren says
February 5, 2016 at 8:15 amI wouldn’t hand out the candy we’ve been touching-I would have fresh candy ready in Little baggie ready to hand out. If it were me I wouldn’t want my child eating candy that had been touched by at least 2 people and put on a game board that is maybe wiped off -maybe not. It’s just me-I’m a clean nut
and I also wipe the keys on the piano off before I start teaching and after a child with a cold or cough has had a lesson.
Shauna says
February 4, 2016 at 2:35 pmYour ideas and games are such a huge help for me! Thank you for sharing!!!!
Andrea says
February 5, 2016 at 8:44 amHi Shauna – so happy to hear it! Hope this game gets great use in your studio 🙂
Sherry says
February 8, 2016 at 7:05 amLove the game Can’t wait to use it tomorrow!
Becky says
February 11, 2016 at 12:26 pmThis game is great!!! Takes only a couple of minutes; candy involved; fun moments; great incentive for knowing your notes!! They beg to play it!
Andrea says
February 11, 2016 at 12:52 pmGlad to hear it Becky! 🙂
Gregory Marsh says
February 13, 2016 at 1:18 pmThank you! My students love it when special holidays cause special changes in lessons. I can use all the good ideas I can find!
Krista says
February 16, 2016 at 7:56 pmI love to you use white board markers with my laminated game boards when they require several game pieces like this one. When I played this with my students we each had our own colors and made and erased little marks until it was ours then we colored in the heart.
Lindsey says
January 26, 2017 at 9:03 amMy students love this game! I would love to have cards for more advanced students. Any way you’d be willing to make them?