Want to improve your classroom with a simple classroom management tool? These game pieces are the perfect solution for getting your students engaged in playing games.
My kids love these game pieces because they are represented in the game. I love it because they don’t argue about who gets which game piece.
We use these to play Simply STEAM Math Games and Simply STEAM Grammar Games. For more information on how to play math games, check out my post here!
Ditch the old game pieces and create these instead. Here’s how…
Step 1:
In PowerPoint, insert your picture or drag and drop the picture onto the PowerPoint. Next, click the picture and click the dropdown menu on “Crop.” From here, you will hover over “Crop to Shape” and select the circle.
Step 2:
Dragging the corners will stretch your pictures, so instead of doing that, click the bold horizontal and vertical lines to adjust the circle. I like to keep my circles around 5.5 in x 5.5 in. Once you’ve created the circle, click the box on the size to lock the aspect ratio in place. Now you can adjust the circle by the corners without stretching the photo.
Step 3:
Place the circled photo over the circle. Then select the picture border. Select black and 3 points. This should create a nice thick black line around the photo.
Step 4:
Once you’ve got your photo in place, you can then insert any text you’d like at the top. Keep in mind; that you’ll want to select a photo where the head is near the top of the circle so that the binder clips don’t cover the face. You’ll also want the name at the top of the photo so that the binder clip doesn’t cover it.
Step 5:
Next, you’ll need to decide whether you’d like to have colored ink or black ink. You’ll want to print these on cardstock, so they don’t bend. Print the cards. Then, cut along the black lines. Once you’ve cut your cards, snap in between the binder clip.
Need more help creating your game pieces? Check out my video tutorial.
Now you can use this simple classroom hack as a game piece or a classroom management tool!
Thank you for this awesome idea and template. Just wondering how you have your store their game pieces?
Hey, Gina! I store them in pencil boxes, but you can hang them on command strips on the legs of students’ desks. Here’s another post about how you can use them for other things in your classroom. https://simplysteameducation.com/ways-to-use-game-pieces-for-classroom-management/