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The ARTHUR Ice Cream Delivery Game

How to Prepare:

1. Print the game props: a page of ARTHUR characters and a page of ice cream cones. (Print the page of ice cream cones twice if you plan on using all of the ARTHUR characters.)
2. Cut the characters and ice cream cones along the dotted lines.
3. Put double-sided tape on the back of each character and stick them in hidden spots throughout your party space.
4. Put double-sided tape on the back of each ice cream cone.

How to Play (Younger Kids):

1. Divide the ice cream cones among the group. (Use as many cones as there are hidden characters.)
2. Explain to the group that Arthur and his friends want ice cream NOW! Tell players that they are to search the space as quickly as they can, and stick an ice cream cone on every ARTHUR character they find.
3. Get the group moving by saying, "Ready, Set, GO!"
4. The game is over when all the ice cream has been delivered. (Remember: each character gets one cone only!)
5. This is a group activity, so encourage kids to help each other: if one player is out of ice cream, that player can help others make the rest of the deliveries.
6. If you feel it is appropriate, set a time limit to the task for an added challenge.
7. If you want to play again, you'll need to set up while your guests are not in the room.
8. To play with a larger group, divide into teams. The first team to get rid of all their ice cream wins.

How to Play (Older Kids):

1. In addition to the "How to Prepare" steps above, draw a simple map of your party space. Choose objects that could be considered "landmarks" (e.g., the food table, a row of chairs, a door, a bookcase, etc.). Represent these landmarks clearly on your map with simple pictures and labels.
2. Mark your map with large X's to represent the spots where you've hidden the ARTHUR characters.
3. Give players a copy of the map and as many ice cream cones as there are hidden characters.
4. Quickly review the map with the group, pointing out each of the main "landmarks."
5. Explain to the group that Arthur and his friends want ice cream NOW! Tell players that they are to work together to follow the map and stick an ice cream cone on every ARTHUR character represented with an X.
6. Get the group moving by saying, "Ready, Set, GO!"
7. The game is over when all the ice cream has been delivered. (Remember: each character gets one cone only!)
8. Players may choose to divide the task, having each player deliver a few cones to different Xs on the map.
9. If you feel it is appropriate, set a time limit to the task for an added challenge.
10. If you hope to play the game more than once during the day, make several photocopies of your homemade map before you mark any X's. Then customize the copies to each round of the game you play.
11. To play with teams, print several copies of the character sheet, each on a different color paper. Assign each team a color and give it a copy of the map marked with its own set of Xs. (For instance, the X's on the map for the Blue Team would represent all the hidden characters printed on blue paper.) The first team to get rid of all their ice cream wins.