Looking at: Patchwork

Patchwork is a game for 2 players where you are competing to create the best patchwork quilt out of tetronimoes (basically Tetris pieces) representing cuts of fabric. You set it up by putting all the fabric cuts in a large circle around the time track with the wooden pawn placed to the left of the small 2, 1 tile. There are also 5 small squares that are places on the time track. Each player is given 5 buttons, places their coloured token on the time track and the first player is randomly selected.

On your turn you can pick 1 from the 3 fabric cuts in front of the pawn, you then put the pawn where that piece was. Each piece of fabric has both a button and a time cost on a tag. Some also have a button reward that triggers at certain points. In the above picture the big one at the bottom.would cost 8 tokens, advance you 6 places on the time track and give you 3 buttons when it’s reward time.

The time track has buttons and squares on it. When you pass a button you generate new buttons bases on what’s on your board – if you had the big fabric piece from above it’ll be 3 buttons, plus however many others you have on your board at the time. If you’re the first player to reach one of the squares you can take that and place it anywhere on your board for free.

The time track also lets you know who’s turn it is. Whoever is last on it has their turn next. If you can’t do anything you can choose to move your token forward to the space infront of the other player gaining a coin for each space travelled as well as triggering any buttons or squares on the way.

The first player to make a 7×7 grid gets the bonus reward giving extra points at the end. The game ends when someone reaches the end of the time track, you add up all your buttons and subtract any empty squares to get your final score. The player with the highest score wins.

There is also a new version out called patchwork express which is the same but has smaller player boards and larger pieces for a faster

Image courtesy of freepik

Questions to explore character:

1) Which of the fabric pieces do you think best represents you and why?

2) Did you find it easy to plan for any shape fitting your patchwork or did you struggle?

3) Do you find it easy to organise your life, or do you find it hard to slot everything in?

4) Is there anything in your life that you feel fits in really well to who you are?

5) How about the opposite – is there anything that really doesn’t feel like it fits? What could you do to improve it?

Image courtesy of publicdomainpictures

Link to faith

I was first introduced to this link by Rev. Andy Gray – check out his website for some good resources http://kidzministry.org

In the game did you spot the only free piece? It’s a cross! Not only that but it has 3 time and it rewards you with a button. The analogy here is hopefully so obvious it’s smacking you on the face, but just incase it isnt: When Jesus died on the cross it was on the third day he rose again (3 time), and his love is given to us freely, we just need to choose him (1 button reward).

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
John 3:16

This is one of the most famous, if not the most famous passage in the Bible. It summarises exactly what Christians believe. Through Jesus’ death on the cross we have been saved and given eternal life.

There is also another link you could use – God is the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The 3 time and 1 button can also be used to talk about that.

Links to buy

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