EDUCATIONAL BOARD GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which a claim for copyright is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention presents a board game system and method use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a board game which has a rolling dice and a plurality of chance or instruction cards.

There are various educational board games to practice skills such as math, reading, and vocabulary. However, such games do not focus on practicing introspective skills to examine the player's own thoughts and behaviors. Character building is an important part of childhood, identifying good habits and recognizing their value is beneficial to character building and child development.

The lessons are sometimes taught through schools, educational books and videos, religious organizations, or parent lectures. Creating a situation in which to talk about perceived positive and negative consequences of actions may be more effective than learning principles from a book or lecture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game may include a game cube, a plurality of Compliment Cards, a plurality of Good Habit cards, a plurality of Bad Habit cards, a plurality of Surprise cards, a plurality of Excuse cards, a time manager, and a record sheet. The cards are used in combination with at least one color-coordinated card holder. The Good Habit cards and Bad Habit cards include a hypothetical situation to which the player responds, describing why it is a good or a bad habit. The Surprise cards may include instructions for an action that the player must take or a question for the player to answer.

The player rolls the game cube and selects a card corresponding to the roll. If the player does not want to respond to the selected card, they may use an Excuse card to skip their turn. When the player is responding to their selected card, they may do so freely without interruption. The time manager ensures the game progresses in a timely manner.

A player that responds to a Good Habit receives a Compliment Card from other players. The Compliment Cards includes a point value which remains hidden until the end of the game. At the end of the game, the players count the points awarded by their Compliment Cards and subtracts points for any Excuse cards played during the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the front face of a prompt card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the back face of a prompt card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the front face of a Compliment card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the back face of a Compliment card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the front face of an Excuse card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the back face of an Excuse card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the card holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The board game system includes at least one color-coordinated card holder, a game cube, a plurality of Compliment Cards, a plurality of Good Habit cards, a plurality of Bad Habit cards, a plurality of Surprise cards, a plurality of Excuse cards, a time manager, and a record sheet.

FIG. 1 illustrates the front face 103 of a prompt card 101. The front face 103 may include a caption 102. The caption 102 may include a category such as “Good Habit,” “Bad Habit,” or “Surprise.” FIG. 2 illustrates the back face 203 of a prompt card 101. The back face 203 includes a response prompt 202. The response prompt 202 may include a discussion topic or action corresponding to the category identified by the caption 102. The prompt card 101 may be a predetermined color according to the category identified by the caption 102, such that each category may be identified by color.

The prompt card 101 may include a Good Habit card, a Bad Habit card, or a Surprise card. The back face 203 of a Good Habit card may include a discussion topic disposed thereupon. The back face 203 of a Bad Habit card may include a discussion topic disposed thereupon. Further, the back face of a Surprise card may include a surprise action disposed thereupon.

FIG. 3 illustrates the compliment front face 303 of a Compliment card 301. The compliment front face 303 may include a compliment caption 302 identifying the card as a Compliment. FIG. 4 illustrates the compliment back face 403 of a Compliment card 301. The compliment back face 403 may include compliment information 402 and a compliment point value 404.

FIG. 5 illustrates the excuse front face 503 of an Excuse card 501. The excuse front face 303 may include an excuse caption 502 identifying the card as an Excuse. FIG. 6 illustrates the excuse back face 603 of an Excuse card 501. The excuse back face 603 may include excuse information 602, the excuse information 602 may be a discussion topic.

The time manager of the invention may comprise a timer such as a cell phone timer and/or stopwatch. The game cube of the invention comprises a main body having six surfaces. The game cube further comprises, disposed on each of the six surfaces, an indicator for one of the following: ‘Good Habit’, ‘Roll Again’, ‘Bad Habit’, ‘Lose a Turn’, ‘Surprise’, or ‘Compliment’.

FIG. 7 illustrates the Card Holder 700. The Card Holder 700 includes at least one card slot 701. The card slot 701 may include a single category of cards. There may be multiple card slots where each slot stores one of the decks: Good Habit cards, Bad Habit cards, Compliment cards, Surprise cards, or Excuse cards.

Each deck of cards may further be a distinct color to quickly identify the card category. The card slot 701 may be color-coordinated according to the category of cards stored in the card slot 701. In one embodiment, the card colors may include green for Good Habit cards, yellow for Bad Habit cards, red for Excuse cards, and orange for Surprise cards. In one embodiment, the Card Holder 700 includes multiple card slots colored green, yellow, red, and orange and the corresponding deck of cards is placed therein.

In one embodiment, a second Card Holder 700 may be used to store cards that were previously drawn. In another embodiment, each player may have a Compliment Card wallet to store Compliment cards received from other players.

A player rolls the game cube. If the game cube lands face up on “Good Habit,” a player draws a Good Habit card from anywhere in the green card slot 701 of the Card Holder 700. If the game cube lands face up on “Bad Habit,” a player draws a Bad Habit card from anywhere in the yellow card slot 701 of the Card Holder 700. The player then reads the response prompt 202 for the Good Habit or Bad Habit card drawn aloud and then places it in the corresponding green or yellow card slot of the second card holder. A Time Manager announces when a two-minute cell phone timer and/or stopwatch is set so a player can begin their Candid Response Time related to the Good or Bad Habit either: 1) by explaining why the player thinks the habit is good or bad; 2) by giving an example or situation in which the good or bad habit would apply, or; 3) by explaining a possible consequence for the good or bad habit.

A player that responds to the response prompt 202 of a Good Habit card in one of the previously aforementioned ways is given one Compliment Card 301 from the top of the deck of each of the other players. The player places each collected Compliment Cards in their Compliment Card wallet without looking at the compliment back face 403. The player will reveal the compliment point value 404 during the conclusion of the game.

Play proceeds from right to left. Players that respond to the response prompt 202 of a Bad Habit card in one of the previously aforementioned ways are not given a Compliment Card. Players have an option to use an Excuse card 501, which allows a player to become exempt from giving a candid response to the response prompt 202. Each player receives a predetermined number of Excuse cards before the game begins. In one embodiment, the players receive four excuse cards.

The player should read the excuse information 602 aloud. Used Excuse cards are then placed in a red section of the second card holder. In one embodiment, once a player uses all of the predetermined number Excuse cards to become exempt from a Bad Habit card or a Surprise card response, the player must give a candid response in one of the aforementioned ways. At the end of one hour of game time, two points will be deducted from a player's score for every Excuse card used by that player.

If the game cube lands on “Surprise,” the player takes a Surprise card from anywhere in the orange card slot 701 of the Card Holder 700. The player will read the response prompt 202 aloud, the response prompt 202 may include an action for the player to perform or a statement to which the player may respond. The player has the option to act according to the response prompt 202 in two minutes or less to receive a Compliment Card 301 from each of the other players. The player may also use an Excuse card 501 to become exempt from doing the suggested action mentioned on the Surprise card.

If the game cube lands on “Lose a Turn,” the player will lose their roll during the next round. No Excuse card may be used. If the game cube lands on “Roll Again,” the player will get another roll immediately and respond to the prompt card 101 (Good Habit, Bad Habit, or Surprise card) as outlined above.

After one hour, a cell phone and/or stopwatch timer signals the end of play. Each player removes their Compliment Cards from their Compliment Card wallet and calculates their total number of Compliment Card points by counting the compliment point value 404 on each Compliment card 301 aloud to another player. Players will also reclaim any Excuse cards used during the game from the second card holder and subtract a predetermined number of points for each used Excuse card. In one embodiment, each used Excuse card may subtract two points from the player's total Compliment Card points. This combined point value total will equal a player's final score. Players take turns announcing their total score. This announcement should mark the first-time players will find out who has the highest point value and who won the game. Ties for winner between two or more players with identical point value totals may be possible.

Listening to the candid responses of other players is necessary. A player's candid response cannot be judged, interfered with, or answered by any other player. However, if meaning or clarity is needed regarding the response prompt 202 of a prompt card 101, an explanation can be offered by other players in two minutes or less. A player is not allowed to make personal references or name specific people that the Good or Bad Habit applies to, but a player may make a general reference to an unnamed person.

A different set list of Candid Response topics may be chosen for different game sessions that are configured with differing topics. Some topic lists may be configured with age-dependent topics, to be used where players belong to a specific age group. Other topic lists may be configured with theme-dependent topics, to be used when one or more players wish to direct candid responses, as well as potential discussions, to a particular topical area.

In one embodiment, there may be multiple player card sets including a predetermined number of Compliment Cards and Excuse cards. During game set up, each player receives a player card set. If a player runs out of Compliment Cards during a game session, players may borrow cards from a player card set that is not currently being used in the game and pass an equal number of extra Compliment Cards to each player without looking at the compliment point value 404 of the extra Compliment Cards. Return the extra Compliment Cards to the matching player card set that the cards were borrowed from after the game session has concluded.

The following is an exemplary list of Good Habit prompts that may be utilized as the response prompt 202 on the back face 203 of a prompt card 101 in a given game session:

• • I helped coordinate the outfits for a family photo.
  • I apologized to someone.
  • I helped without being asked.
  • I explained what I was upset about.
  • I stood up for my friend when they needed help.
  • I only asked others to do what I am willing to do.
  • I smile when I make eye contact with others.
  • I agreed to keep the television off for the whole day.
  • I try not to judge anyone before I get to know them.
  • I flossed my teeth.
  • I baked a dessert.
  • I shared an accomplishment.
  • I took a walk with my family.
  • I unloaded the dryer.
  • I fixed a new hairstyle that made me feel good.
  • I initiated a conversation.
  • I forgave someone.
  • I cleaned the sink after I used it.
  • I spoke clearly.
  • I put someone else's need before my own.
  • I watched my portion size while eating.
  • I washed my hands.
  • I gave someone a compliment.
  • I replaced a light bulb.
  • I respected someone else's privacy.
  • I reminded someone to drink plenty of water.
  • I offered to help a neighbor without being asked.
  • I ate a balanced meal.
  • I went to a movie/event someone suggested even though it was not my first choice.
  • I exercised my right to ask a question.
  • I comforted a crying child.
  • I stopped feeling sorry for myself.
  • I remembered his/her birthday.
  • I played a board game with my family.
  • I remembered to say “please.”
  • I replaced the toilet paper roll.
  • I helped someone with their hobby.
  • I encouraged someone to do their best.
  • I learned something new about myself.
  • I helped wash the car.
  • I made a gift for a family member.
  • I fastened my seatbelt.
  • I laughed at myself.
  • I helped rearrange the furniture.
  • I had my annual physical exam.
  • I listened carefully when someone was talking to me.
  • I recycled the glass, aluminum, and newspapers.
  • I remembered to say, “thank you.”
  • I planned a fire escape route with my family.
  • I gave someone positive feedback.
  • I found a healthy way to reduce stress and worry.
  • I took photos of my family.
  • I was more sensitive about someone's feelings.
  • I enjoyed the moment.
  • I don't waste food.
  • I gave a family member a hug.
  • I mailed the greeting card on time.
  • I forgave myself.
  • I set one new short-term goal for myself this week.
  • I put the baby in a child safety seat.
  • I thank service members for their service.
  • I washed the dishes.
  • I didn't spend too much money at the grocery store.
  • I told someone how much I appreciated them.
  • I did my chores without being reminded.
  • I rescued an insect/animal.
  • I did something that was hard even though I didn't want to.
  • I placed household cleaner out of reach of children.
  • I played a sport with family members.
  • I encouraged someone to say something positive about someone else.
  • I felt proud of myself.
  • I rented a movie to see with my family and discussed it with them.
  • I told the truth even though I knew I might get in trouble.
  • I ate breakfast.
  • I made someone laugh.
  • I held the door open for someone coming behind me.
  • I forgave someone else.
  • I planted a vegetable garden.
  • I did my best.
  • I try to put myself in another person's place.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the individual items of the list may be substituted into or for individual items from other lists.

The following is an exemplary list of Bad Habit cards that may be utilized as the response prompt 202 on the back face 203 of a prompt card 101 in a given game session:

• • I ate too much and felt bloated.
  • I blamed someone else for my mistake.
  • I left my clothes on the floor.
  • I wasn't willing to share even when there was enough.
  • I didn't give someone notice that I was coming to visit them.
  • I misplaced the remote control.
  • I played around with a knife.
  • I started an argument.
  • I left a mess in the kitchen sink.
  • I blocked a sidewalk to stop and have a conversation.
  • I used an item without permission.
  • I was constantly criticizing someone else.
  • I ignored someone who could use my help.
  • I didn't call to say I was going to be late.
  • I competed for attention.
  • I forgot to water the flowers and house plants.
  • I played my music too loud.
  • I read a letter that was not addressed to me.
  • I bullied someone.
  • I had an “attitude” and refused to talk about it.
  • I didn't admit I needed help.
  • I left something on the floor and someone tripped over it.
  • I refused to help someone.
  • I passed gas/farted/pooted/flatulated without moving away from others.
  • I denied I broke something.
  • I expect others to listen to me, but I don't listen to them.
  • I didn't bathe or shower.
  • I made someone cry.
  • I sneezed without covering my mouth.
  • I accused someone of doing something wrong with no proof.
  • I forgot to give an important telephone message.
  • I didn't put away the clean dishes.
  • I photoshopped a photo and pretended it was real.
  • I spat on the sidewalk.
  • I lost the keys.
  • I failed to clean the bathtub.
  • I neglected to lock the door(s) at night.
  • I talked on the telephone too long.
  • I was smacking my lips while eating.
  • I forgot to say “thank you.”
  • I didn't wash my hands after using the toilet.
  • I interrupted someone.
  • I half-finished a chore.
  • I called someone a bad name.
  • I didn't hang up my clothes.
  • I constantly complained.
  • I ignored the alarm clock.
  • I didn't save any money from what I earned/what I was given.
  • I talked with food in my mouth.
  • I left the lights on when no one was in the room.
  • I didn't put something back where I found it.
  • I threw things when I was angry.
  • I talked about someone behind their back.
  • I failed to read on a daily basis.
  • I left a spill on the floor.
  • I forgot to brush my teeth.
  • I didn't take care of my pets.
  • I changed the television channels while others were watching.
  • I didn't keep a promise.
  • I took someone else's prescription medication.
  • I ignored someone when they were talking to me.
  • I forgot to use my napkin.
  • I made fun of someone.
  • I lied.
  • I was talking too loud.
  • I failed to turn the faucet off completely.
  • I said a curse word.
  • I wore dirty, smelly clothes.
  • I took something that didn't belong to me.
  • I tracked mud on the floor.
  • I had an “I don't care” attitude.
  • I didn't share the responsibility for doing chores.
  • I picked my nose at the dinner table.
  • I pretended I was sick.
  • I neglected to read and follow instructions accurately.
  • I eavesdropped.
  • I watched too much television.
  • I throw trash on the ground.
  • I disturbed someone while they were sleeping.
  • I didn't flush the toilet.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the individual items of the list may be substituted into or for individual items from other lists.

The following is an exemplary list of Surprise cards that may be utilized as the response prompt 202 on the back face 203 of a prompt card 101 in a given game session:

• • If you were separated from someone you were with and didn't have a cell phone, what would you do?
  • Do 1 jumping jack for each letter of your first name.
  • What is your favorite holiday? Why?
  • Tell a story about something silly you did that made you laugh at yourself.
  • What's your favorite recipe.
  • What would you do if you had a million dollars?
  • What would you like to change about your personality?
  • SURPRISE!?! Player to your right will give you 2 compliment cards.
  • Imitate your favorite cartoon or TV character.
  • What would you do if someone came up to you that you met before and you can't remember their name? Give an example of a Good Habit response.
  • Tell what you would do if you witnessed someone breaking the law.
  • Think of something you admire in another person and tell what it is.
  • What topic would you choose if you were going to write a nonfiction best seller?
  • If you could create a perfect summer day, what would it be like/what would you do?
  • Name your favorite superhero and explain why.
  • Tell one thing you most enjoy doing with your family.
  • Show how you would introduce one player to another player.
  • If you were to write your autobiography, what would you want the readers to know about you?
  • Give every player a nickname other than the one everyone knows.
  • Name someone you feel comfortable talking to and explain why.
  • Name your favorite television show and explain why.
  • Stand up and do a dance.
  • Tell a story about your first job/your first chore that you'll never forget.
  • What is your favorite type of jewelry?
  • SURPRISE!?! The player to your left will give you 2 Compliment cards.
  • Call each player by their first name and make up a word that rhymes with it.
  • Look to your left and describe what the player to your right is wearing.
  • Lead all players in a song.
  • If you were president, what is the first thing you would do for your country?
  • Give an example of a behavior you want to improve.
  • Make a promise you know you can keep.
  • Create a license plate for your car so everyone will know it's yours.
  • What is your favorite toiletry (e.g. soap, lotion, cologne)?
  • Name an appliance that you use more than any other one. Explain why.
  • Create a song about your family and sing it to the tune of your favorite song.
  • What do you like about your body?
  • SURPRISE!?! Give the player to your right 3 Compliment cards.
  • Which season of the year is your favorite? Why?
  • Share knowledge or a fact about something you are interested in.
  • What supernatural power would you like to possess. Why?
  • Tell something you did that you think you deserve an award for.
  • Name your favorite teacher and explain why.
  • Turn to the person to your right and make them laugh.
  • Recite a nursery rhyme.
  • What topic would you choose if you were going to write a fiction best seller?
  • SURPRISE!?! Give the player to your left 2 Compliment cards.
  • Share how you decide which people you can share your feelings with.
  • Create a tongue twister by using your first name as the first word.
  • Which actor/actress would you like to play you in a movie about your life?
  • What is your favorite adventure trip?
  • Tell the player to your left what time it is without using a clock.
  • If you were told you have 1 day to live, what would you do?
  • Balance on one foot for 1 minute.
  • Rap a tune about one of your interests.
  • Name someone you think is a positive role model and explain why.
  • Challenge the player to your right to an arm-wrestling contest.
  • What is your favorite food?
  • If you could change something about where you live, what would it be?
  • Sing a song that other players will recognize.
  • Tell about something you have dreamed or imagined that you would like to be encouraged to do.
  • Name a bad habit you have and create a song of apology.
  • When is it appropriate to shake someone's hand?
  • Make up a Knock-Knock Joke.
  • Make up a sentence and use it to give another player a compliment.
  • What is your favorite type of pet?
  • Hold your breath for one minute.
  • What office supply can you not do without?
  • Name a good habit that you think everyone in the world should try.
  • What do you like about your personality?
  • Name your favorite book/magazine and explain why.
  • Tell others the type of appropriate praise you would like to get from a family member when you've done something nice (e.g. smile, hug, kiss on the cheek).
  • Hum your favorite tune and have other players guess the name of the song.
  • Tell something you learned today that will help you through the day.
  • Spell your name backwards.
  • Give the person to your left a compliment.
  • Bark like a dog.
  • SURPRISE!?! Player to your right will give you 2 Compliment cards.
  • What would you like to change about your body?
  • How do you decide on the people you can share your ideas with?
  • SURPRISE!?! Give the player to your left 3 Compliment cards.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the individual items of the list may be substituted into or for individual items from other lists.

While particular elements, embodiments, and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto because modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teaching. It is therefore contemplated by the application to cover such modifications and incorporate those features which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.