Blokus Strategy Board Game

Blokus Strategy Board Game
From Educational Insights

Average customer review:

Product Description

Grades K and up. Europe's 2003 game of the year! Develops logic and spacial perception while kids learn to be tactical. Players take turns placing pieces on their board, each starting from their corner. Each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to get rid of all your pieces. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more of their pieces. Includes one gameboard with 400 squares, 84 game pieces in four bright translucent colors, and an instruction guide.

 

Product Details

  • Size: Standard: 13.8 x 13.7 x 2.2 inches
  • Brand: Educational Insights
  • Model: 2995
  • Released on: 2007-05-01
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 2.20" h x 13.70" w x 13.80" l, 2.60 pounds
Features
  • 84-piece strategy board game, encourages spatial thinking
  • Promotes healthy brain activity; winner of 20+ prestigious awards, including Mensa Select
  • Features bright colors and simple rules; ideal for ages 5 and up
  • Game ends when one person places all their pieces, or when there are no possible moves
  • Includes 400-piece game board with raised edges, 84 colored playing pieces, and instruction guide

 

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Fun for both kids and adults, Blokus is a strategy board game that challenges spatial thinking. Bright colors and simple rules make it ideal for ages five and up, but adults will certainly be engrossed by this unique and challenging game.

Not Your Average Board Game
Blokus encourages creative thinking and has received a Mensa award for promoting healthy brain activity. The goal of this game is for players to fit all of their pieces onto the board. When placing a piece it may not lie adjacent to the player's other pieces, but must be placed touching at least one corner of their pieces already on the board. The player who gets rid of all of their tiles first is the winner and strategic thinking helps as you block moves from your opponent. Blokus sometimes comes to an end because there are no more possible moves.

Four players make this abstract game especially fast and exciting; however, it can be just as fun for two or three players. Blokus has come up with a number of different ways to play the game to make it more thrilling when playing with less than four players. Draft Blokus allows a player to use more than one color and Reverse Blokus reverses the entire game so that the person who places the least amount of tiles on the board is the winner. It can even be played in a solitaire version when one player attempts to place all of their pieces in a single sitting. A game of Blokus typically lasts a 30 minutes. As a practical feature, raised edges on the board help keep the tiles in place and allow convenient clean-up. This game includes 84 pieces in four vibrant colors, an instruction guide, and one gameboard with 400 squares.

Blokus is simple to understand, but the game's complexity is revealed shortly after everyone begins to play. It can be addictive, even for those not normally into abstract games. Blokus is a catalyst for spatial thinking, as players form images in their mind before placing the pieces on the board. Children and adults can play together for hours of competitive family fun. As Europe's 2003 Game of the Year, Blokus is adored by many and even played in professional tournaments.

What's in the Box
84 pieces in four colors, gameboard with 400 squares, and an instruction guide.


Once a piece has been placed on the board it can't be moved, so plan your moves carefully.

Adding to the game's challenges, each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners.

From the Manufacturer
Blokus - The most awarded game of the 21st century! Develops logic and spacial perception while kids learn to be tactical. Players take turns placing pieces on their board, each starting from their corner. Each new piece must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to get rid of all your pieces. The game ends when all players are blocked from laying down any more of their pieces. Includes one gameboard with 400 squares, 84 game pieces in four bright translucent colors, and an instruction guide.

 

Live Butterfly Garden

Live Butterfly Garden
From Insect Lore

See one of nature's greatest miracles right before your eyes with this Oppenheim Best Toy Award-winning butterfly raising kit. Raise five Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis. See each caterpillar's transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalis, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly. After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard.

Includes colorful habitat, coupon for five butterfly larvae with special food and complete instructions ($3.00 processing fee required). Three butterflies are guaranteed to be perfect specimens. Measures 12" x 12" x 10".

Note: Please allow approximately 3 weeks for your larvae to develop. During extremely hot or cold weather, delivery of live larvae may be delayed. Available only in the Continental U.S. and Alaska. Note that shipping charge applies for delivery of live larvae.

 

Product Details

  • Size: Garden
  • Brand: Insect Lore
  • Model: 1010
  • Fabric type: Waterproof PVC Fabric Shell
  • Dimensions: 3.00" h x 13.00" w x 13.00" l, .90 pounds
Features
  • See butterfly metamorphosis up close.Reusable, collapsible habitat.
  • Includes feeder.Complete instructions included.
  • Includes mail-in voucher for five butterfly larvae and special food. ($3.00 fee for processing)
  • Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close.
  • Just mail in the included coupon for larvae and food.

 

Editorial Review
Did you know that painted ladies (the butterflies, that is) taste with their feet and have 10,000 eyes? You and your kids will be fascinated by all you learn about these beautiful creatures with the Butterfly Garden from Insect Lore. The kit comes with a relatively easy-to-assemble observation chamber; supplies for feeding the butterflies (you provide only sugar and water); an informative booklet of clear instructions and butterfly facts; and a certificate for three to five free painted lady caterpillars. The metamorphosis from larva to butterfly takes about three weeks from when you receive the caterpillar larvae (which arrive in a small container with all the nutrients they need). Your children can watch the larvae increase dramatically in size, form chrysalides, and finally emerge into full-fledged painted ladies (it's suggested that they release the butterflies after a few days of observation). This would make a wonderful activity for families with kids of any age, but younger children will need help assembling the observation chamber and reading the instruction booklet. (Note: The manufacturer recommends that butterflies should not be set free in temperatures lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.) --Rachel Radway

From the Manufacturer
Raise 3 to 5 Painted Lady butterflies while learning all about metamorphosis with this Oppenheim Best Toy Award-winning butterfly raising kit! See each caterpillar’s transition as it matures, changes into a chrysalid, and finally emerges as a Painted Lady butterfly! After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard! Available only in the Continental U.S. and Alaska. Please be advised that there is an additional $3.00 required when redeeming your coupon for shipping and handling.