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Much to my son's dismay, I have never been much of a fan of board games, or games in general. He knows never to ask me to play Monopoly because I just don't have the attention span for it. (Don't worry, we get plenty of together-time in other ways...just not board games!)

OuiSi

But then I saw an advertisement for OuiSi and was instantly intrigued. It's a game of visual comparison and matching that seems to be fast-paced, everchanging, and new every time you play. It's also one that teaches children to be observant which, I know as an art teacher, is what sets good artists apart from great ones.

I haven't gotten my own OuiSi yet because I looked on Amazon to purchase one, not knowing that you have to purchase the game directly from the creator's website. As Amazon likes to do, though, it gave me the list of "more items like this one" and the rabbit-hole was wide open from there! Guys, I found SO many arts-based games that I never knew about! If you have ever played any of them, please comment on whether it was worth the purchase or not...I would love to have more fun-Friday activities that are still teaching my students art ideas and skills...but we all know the art budgets are small these days!

Two Tumbleweeds Art Dice

The first game that caught my eye is the Two Tumbleweeds Art Dice because I have my students create a weekly sketchbook piece and coming up with prompts can be hard sometimes. I feel as though this method of choosing the weekly topic could help take the pressure off of me, and could also just be a fun thing for the kids to do each Monday to get motivated for the week. Each die has a different topic that guides you to a final composition without having to think about the topic first. One die has different colors, another has art styles, and another has a variety of mediums on each face. With nine different dice to roll, the possibilities are endless! I really can't wait to be able to get this for my advanced art classes next semester!

Hues and Cues

Another game that, at first glance, instantly reminded me of the

I Love Hue App (if you don't already have it you definitely should!!!) because of the game's board. After reading the objective of Hues and Cues though, it's less about arranging colors in their correct gradient and more about trying to get the other players to guess a certain color block through verbal cues and connections. One review says it's best played with large groups so it might be worth a shot in the classroom. Let me know if you've ever played at all...bonus points if it was with your art class!

Artsy Fartsy

Everyone knows the original art-based game of Pictionary...Artsy Fartsy looks to be an updated version of that, minus the game board which, I'll be honest, we never used (shhh!). Some other variations to Artsy Fartsy are rules like being made to draw with your wrong hand or blindfolded, and you can also steal points from other teams. It does appear to take minimal drawing skills but the prompts are easier to follow than those of days past, making it a fun game for people of all ages. It's compact and easy to transport, since it's board-less, making it perfect for family vacations and road trips.

Telestrations

Another game that is reminiscent of Pictionary is Telestrations, but this one is for a slightly older age group than Artsy Fartsy at 12+. This game is described as a combination of Pictionary and the good old-fashioned game of Telephone, or "telephone sketched out". it caught my eye partially because it has 8 dry-erase boards for 8 players, and my classroom happens to have 8 tables. This would make it perfect for playing as a class on days when we're in between projects or just don't feel like working too hard one day. I can't wait to get this one!!

Do you have experience with these or any other art games? Comment below! I'd love to know which of these games is worth the money and time, particularly when it comes to using them in classroom settings. I know, I know...I'll play them with my son too, don't worry!