Life-Sized Games

Last updated: May 10, 2020, at 7:21 p.m. PT

Originally published: May 10, 2020, at 7:08 p.m. PT

Rocks painted for tick tack toe

What better way to combine your love for games and getting outside than by making GIANT games to play outside? We’re sharing some of our favorite classic games that are blown up to play outside. Adult supervision required.

Giant Yardzee

Supplies Needed: 

  • A large bucket
  • Yardzee scorecards
  • Wooden blocks (Approximately 4"x4"x4" inches. Many hardware stores can make the cuts for you.)
  • Colored paint
  • Black paint (for the dots)
  • Flat foam brush
  • Circle foam brush
  • Sealant spray (optional)

Instructions:

  1. To make this spin on Yahtzee, make sure your blocks are well sanded and don’t have any rough spots.
  2. Paint your blocks, making sure each side has adequate coverage so that none of the wood is showing. Dry.
  3. Use your circle foam brush and saturate it with black paint. You can use a picture of dice, or an actual dice to guide where to place your dots. Place your dots on each side of your dice. Remember, the opposite sides of the dice always add up to seven. (1-6, 2-5, 3-4.)
  4. After painting your dots, allow at least 24 hours of drying time.
  5. To give your blocks a protective coat, spray them with a clear acrylic sealant.
  6. Get rolling!

Giant Tic-Tac-Toe

Supplies Needed:

  • 10 clean river rocks
  • 4 Wood square dowels or similar length sticks
  • 2 colors of paint for your rocks
  • White paint for the sticks and rock designs
  • Paintbrush

Instructions: 

This is a great one for the kids to take the lead on!

  • Begin by painting your rocks – 5 of one color and 5 in the other color.
  • Paint the dowels or sticks white (this step is optional).
  • Once the rocks are dry, add polka dots to one of the sets of rocks by using the end of the paintbrush and on the other set, freehand some stripes on the other set of rocks. Or, pick another design of choice!
  • Once everything is dry, GAME ON!

Giant Checkers

Supplies Needed:

  • 24 paper plates or bowls
  • Markers or paint
  • Sidewalk Chalk

Instructions:

  • To make this giant version of checkers, you need 24 giant checkers, 12 for each player.
  • Decorate one side of your paper plate or bowls in two different colors using paint or markers.
  • Turn the checkers over and draw a same-color crown or star on the other side, so you can use that side when your piece gets to be a King.
  • With an adult, find a large, safe outdoor surface to create your checkerboard. A checkerboard is eight squares long and wide—that’s 64 squares! The checkerboard squares need to be a little larger than your checkers. Use your chalk to lay out your checkerboard. Or create patterns with recycled cardboard so you can help trace the squares with chalk. Fill in every other square with sidewalk chalk. Alternatively, you can use DIY sidewalk chalk paint to speed up the process.
  • Decorate the squares and add borders if you like.
  • When the paint is dry, and the board is complete, you are ready to play!
  • Traditional rules can be found here or make up your own!