The wonderful thing about learning is that it can be fun. Many people think of learning as very boring - they think that learning requires endless hours of listening to monotone speeches and even more hours of falling asleep at books. Learning does not have to be like this -- in fact, it should not be like this!

Teach your students that learning can be fun by incorporating learning games into your everyday lesson plan.

Learning games are fun ways to learn important skills and knowledge. Some of the best kinds of learning are the kind that you can play without even realizing that you are learning through the process. Here are some excellent learning games for preschool and grade school aged children:

Learning game 1: Exchange Change Game

To play this learning game, you need two or three players and also 15 pennies, 6 nickels, 10 dimes, and one die. This is an excellent learning game for teaching youth about money combinations. The first player rolls the die. If the number 1 comes up, he takes one coin. If the number 2 comes up, he takes two coins, and so on. If he rolls a six, he is allowed to take six pennies, but then he must exchange 5 pennies for a nickel. After a while of having to do this exchange, he will learn to take 1 penny and one nickel on his next turn. Similarly, once a player has five pennies he must exchange them for a nickel, and two nickels must be exchanged for a dime. At the end, all of the players count their change. The player with the highest amount wins. This game can also be played at a higher level with quarters and dollar bills or play money.

Learning game 2: Bean Plates

This learning games helps children learn and understand multiplication. Divide children into small groups and give them some paper plates and some dried beans. With this game, if you have 2 plates with 3 beans on each plate, then you have 2 X 3 = 6. Or, maybe you will have 3 plates with 6 beans on each plate. This is 3 plates times 6 beans or 3 X 6 = 18, etc. The kids can count the beans to double-check and to see that this is actually true.

Learning game 3: Shaving Cream Writing

For this learning game, you need foil or wax paper and a can of shaving cream (not of the gel variety). This game can get a wee bit messy, so be prepared. Lay out your foil or wax paper across a table, nice and flat. Allow the kids to spray a large pile of shaving cream onto the foil or wax paper. They can then dip their hands write into it and spread it around so that they practice writing by using their fingers. Both tactical and visual learners will benefit from this learning game.

Learning game 4: Ant Walk

This learning game teaches children to look closely at the environment and to appreciate it on a whole new level. For this learning game, you will only need a piece of string, about a yard long at most. Give each student or student pair a piece of string, then tell them to set up a trail for an ant walk. The students can find an interesting piece of the schoolyard, preferably around a tree or garden -- somewhere with a lot to see - then the students get down low to the ground and pretend that they are an ant walking along the path of string. What do they see? What does the grass look like? What other bugs might be around? Why is there a hole in that part of the ground? Then, you can have each student or group share with another student or group all of the marvels and sites along his ant walk.