PRIMATES AND THEIR HABITATS

GAME 1

MONKEY MATCH-UP

A memory and matching game for younger players

Educational Objectives:

Players correctly match primate picture cards and become familiar with how different and alike primate species are
Players correctly match primate habitat cards, becoming familiar with the notion that the world has a variety of ecological habitats
Players may understand that specific primate species live in specific habitats

For Educators: Education Standards Success Criteria

THE CARDS

36 game cards include 27 primate cards and 9 habitat cards.

Note: There are three times as many rainforest cards in the deck because most nonhuman primates live in the world’s tropical rainforests.

1. Download the printable game cards.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

2. Print the cards. For best results, print on card stock. Laminate if you wish.

3. Cut to create a 36-card deck.

OBJECT OF THE GAME:
Turn over pairs of exactly matching cards by matching the primate or habitat photos in the cards. The game can be played with one, two, or more players.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Print two sets of Primate Habitats Cards.

2. Select exactly matching cards from each of the decks to form pairs. Select the number of pairs that best suits the ages of the players and the number of players. Since this is a memory game, younger players may do better with fewer cards to recall. If playing with 2 or more players, add pairs so everyone can have several turns.

3. Shuffle the deck.

4. Lay out, face down, 4 rows of 4 cards (8 matching pairs), 4 rows of 5 cards (10 matching pairs), or 4 rows of 6 cards (12 matching pairs), depending upon the number of pairs you have selected for your players.

5. In turn, each player chooses 2 cards and turns them face up. If they are the same photo, that player wins a pair and plays again. Matching cards are removed from the game and held by the player until the end of the game.

6. If they are not the same cards, the cards are turned face down again and the player to the left takes their turn.

7. The game ends when the last pair has been picked up.

8. The winner is the person with the most pairs. There may be a tie for first place.

9. Learn more about the primates and habitats in the cards here: Who’s In the Cards?

MATCH

NOT A MATCH

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS SUCCESS CRITERIA

Objective: SW match primate cards by exact match

Proficient

SW find exact matches, name the primate, and the habitat (for example, The Common Squirrel Monkey lives in the rainforest in South America).

Students use academic vocabulary to talk about animals, and their habitats.

Beyond: Students may independently, or with guidance and support, conduct research on an animal of interest by seeking new books, videos, or other resources with further information.

Almost

Students may need adult prompting, visual cues, or other resources to find exact matches.

Students may need prompting or modeling from adults or peers to name one or more of the following: primate name, habitat, location

Not Yet

Students may copy from a peer or adult model to match and name primates and habitats.

Standards by Brandi Bellacicco, August 2024