Enjoy Playing Clowns (Angle Game)
I’ve got to tell you about this quirky little classroom favorite called Clowns, or sometimes the Angle Game. It’s one of those clever creations where you end up practicing geometry without even realizing you’re doing homework. Each player gets a clown template—think of a simple body shape with designated spots for arms, legs, hat, and even a big round nose. The twist is that every feature has to be drawn at a specific angle, so before you can give your clown its boisterous smile or jaunty hat, you’ve got to either estimate or measure that angle with a protractor.
On your turn you draw an “angle card” showing a value like 35° or 120°, along with the body part to place next. You pick a blank spot on your clown—maybe the left arm is missing—and then you use your ruler and protractor to construct that exact angle. Get it right, and you neatly add the feature. Slip up and you might end up with a lopsided leg or a wonky hat brim for everyone to see. It’s surprisingly competitive, because no one wants to boast a crooked nose when their neighbor has a perfectly balanced face!
What’s really cool is how it turns the dreaded angle exercises into a playful challenge. Kids who normally groan at “acute” and “obtuse” suddenly want to see who can be the most precise. Some classrooms even set up little tournaments, and you’ll hear shouts of “Forty-five degrees, coming right up!” echoing down the hall. It’s tactile, it’s social, and there’s a tangible sense of accomplishment when you place that last piece and realize you’ve built a full-fledged jester ready for the big show.
By the time you’ve finished a round, you’ve sketched half a dozen clowns and measured enough angles to fill a geometry test. But you’re not thinking about grades—you’re just focused on making your character as fun and accurate as possible. It blends art and math so smoothly you don’t notice the learning curve at all. If you ever get a chance to try it, grab a protractor and join in—you might be surprised how fun angles can be.