Ericka Kofkin

LEI 4724
Activity File 15

Activity Title: Apples to Apples

Source: Jones, A. (2013). Therapy games. [Richland, Washington]: Rec Room Publishing LLC.

Equipment: Apples to Apples Game

Activity Description:
APPLES TO APPLES comes with 756 Red Apple Cards and 252 Green Apple Cards. The Red Apple Cards are
mostly filled with people, places, things, and events. The Green Apple Cards contain descriptive words.
1. Deal seven red cards to each player
2. Select one person to be the judge for the first round.
3. The judge selects a green card from the top of the draw pile, and he or she lays it out on the table face up
so everyone can see the word.
4. Each person (except for the judge) selects the one card in their hand that they think best fits the
descriptive word and lays it face down in a pile in the middle.
5. The judge collects the pile and reads each card out out loud and determines which one he or she thinks
best fits the descriptive word and announces this card to the group.
6. The person who played that card is the winner of the round and collects the green card.
7. Select a new judge (usually you will go around the circle).
8. Everyone takes a red card from the draw pile to start each round with seven cards.
9. The judge lays down another green card and play continues in the same manner as above. The winner is
the first one to collect a predetermined number of green cards or the person who has the most green
cards when it is time to end the game.

Leadership Considerations:
1. Apples to Apples is unique because players can easily join and leave the game at any time.
2. If people will feel that the judge didnt make the choice that made the most sense; theyll frequently
think that their card should have been chosen when it wasnt. This can lead to a discussion about feeling
like life is fair or not. Because the judge is the one in control, theres a good opportunity to discuss
feelings we have about being in control or feeling like others are in control. Also, everyone should feel
the pressure of being the judge, and this can open the discussion about making decisions when in a
group. Being judged by others or our own judgment of others is another easy lesson that can be derived
from this game. Discussion topics might include feeling that life isnt fair, feeling that others control
your life, feelings associated with judging others or being judged, and decision making.
3. For participants with cerebral palsy, cut slits in a halved pool noodle to make a card holder. The
directions for play that come in the APPLE TO APPLES box includes a small side note stating that
players may attempt to influence the judges choice by promoting their cards. Make this a condition of
the game. Use the phrase advocate for your card as a segue into a discussion about effective self-
advocacy and the importance of this skill in our lives, as people with disabilities.
4. For participants with apraxia or other speech disabilities, build in opportunities for discussion, by asking
participants to explain their decisions, encourage sharing and storytelling during play. Manage the
excitement level and build in natural pauses to allow extra time for speech processing and word finding.