I put together this game in 2007 for my daughter’s Valentine’s Day party.  If you are a teacher or student, please feel free to use this in your class.  I think it’s a fun, free, holiday children’s game that can liven up any school party.  The game is copyrighted and permission is granted to use it during the month of February.

You can download one convenient file, which includes the rules, all of the calling tiles and 30 playing cards.  You can also download a pack of 30 additional playing cards if needed.

Game Contents

In the PDF package there are 30 randomly generated color game cards, 10 sheets of color calling tiles, and 2 sheets of

monochrome calling tiles.  Print the number of game card pages you need and the type of calling tiles you'll use.  There are different variations of game play all explained below.

Game Play

Variation #1 – Simple Rules

In this variation, you only need to print out the number of cards you need and the last two pages of the PDF file with the monochrome heart calling tiles.  Cut the calling tiles out.  Place the calling tiles in a hat or other container.  Mix the calling tiles up.  Distribute the cards to the players.  Everyone gets to mark the center square because it's a free spot.  Pull a calling tile out of the hat.  Read the saying out loud, for example “Red Hot” or “Love me” or “Wow!”.  Players will mark their cards if they have a heart of ANY COLOR in ANY COLUMN with that saying.  Play continues until the first player gets five in a row across, down, or diagonally across their playing card.  That player will call out “Candy Hearts!” and is the winner.

Variation #2 - Color Rules

In this variation, you only need to print out the number of cards you need and the nine pages  of color heart calling tiles. Cut the calling tiles out.  Place the calling tiles in a hat or other container.  Mix the calling tiles up.  Distribute the cards to the players.  Everyone gets to mark the center square because it's a free spot.  Pull a calling tile out of the hat.  Read the color of the heart and the saying out loud, for example “Purple, Red Hot” or “Yellow, Love me” or “White, Wow!”.

Players will mark their cards if they have a heart of that color and phrase in ANY COLUMN upon their playing card.  Play

continues until the first player gets five in a row across, down, or diagonally across their playing card.  That player will call out “Candy Hearts!” and is the winner.

Variation #3 – Auditorium rules

In this variation, you will need to print out the number of cards you need, the nine pages of color heart calling tiles and the last page of HEART tiles.  Place the calling tiles in a hat or other container.  Place the HEART tiles in another hat or other container.  Mix both sets of tiles up.  Distribute the cards to the players.  Everyone gets to mark the center square because it's a free spot.  Pull a calling tile out of each hat.  Read the letter of the column heart and the color of the second heart and the title out loud, for example “H, Purple, Red Hot” or “E, Yellow, Love me” or “T, White, Wow!”.  Players will mark their cards if they have a heart of that color and phrase in the particular column upon their playing card.  Play continues until the first player gets five in a row across, down, or diagonally across their playing card.  That player will call out “Candy

Hearts!” and is the winner.

Note:

In all variations of play, the game cards were created randomly, and do not have two of the same sayings on a card. Variation #1 has 63 different saying.  This will produce a “Candy Hearts!” winner relatively quickly.  Variation #2 has 63 different sayings, in six different colors, for a total of 378 combinations.   Variation #3 has 63 different sayings, in six

different colors, which can occur in one of five columns, for a total of 1890 combinations.  This is best suited for large

groups and will need many more randomly generated cards to avoid multiple simultaneous winners.

©2007 Andrew, All Rights Reserved

Expressed written permission is hereby granted for all educators and students to use this game during  the month of February.  Happy Valentine's Day.