About the Alice in Wonderland What's Missing? Game
Lewis Carroll's 1865 Alice in Wonderland is firmly public domain — we can use the whole curious cast. White rabbits, mad tea parties, caterpillars, keys and cakes that say "eat me".
What's in the Alice in Wonderland deck
The full deck, so you know what to watch for — 12 pictures: 🐇 White Rabbit⏰ Clock☕ Tea🎩 Hat🌹 Rose🍄 Mushroom🃏 Playing Card👑 Crown🐛 Caterpillar🔑 Key📖 Book🧁 Cake
Study tip: link the first three — white rabbit, clock and tea — into one ridiculous mental picture. Absurd images stick; lists don't. When a picture vanishes, replay the scene and ask what doesn't fit any more.
How to memorise a classics board
Classic decks — board games, timeless toys, household evergreens — memorise well by function. Ask of each item: what is it for? Rolling dice moves a piece; a playing card deals a hand; a toy train carries cargo. Function gives every picture a tiny verb, and verbs, again, are the memory's favourite handle.
Then link the functions into an afternoon: you play the game, shuffle the cards, wind the toy. A board that tells you what a rainy Sunday felt like in object form is a board you can replay from memory after one pass.
How to Play
- Press Start and memorise every picture on the board.
- After a few seconds the board hides and one picture is removed.
- Pick the missing picture from the answer choices.
- Each correct answer adds a bigger board. Three misses ends the game.
Fun Facts About Alice in Wonderland
- Alice in Wonderland was written in 1862 and first published in 1865.
- The original illustrations are by John Tenniel.
- The White Rabbit's "I'm late!" has inspired a hundred timepieces.
- Oxford's Christ Church meadow is said to have inspired Alice's adventures.
Classics deck questions
Are these decks good for reminiscence activities?
Very. Recognisable everyday objects from decades past are the standard material for memory sessions with older family members, and a matching game gives the conversation a light, no-pressure frame.
The board looks easy — should I skip to hard?
Familiar items are easier to recognise but not necessarily easier to locate. Try medium first: if your first game lands under the excellent benchmark, move up.