Teachers - The Best Educational Games for Your Classroom!
A Listmania! list by G. Sims "Husker"(Nebraska, Home of the Huskers)
The list author says: "I have offered a course to teachers for the past ten years that introduces them to a variety of games that they can use in their classroom to enhance their existing curriculum. Each one of these games has been played in my classroom hundreds of times by hundreds of students over the years."
"Muggins is a FANTASTIC Classroom Math game. If I could choose just one game from the list - this is it. It has been proven, through an independent study, to increase students' math skills. Don't let the high price fool you. It’s actually 2 games in one + made of solid materials that will last a lifetime! The game play/rules can be changed for both younger and older students! (Grades K-12)"
"The Best Bargain on the List! 4+ Games in One for only $10! This game can be played in a small group or as a whole class. Every card has exactly one match on every other card. The game comes with directions on how to play 4 different ways, but our class has developed at least 2 other ways to play. Our current favorite is doing it in straight lines as a relay race."
"A Newer game and a lot like Muggins for a fraction of the price. There are three sets of cards in the deck filled with low (1, 2, 3, 4), medium (5, 6, 7, 8), and higher (9, 10, 11, 12) number cards. Deal out four cards (2 low, 1 medium, and 1 high) and then take turns trying to come up with all of the numbers starting with 1 and using any/all of the four cards."
"Skippity is a great, fun, easy to play game. It is a game where my students have as good of a change to win as I do. The checkers (called Skippers in this game) come in five different colors and a person gets a point every time they collect one of each color. There is a lot of strategy involved in the game but it is easy enough on the rules that K-6 should have fun playing it!"
"Tic Tac Toe on Steroids! This game is my absolute favorite on the list. 9 Minigames of Tic-Tac-Toe, whoever wins the square gets a point, first to 5 points wins. However, wherever your opponent plays their marble tells you where you must play next! 3rd-12th Grade!"
"Such a unique, fun game! Players work together to collect all four treasures and escape the island as a team, before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Tiles are shuffled and make up the game board, so the game is different each time you play it. Easy to learn, challenging to win. A Mensa Select Game!"
"Students take turns being "Story Tellers" and match a story with a painting on a card they have. The rest of the students try to match a card they have with the "story" being told. Players earn points for how many people in the game vote on their card. My students play this ALL the time during free play. It really channels imagination and creativity!"
"A great Math / Strategy Game. The person to stay in the game the longest wins. Students go through many mental math flash cards while adding their way up to 99!"
"Rules can be changed to accommodate students in grades K-6! Teachers love playing this game too! It is a favorite at indoor recess because they can play 10 times before recess is over (unlike other games that take them 15 minutes just to set up). Improves students rapid processing skills and pattern recognition! Very Affordable as well!"
"A Great Strategy Game! Try to get four in a row before your opponent does! However, don't forget - they can gobble up your pieces at any time! Elements of checkers, chess, and tic-tac-toe combine in this game! Great for indoor recess because students can play 5-6 times before the bell rings!"
"One of the BEST GAMES ever! Kids from 3rd grade up should enjoy this game! Improves student's problem solving, spatial awareness, deductive reasoning skills, and general strategy. A must have for any class. Great for a Center or to have when students are done with their work. Their is also a free online version of Blokus that we love to play in the computer lab against each other!"
"Great Game! In my classroom, I will put one of the images under the document camera and have the students stare at it for a minute. I will then ask them the questions on the back. Then I put the image back up and have them create 1-2 questions about the image for their classmates to answer. I also have them rate their questions on a scale of 1-6 on how difficult of a question they think it is"
"Two Letter Tiles come out of the chute. The first person to think of a word that begins with the 1st letter and ends with the 2nd wins the two tiles! We play this as a whole class game all the time. Endless ways to modify the game to make it easier or more challenging."
"Using High-Powered Magnets, students must be the first to place all their magnets in the board. However, if any magnets stick to theirs during the turn, they must add them all the their hand! Challenging, involving strategy and a bit of luck! All of my students love this one! K-6"
"A quick, fun way for students to learn more about this great country we live in! Can be played in about 25 minutes or less! Super for any grade level that is learning about America, the states, regions, or history!"
"Do you students struggle working with money? This is the game for you! Students will be constantly be doing mental math "flash cards" involving money as they try to be the first one out of the game.
My students weren't sure if they liked this game at first, but they have come to enjoy it tremendously and it is one of the first Math games picked when I give free choice!"
"Place a card on each student's desk as they come into the room in the morning and use it as a AM seatwork activity. Four numbers on a card, using +/-/x/& division the #'s have at least 1 way to make 24! Great Starter Activity for 3rd-6th"
"A game created with help from NASA! Great game for when students are studying the planets or outer space! The rules can be a bit confusing at first, but on of the only true Science games on the list!"
"The simplest rules on the list. K-6. 2 Players take turns dropped their geometric figures down a clear 'chute'. The first player who plays a piece that sticks out above the 'chute' loses the round. Problem Solving, Spatial Relations, Deductive Reasoning all rolled into one! Very Quick to Play"
