Teaching with Games

Players compete to make arrangements of decorative tiles. "Introduced by the Moors, 'azulejos' (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced by the Portuguese, when their king Manuel I, on a visit to the Alhambra palace in southern Spain, was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Moorish decorative tiles. The king, awestruck by the interior beauty of the Alhambra, immediately ordered that his own palace in Portugal be decorated with similar tiles." Ages 8+, 2-4 players, Duration: 30-45 minutes

The classic Naval combat game, in which players try to sink all enemy ships by calling out suspected hiding areas and keeping track of hits and misses. Ages 7+.

For 2, 4 or 6 players, ages 8 and above.

A two-player strategy board game in which the objective is to accumulate pieces in stacks. Ages 13 and up.

GIPF is a strategic game for two players based on a classic concept in turns, players introduce one piece into play until achieving four-in-a-row. Players then remove their row and capture any of their opponent's pieces which extend that row. This principle of capturing pieces creates each time again completely changes situations on the board. The purpose is to form successive rows of at least 4 pieces, until the opponent has no piece left to bring into play. GIPF is a pure and challenging game that combines classic systems with completely new elements. Full of surprises and offering unlimited possibilities, it will appeal to occasional players as well as to fanatic gamers.

Go is a 2-player abstract strategy game in which players compete to occupy the most space on the board, while surrending the fewest stones to the other player. At the end of the game, the players count up the open spaces enclosed by their stones and subtract from this the number of their stones captured by their opponent. The player with the higher amount wins the game.

Solve 2-D and 3-D puzzles by arranging game pieces. Pick a puzzle from the book, set up the challenge, and place the remaining game pieces to solve the puzzle.
Ages 8 to adult.

The game is played with 48 pieces in six colors. At the start of play, all colors are neutral and do not belong to any player. During the course of the game, both players must choose two colors. The goal is to make piles of five pieces of different colors whose top color is their own. Whoever has clever tactics, plans for the future, and uses the possibility of multiple moves on stones of their own color will ultimately win with a majority of the 5-stacks.

Magic Maze is a real-time cooperative game, essentially played in silence, that will turn your gaming habits upside down. Ages 8+, 1-8 players, Duration: 15 minutes

Collect the most stones in your mancala. For 2 players. For ages 6 and up.

PÜNCT is a connection game: the goal is to link two opposite sites. On your turn, you either bring a new piece into play, or you move a piece that is already on the board. The more pieces you bring into play, the more possibilities you have to make a connection. But each time you put a new piece on the board, you reveal a bit of what your plan is. The trick is to place your pieces in such a way that your opponent will expect you to do something different from what you really have in mind. As such, PÜNCT is not only about making a connection, but also about misleading your opponent! You'll have to proceed subtly!

Players program factory robots and pit them against each other in frantic, destructive races across the factory floors avoiding obstacles like gaping pits, industrial lasers, moving conveyor belts and, of course, other robots. Ages 12+ 2-6 players

Santorini is a highly accessible pure strategy game that is simple enough for an elementary school classroom. But with enough gameplay depth and content for even hardcore gamers to explore, Santorini is truly a game for everyone. For 2-4 players, ages 8 and above.

A crossword-style game with numbers. It can be played 5 different ways. Ages 9 to adult.

A 3-dimensional version that starts on a 4 by 4 base. Pieces can be stacked on top of each other. Two optional "blocker" pieces are included. For 2 players, ages 8 and above.

TZAAR is a game about making choices. Both players have 30 pieces, divided in three types: 6 Tzaars, 9 Tzarras and 15 Totts. The three types of pieces form a trinity: They cannot exist without each other. The aim is either to make the opponent run out of one of the three types of pieces or to put him in a position in which he cannot capture any more.

Players must race against time and each other to solve a puzzle of interlocking shapes. Ages 8 & up. For 1-4 players. Play time, 25 minutes.

Sometimes you will have the impression that there is nothing but chaos on the board. You line up a few of your pieces and the next thing you notice is that they have changed color! The more pieces on the board, the more difficult it becomes to predict what will happen. But also the more opportunities you have! So do not worry: you will get your chance. Just stay alert, and you will create your own little bit of order in the chaos!

Players compete to collect marbles from the board, mostly from jumping a marble over other ones. However, players may also remove empty spaces from the edge of the board, gradually shrinking the playable area.

In Compounded, players take on the roles of lab managers, competing to complete the most compounds with carefully-managed elements before they are finished by others--or destroyed by a lab explosion. The scientist with the most atomic points wins. 2-5 players. Ages 13+

In a dynamic ecosystem where food is scarce and predators lurk, evolve your animal species to adapt and better survive. For 2-6 players, ages 12 and above. Duration: 60 min.

Flight is an expansion for the game "Evolution" that introduces avian species into the ecosystem. Now your species can swoop on unsuspecting prey from above, fly away from predators, or soar to a new location when food is scarce.

In a dynamic ecosystem where climate swings can eliminate sources of food and bring out predators, your species must adapt to survive. The winner is the one who best adapts to the changing world around them.
For ages 12+.

Evo is a game of conquest in a hostile setting. To win, you will have to bid to acquire the genes that will enable your dinosaurs to confront different types of climate, to produce more eggs, or even to survive enemy attacks.
For 2-5 players, ages 14 and above.

Players build a carefully-balanced tower out of several layers of columns and platforms.
For 2-4 players, ages 8 and above. Duration: 20-30 min.

Zendo is an inductive logic game in which players are attempting to figure out a secret rule.

A game about planning and about managing risk. With even a single grand journey into outer space, you might claim victory in the game. Consequently, it is your job to plan each journey carefully, finding the cheapest, quickest, and safest ways to reach your objective — but do not spend too long preparing, or another nation might reach their goal before you.For 1-5 players, ages 13 and above. 60-180 minutes.

3 players. Ages 13+

Players compete to make arrangements of decorative tiles. "Introduced by the Moors, 'azulejos' (originally white and blue ceramic tiles) were fully embraced by the Portuguese, when their king Manuel I, on a visit to the Alhambra palace in southern Spain, was mesmerized by the stunning beauty of the Moorish decorative tiles. The king, awestruck by the interior beauty of the Alhambra, immediately ordered that his own palace in Portugal be decorated with similar tiles." Ages 8+, 2-4 players, Duration: 30-45 minutes

Explore the emerging world of work. The game leads youth to an understanding of the breadth of their options and opportunities, the implications of their choices, and the importance of education and planning. Grades 7-8.

Through role playing, written exercises, research projects, structured game activities, and interaction with classmates, teachers, parents, and community members, The Be Real Game program provides a positive and supportive environment for Grades 9 and 10 students to explore the emerging world of work.