June 18, 2017, 10:03:14 AM


Author Topic: Tabletop games in class  (Read 1470 times)

Offline dubfrost

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Tabletop games in class
« on: March 22, 2017, 06:19:19 PM »
I got my school to order the popular game Dixit, and beyond that we have a slew of other games we use in class (which are usually about 15 students).
It got me thinking, has anyone else had success in using tabletop games in their classes?  What games do you use?

Offline sbillingsley

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2017, 06:58:16 PM »
I use board games as a camp activity rather than in classes, but they've been moderately successful.  I've used Splendor and Carcassone and the kids picked them up fairly well.  Catan was a bit too difficult for the kids I tried it on, at least in English, but more advanced speakers could do it.  For very low-level speakers, I use UNO.

English practice is usually provided by making the students announce all of their game actions.  So UNO practices "I have a red 5."  Splendor uses phrases like "I buy this card with 5 red gems and 3 black gems."  Carcassone has things like "I will add to this road," or "I've finished this city."

It would be tough to tailor games like that to particular lessons, I think, but as a general conversation practice camp activity, they work well.

Offline Palustris

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2017, 03:18:57 PM »
I successfully played Codenames (http://www.teflgamer.com/codenames/) with a high level group of students at Winter Camp. I sorted the cards before we played and took out the ones I thought would be too hard. You could play with keen lower level students if you used only the easiest cards. It also wouldn't be too hard to make your own set with vocabulary you wanted to practice.

Offline tommyb.goode

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2017, 03:33:18 PM »
Uno is great of course.

Also we just played this as an intro ice breaker lesson but you can surely integrate lesson review into it.

The kids had so much fun playing it. My family always play it at christmas too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippit

What I like about this game is that you can play with them and they can outsmart you.
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Offline turningsteel

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2017, 05:26:37 PM »
I second UNO. I managed to teach a whole class of 2nd grade elementary to play the other day.  They loved it.

Offline perpetualjoy

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2017, 07:49:36 PM »
As far as games that are good for English, Bohnanza is a hit with my kids. They absolutely love it. FUSE also works if you have a small group. Abracawhat is good for practicing small numbers. Higher level kids enjoy One Night Ultimate Werewolf.

I also have a bunch of other games that my kids can play on their free time. I have a lunchtime crew that hangs out in the English class and plays Bang! Other kids like Bang Dice (which I prefer but that group of kids doesn't).

Offline Bestline7

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2017, 08:07:36 PM »
This is great.

Offline yeticorn

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2017, 12:31:17 AM »
I actually have quite a budget dedicated to exclusively buying board games. I think I'm kinda lucky.

I typically have two kinds of kids: the really smart kids who want something a bit more in-depth, and the kids who just wanna play something brainless. I try to cater to both groups. What I typically do is teach all the game rules and English expressions to my upper level kids in my after school class, and they end up teaching the lower level kids in the board game club the rule details I can't explain.

To the low English learners: Twister, Monkey Drop (it's like Ker-Plunk, but with monkeys), Ultimate Werewolf, Sorry!, Uno, Battleship, and they go nuts for Halli-Galli. For the upper level kids: Catan, Bohnanza, Timeline, Bang!, Dixit, Rummikub, the DaVinci Code, Splendor, and they particularly love the Bang Dice Game. The big dud of the games that I bought was King of Tokyo. It's pretty much shunned.

You should be aware of one website, which I've been able to find Korean instructions for games that are only in English: http://www.bgkorea.com/  It appears to sorta be the boardgamegeek of Korea. Also, don't be afraid to email developers of these games. The King of Tokyo guys were great... I had a Korean edition of the game and didn't understand the cards. One email later, and they sent me a PDF with the English scans ready to go.

Lookin forward to what other people play. I need more ideas for new games this year :)
« Last Edit: March 24, 2017, 01:48:12 AM by yeticorn »

Offline yirj17

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2017, 10:26:34 AM »
UNO and battleship are great.  I've also done Zombie dice!

Offline tommyb.goode

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2017, 10:58:50 AM »
We played lord of the rings themed monopoly the other week, it was really fun if the kids are looking for something more complicated.
We taught can, must, may and have to.
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Offline thunderlips

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2017, 02:45:16 PM »
Clue is fun and uses some English vocab/expressions, but it is centered around murder.
Uno is a great game and so many variables to get the kids talking and playing.
Phase 10 is fun-less actual talking though.
Chess is popular, checkers less so.
A regular deck of cards offers possibilities too; old maid, go fish, spoons, concentration, etc..
Jenga- you can put some flashcards under the tower and the students have to pick a card use the word then pick a piece to remove. Or just put words on the pieces themselves.
Scrabble comes in different levels and is good for advanced students, sometimes I put them on teams too.
The guess who game would be good. I use a variation with some lamented copies of Diary of a Wimpy kid. https://en.islcollective.com/resources/printables/worksheets_doc_docx/guess_who_boardgame/questions-body-guess/7734
« Last Edit: March 24, 2017, 02:58:57 PM by thunderlips »
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Offline lifeisgood6447

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2017, 03:25:53 PM »
I have used many table top games, but THE HANDS DOWN BEST ONE IS Pepper's Talking Board

The game is not cheap, so be sure to use the school's budget. I had a camp budget, and I bought a few of the board games, and made everything else for camp without using any of the budget. This game makes students speak...A LOT. They have a few clips on Youtube, but the lady speaks a lot of Korean in the videos, I guess for the sake of making the video more fluid(?).  Anyway, it is great for speaking classes. If you do check it out, reply back with how awesome it is! (or what you thought of it  :wink: )

Offline yirj17

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2017, 03:41:40 PM »
Forgot to mention the card game PIT.  This game has gone over well with students.   I made versions with Pokemon and Mario characters as the commodities though. 

Very basic concerning English, they just need to know numbers. 

Offline lifeisgood6447

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Re: Tabletop games in class
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2017, 05:50:41 PM »
Oh yeah, high level 3rd grade middle schoolers also love Catch Phrase (the actual game. It can be as high as 80,000 with shipping). I got two, and we split off into two groups with about 10-14 per group. It works well, and they have a blast once they get the hang of it. Since the timer is a bit fast, I sometimes tell them to do two rounds on the timer.

 

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