Melissa Rogerson: Games, Games, Games

Games

I’m putting together a list of games that will be suitable to take into Biggie’s Year 3-4 classroom (girls and boys aged 8-10). It’s surprisingly easy to find games that are good for that age—and surprisingly difficult to whittle the list down. I’m trying to offer a range of games for the teachers to select from, and look at what game skills they promote as well as any ways in which they directly support the curriculum.

My list of recs:

• Apples to Apples Junior – word game, big groups
• Bamboleo – dexterity game, up to 6 players
• Blink – pattern matching game, 2-3 players
• Blokus – abstract, up to 4 players
• Catch the Match – pattern matching, up to around 6 players
• Cluedo – deduction, note taking, up to 6 players
• Dancing Eggs – dexterity, up to ?6? players
• Fish Eat Fish – hand management, abstract, up to 4 players
• Flix Mix – pattern matching, up to 4 players
• Incan Gold – mathematics (division and grouping), up to 8 players
• Make ‘n’ Break – dexterity, pattern matching, up to 6 players
• Othello (Reversi) – abstract, 2 players
• Sherlock – memory, up to 6 players
• Space Shuffle – set collecting, up to 4 players
• Sunda to Sahul – pattern matching, can be played co-operatively, up to 4 players
• Tier auf Tier – dexterity, up to 4 players
• TransAmerica – route building, complaining about the deal, up to 6 players

Games

It’s been a week for acquiring new games.

From the ever-lovely Fraser came a set of three:

• Caylus is a game we have played both in person and online. We both enjoy it very much, and are looking forward to some good 2 player games as well as games with friends.
• Tikal is one that I played and enjoyed online. I’ve been wanting a copy for a while.
• Mykerinos is one that I have never played at all, but which sounds intriguing. The rules weren’t terribly approachable on my first quick read-through, but what I have heard about the game makes me think I will enjoy it.

• I have been wanting to find another good dexterity game for a while. Bamboleo seemed to fit the bill, so I bought it, untried. We had a quick game tonight: lots of laughter, but quickly decided that it was too noisy to play when the kids are asleep.
• I’ve played The Bucket King on BSW and thought it was great. I hope Fraser and Biggie will enjoy playing it with me.

Games

Conversation of the day:

Biggie: “I don’t like one of those games you bought today, mummy.”

Me: “Which one? Why?”

Biggie: “It has a naked man on the front of it.”

Me: (checks box for Bamboleo) “Wow, you mean I get a game AND free porn?”

Fraser: “You know those things you shouldn’t say in front of the children …”

Biggie: “What does porn mean?”


Happy gaming!

Melissa

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