Help me give my students board games with which we can create positive in person, educational and interactive experiences while students play board games with their peers/adults in the classroom setting or during a school-wide board game night.
My students are a energetic bunch. There are many groups of students that have had classes with and been friends with previously to this year and some brand new students to the school. We are getting another one Monday. Like all students, they love to see how much they can get away with, but are finding that their teacher was at one time a sixth grader too and was far trickier than they were so there is nothing new under the sun. Overall, they are a great class that contains many different cultures, backgrounds, personality types, strengths, and needs.
We have two primary languages in class, English and Spanish, my five years talking Spanish in school in combination with the assistance of bilingual students in class have allowed students who do not yet speak English to participate successfully in our daily learning activities.
My Project
Board games are a fantastic way to develop in-person social skills while also participating in a fun and educational experience. All the games in this list foster elements of strategic thinking, collaboration, problem solving skills, and positive in person social interaction.
It's not a secret, kids today are spending way to much time on electronic screens.
This has devastating implications for their development of social skills and their own character development. Many adults/kids today are far more comfortable talking through an electronic medium than in person. Positive social skills are very important and are developed through consistent in-person interaction.
There are several games in this list that are genuinely amazing games for students to learn a great deal from. Catan, is a 2-4 player game. It introduces the concept of an economy, players trade, strategically build their economy and vie for the most desirable resources. There are few games that introduce the concept of a working economy at such a young age.
The Farming Game, another personal favorite, has students experience the highs and lows of a farmer's finances. This game was invented by a farmer in Eastern Washington and provides more realism in the sense of unexpected financial pitfalls and the need to make financially sound plans than any other game I have encountered.
There are many other games in this list. All of them have a unique element that promote a highly educational experience for students while building in-person social skills.
I would love to introduce a board game night for the whole school where teachers, administrators, students and families could all play board games together. All these games could be part of that.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Taylor and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
