Board & Rule-Based
Grades 3-5
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Opening Procedure (5-7 minutes)
PEP-UP: Quick Fire Challenge (3 min)
1. Ask the below questions and get children to answer. Questions - 10 seconds to name 5 Indian cities. 10 seconds to spell the longest word you know. 10 seconds to name 5 rivers.
2. Two quick challenges to warm up the brain.
NORMS (30 seconds):
1. Share the games.
2. Take turns fairly.
3. Respect each other.
4. Make sure you don't damage the games.
More Pep-up Options
2/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Session Name
Play by the Rules
Age Group
Ages 9-11
Session Intention
Children play games that need rule-following, light strategy, and working things out together.
Materials Needed
• Snakes & Ladders (2)
• Ludo (2)
• Bus Stop/Shopping List/Catch and Count/Number Bears (1)
• Pajama Party (1)
• Countdown (1)
• Memory Skills/Mind power (1)
• Gopher it (1)
• Jenga (1)
• Dog and the bone (1)
• Pictureka (1)
• Business / Monopoly (1)
• Why Connect (2)
Classroom Arrangement
Let children form groups of 4-6 and choose a game.
• Each group opens their own game and reads the rules.
• Keep 1-2 backup games with you for groups that finish early.
1/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Play Time (~25-28 minutes)
GETTING GROUPS STARTED:
1. Get 1 person from each group to choose a game.
2. Most children this age can manage the instructions themselves.
3. Help only if a group cannot work out how to start.
YOUR ROLE DURING PLAY:
1. Let groups play independently. Visit each group once every 5-7 minutes.
2. For long games (Monopoly, Countdown), set a time limit at the start so they can finish.
3. If a group argues about a rule, point them to the instruction card.
STEP IN WHEN NEEDED:
1. One child dominating - Remind them of the rules to ensure everyone has fun.
2. A rule is not in the card - Decide together. Both sides agree. Move on.
3. A game is too easy - add a challenge: Try it using your non-dominant hand.
What You May Notice
1. Children at this age start developing real strategies. Notice and encourage this.
2. Some children become experts and teach others. Let them do this, peer teaching is powerful.
3 Arguments about rules are normal and help children practise negotiation.
3/4
Setup | Opening | Play Time | Closing
Closing (~3-5 minutes)
1. Announce - Finish this round. Then help pack up.
2. Ask - Did anyone figure out a good strategy today? What was it?
3. Tell - Try that same approach next time and see if it keeps working.
Try Next Time
1. Let groups swap games halfway and explain the rules to each other.
2. Introduce a small variation to a familiar game. Example: +1 point for every ladder and -1 point for every snake in Snakes and Ladders.
3. Ask children to teach a game they know to another group without using the instruction card.