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Developing Logical Thinking: The Place of Strategy Games
This article outlines how strategy games can help children develop logical thinking, using examples from the NRICH website.
problem
Favourite
Nim-7
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
problem
Favourite
Seeing Squares
Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.
problem
Favourite
Stop the Clock
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
This is a game for two players. Can you find out how to be the first to get to 12 o'clock?
game
Favourite
Factors and Multiples Game
A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?
problem
Favourite
Nice or Nasty
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
problem
Favourite
Got It
Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.
article
Meet the Nim Family
Jennifer Piggott and the NRICH team introduce Nim-like games to
help children think creatively in mathematics.
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Going For Games
In this article for teachers, Liz Woodham describes the criteria she uses to choose mathematical games for the classroom and shares some examples from NRICH.
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More Strategy Games Lower Primary
These lower primary strategy games supplement the Strategy Games feature and help children develop logical thinking skills.
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Got It Article
This article gives you a few ideas for understanding the Got It! game and how you might find a winning strategy.
article
Winning Lines
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
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More Strategy Games Upper Primary
These upper primary strategy games supplement those in our strategy games feature and will help improve children's logical thinking skills.