article
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
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
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
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
Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?
problem
Nice or nasty
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
problem
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.
article
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.
list
More strategy games lower primary
These lower primary strategy games supplement the Strategy Games feature and help children develop logical thinking skills.
article
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.
list
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.