Which Board Games Should You Play That Have Educational Value?
Last Updated: August 2nd, 2021
School may be out, but you don't have to stop learning. There are many ways to keep learning. It doesn't have to be boring either. There are people who learn better through games. Sure, there are video games, but you can't beat the classics such as board games. Board games not only pass the time, but they can open minds and expand horizons. Here are a few of the best board games that are fun with educational value that will help you figure out what to play.
1. Scrabble
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1KgvZwwJqo
Each player is given 100 letter tiles to use. You have to spell out words on the board. Now, you can't just make up words on a fly. You have to spell out real words from the dictionary. New words can be formed from other letters. You win when all of the letters are used.
Why You Should Play:
There are quite a number of family games that teach vocabulary against a competitive backdrop. This one is one of the classics. Plus, it allows the kids to think and get creative with spelling and words.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
2. Snakes and Ladders
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/dJ-dMNzSBNI
You roll the die and move your piece from the number one square depending on what number the die lands on. If you land on a ladder, you go up. If you land on a snake, you go down. You have to get all the way to the number 100 square to win.
Why You Should Play:
Some versions of this game have little pictures of children doing activities that are right or wrong. For example, in the first square, a little girl is planting flowers in a garden. Her ladder leads up to square thirty-eight, which shows her garden in full bloom. However, in square ninety-eight, there is a little boy pulling on a cat's tail. His snake leads to square seventy-eight, which shows that the cat scratched him. This game shows that good deeds are rewards and bad deeds are punished.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
3. Chess
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/NAIQyoPcjNM
You have to capture the king to win. The white pawn will always make the first move. From there, it's a battle of brains and wits.
Why You Should Play:
This is always a classic to turn to when there is a list of things to do when bored. Chess will always teach kids how to think and form strategies in order to win. You don't have to be a genius to enjoy chess.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
4. Rory’s Story Cubes
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/URQs5gijERo
You get cubes that have little pictures on all nine sides. You roll them and whatever picture lands, you have to write a story about it. Let's say you land on a picture of an alien. You have to write a story about aliens.
Why You Should Play:
This lets creativity run free. You don't have to hold the player's hands when they write. You just give them the picture and they do the rest. You will come up with some interesting stories when the game is over.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
5. Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/IA5MZrzquSA
This is similar to Rory's Story Cubes. You have to create a story based on fantasy cards in the pack. You have to get all the way to the end of the story.
Why You Should Play:
Again, this lets creativity run free. Creativity has to be free to flow in order to work properly. Again, you are just given a picture and you have to do the rest. You will get plenty of interesting stories by the time you reach "Happily Ever After".
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
6. Mojo English
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/7jxrKIvp4Ws
You have to build sentences with different words on the cards. You have to do this in three rounds. You get points as you read the sentence.
Why You Should Play:
Board games can be a good way to learn parts of a sentence and English. The cards help you figure out how to make a sentence make sense in the English language. Little kids can learn proper grammar from this game.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on their website.
Link: https://mojoenglish.com/shop/mojo-family-fun-set-1/
7. Ticket to Ride
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/4JhFhyvGdik
You have to build a railroad across the board. You can win by having the longest railroad, claiming a route between two cities, or having routes connecting listed on your destination tickets.
Why You Should Play:
You get to learn some history with this game. The players get to learn about the locations of the USA. You also get to learn some strategies as you play.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
8. Monopoly
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/AuWvMgYv03g
You have to get all of the money, property, and power for the game. You are given many little pieces to scoot around on the board. Just because not to end up in jail.
Why You Should Play:
You learn patience while playing this game. Kids will learn things about money, such as budgeting and financial planning. Plus, with the risk of going to jail, kids will learn about how to adapt to change and what to do next.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
9. Math for Love Prime Climb
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/usBHrp6s4xY
You have to shuffle cards, place two pawns on the board at the start, roll the dice, and move up to the square. The goal is to get to the 101 circle at the center of the board.
Why You Should Play:
This one is for all of the little math geeks out there. They get to learn more about numbers, especially prime ones. You have to win based on the roll of the dice and the draw of the cards.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon.
10. Clue
How to Play:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/S_WEloTcKmI
You have to solve the murder based on clues set around the board game. You roll the dice and try to single out the murderer from six suspect cards.
Why You Should Play:
There are plenty of online board games you can play nowadays. Clue is a beloved classic that you play in real life and online. Mystery lovers will get a kick out of that. Plus, players will have to use their heads to solve the case.
Where Can You Find This Game:
You find this game in major stores and on Amazon. You can also play at KBH Games. You even download the app and play.
Online Link: https://kbhgames.com/game/clue-online