Math Game Monday: Walter Joris’s Sequencium

This game takes strategic thinking and planning ahead, and it makes a great journaling prompt, too.

Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!

Walter Joris’s Sequencium

Math Concepts: strategic thinking.

Players: two players or two teams.

Equipment: blank paper, colored pencils or markers.

How to Play

Draw a 6 × 6 grid of squares as a gameboard for players to share. Each player needs a different color pencil or pen.

Players begin by each writing the number 1 in opposite corner squares. Then take turns writing numbers until the grid is full.

On your turn, choose a square that touches any of your own previously numbered squares at a side or corner. Write the number that is one greater than the square you are touching. Draw a short line to connect those two numbers.

Your number sequence may branch and may cross the opponent’s line. Each branch continues the counting sequence from whichever square it touches.

If your new square is touching more than one of your numbers, continue counting from the higher number. Whoever reaches the greatest number wins the game.

Variations

Use the game as a journaling prompt. Here are some sample questions:

• What is your strategy for winning?

• Do you think this is a fair game, or does one player have an advantage?

• How would you count score, so you could compare your performance from one game to the next?

• How would you modify the game rules? Is your version easier or harder than the original game?

• Do you prefer logical strategy games or games of chance? Or do the best games have a bit of both? Explain.