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Games for a primary school Family Boardgame Night
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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We're hosting a Family Boardgame Night at Biggie's primary school next Friday night. We've invited families to bring their favourite games, but will take some of our own as well, to 'seed' the night. (Primary school is ages 6-12, boys and girls. We've required that children have an adult with them - no solo kids). We're also negotiating a fundraising deal with our FLGS to supply games at a discount (which will be split between the school and the buyer), so if we can interest a few people in buying a new game or two that will be great. I'd welcome comments on these games and their suitability for teaching in an open gaming environment comprised of adults and children. I haven't made this list open to new additions as the games we take will have to come from our collection. ** List updated 07-May-2006 with the outcomes - what was played, what wasn't, what was popular ** See comments section and Fraser's blog entry at http://boredgamegeeks.blogspot.com/2006/05/school-game-eveni... for reflections on the night as a whole.
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The items in this GeekList are ordered alphabetically by title
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Posted Sun May 7, 2006 8:57 am
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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We like this as a gateway, because theme and mechanics integrate so nicely.
** Did not get played. I think next time, if we get a few games going with groups of kids, this might be popular with spare parents.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Great word game for groups of kids
** Played this with a few groups, including a teacher of English-as-a-second-language, who thought it was fantastic. Biggie gave it to her best friend today as an 8th birthday present. Next time, we need to get this started earlier as I think it's a good self-sustaining game.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Biggie begged us to take this one. I think it might be a bit long for the 2.5 hour session, though
** Did not take it
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4.
Board Game: Bang!
[Average Rating:6.85 Overall Rank:311]
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Still thinking about this ... I've never played it, but Fraser likes it a lot.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Good for bigger groups, although possibly there are a few too many rules to make it easy to teach and leave.
** Did not take this (see comments)
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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The ultimate gateway. I need to go through and take out the River and the Inns & Cathedrals expansion before we go, though.
** I saw this in play once, and several families recognised it and owned or had played it. We also took Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers, which none had seen before.
Other families who didn't already have this game were interested to know where to get it.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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We just bought this recently to boost our "kids games" choice. Another that should be suitable for the very youngest ones as well.
** Played a couple of times. Probably this is one that we should just leave set up somewhere to encourage quick plays. Another good one for families who are a bit light on English.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Soon to be available in Australia, we hope. Good for up to 10 players, and simple counting is all that's required.
** Did not get played - probably if there had been more older kids there this would have been out. I would definitely take it again.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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We've given this to a couple of Biggie's friends and it went down very well
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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The ultimate in memory games. Well themed, with beautiful board and tiles.
** This was played by one family of dad, son (6) and daughter (9?) - they loved it. For teaching, I really themed it up - and kept 'checking' that the son wasn't too scared. He loved every minute of it, and they were keen to buy a copy.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Not a difficult game at all, but again the theme should appeal to lots of the kids (and hopefully the parents too)
** Did not get played. Too many games?
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Simple pattern matching. Not currently available in Australia.
** Very popular, this was in play virtually all night. It was also good for families who weren't from an English-speaking background.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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This is Fraser's and Biggie's current favourite. Scalable to ten players, it has great visual appeal, and should be a hit with some of the boys too.
** One of the hits of the evening. At least one family (with 4 boys!) came specifically to play this. It was in play all night, with our trusty helper running the table, and several families asked where they could get a copy.**
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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We've had a lot of fun playing this with Biggie. It's small, relatively cheap, and quick to learn.
** Did not get played
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Another new one for us, we tried this last night with Biggie. It took a couple of games to get it right, but that was probably more because we weren't familiar with it ourselves. There's a lesson there!
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Bought, but not opened yet. Considering rushing it through the To-be-played queue as it sounds like it would be suitable.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Thanks for the rec ... I think this will be a good addition.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Our top pick for a kids' game. Great for the younger kids.
** Bizarre. This one didn't get played. I think that was a biggish oversight and we will have to make sure we get this one out next time.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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The very different mechanics make this a great one to take along, if only for novelty value.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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Set collection - no words, which makes it easy for the younger children
** Did not get played
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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About the only dexterity game we own. I particularly like the two levels of cards, which allows children to compete with adults
** This was a big hit, and was in play constantly once I got it out. It was also a great TYPE of game for the games night, as it was essentially self-sustaining -- as new people came to watch the game, they were invited to join in and others moved on. It also looks great - I suspect there will be photos in the school newsletter this week.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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If Fraser never has to play this again it will be too soon - but this should be popular with the kids from about year 3 up. And if the cards get destroyed, it will be no great loss.
** Did not get played. It will be taken again, though.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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A great game to play with kids, again it's quick and easy to learn.
** Played once, by a group of first and second graders (6-8 year olds) (and a mum). Biggie taught this - I didn't see how it went, but she tells me they enjoyed it.
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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For the theme. And the pretty components.
** Did not get played
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Melissa - off to Wuppertal!
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A newer game for us, but one that Biggie is really enjoying. Suitable for the very young, as well as the 9 and 10 year olds (years 3 and 4).
** Was played briefly. This game looks like it is for younger kids than it is - I think the third and fourth graders were put off by the graphics, and it really was a bit complicated for the younger kids.
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Posted Sun May 7, 2006 8:57 am
