How to Adapt Old Board Games for Learning

Use mathematical principals found in some games. A classic board game like Monopoly involves finance and math. Have the class play a game of Monopoly and then write papers or short essays on their strategies for money management and what math principals they applied in the game. If they won, ask them to describe what tactics they found to be especially effective.

Use a game like Trivial Pursuit to enhance the desire for learning. Trivial Pursuit has categories that can easily fit into any subject you might be teaching including literature, science or culture. You can make your own cards using questions and facts more specific to a particular subject. Tell the students ahead of time that the game will be taking place so that they have a chance to prepare. Offer some sort of prize to the winning student or group to add additional incentive.

Set up a Scrabble tournament for the students. Each student can play in a group of four to six players. With that many players, the game will not take long and it will give the students a chance to test their vocabulary and spelling mettle against their peers. Offer a prize to the winner of each board and give them limited dictionary availability. Scrabble can be used to teach spelling, reading and vocabulary.