Sneaky Education: 25 Games for Teaching

Looking to add a excitement to your lesson plan? Check out this list of 25 games for teaching. - SahmReviews.com

As we’ve said quite a few times, each Friday we attend a board game held meetup at one of the local colleges. It’s open to the public and anyone interested is welcome. We’ve been bringing the girls along since the first time we attended and we’ve found it to be a great experience both socially and educationally for them. So when we found out the junior high offered a Strategy Game Club with meetings after school, Madison couldn’t wait to sign up.

When she attended her first one, she came home to tell us all about it. We were quite shocked to hear that they play Apples to Apples and Uno. Those are both fine games, but not exactly what I would call strategy games. It got me thinking about just how many games there are that are not only beneficial in teaching strategy but also have other educational components as well.

After chatting with some of my friends who homeschool their kids, I discovered that there is a definite need for a list of games that can be incorporated into lesson plans. This is only a sampling as there are many other games out there that fit the requirements and new games are released all the time. We own all of these and have covered on the site. We’ve included a link to the original post so you can learn more about it and determine if it fits into your lesson plan.

25 Games for Teaching

A game that teaches a bit of explorer history and requires strategy, Expedition: Famous Explorers kills two birds with one stone! - SahmReviews.comWe learned a lot about The Manhattan Project by playing this title from Minion Games. Too bad this isn't used in the classroom - I would have gotten all A's! - SahmReviews.com  Boxcars by Rio Grande Games. Become a railroad tycoon in an afternoon! - SahmReviews.com

History and Geography

If you played Risk as a kid, it’s a pretty good chance you knew exactly where Madagascar was on a globe, not to mention many of the other key countries. Some of these games are fun ways to learn about geography while others teach about history. It’s excellent when the game developers add flavor text (that’s the small writing that usually has nothing to do with the game) to add additional layers and benefits. Some simply offer backstory to help grasp the overall concept.

Stockpile by Nauvoo Games turned out to be a enjoyable representation of the financial markets in a 5-player game! A perfect gift for the aspiring Wall Street shark! - SahmReviews.com  Educational games don't have to be one-sided. PLYT by Talkplaces, Ltd. uses dice to even the playing field! - SahmReviews.comWe're always looking for fun ways to introduce STEM lessons, and Peptide by Genius Games allowed us to review things our girls currently study in science. - SahmReviews.com

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

Math has always been easy for me so I loved it whether it was from a text book, speed test or practical use. For some, science and math just aren’t much fun so these are a few ways to work the skills without it feeling like a chore. A few games are targeted toward basic math principles, others toward business and coding.

Tapple by USAopoly is a fast-paced word game suited for all ages. With categories for adults and kids, it is sure to keep everyone entertained during your next family game night! - SahmReviews.comIt take a lot to make a word-based game that hasn't been done before. Show Me the Kwan by Griddly Games manages to accomplish just that. - SahmReviews.com  Snake Oil - Cards

Language, Vocabulary and Creativity

These games strengthen vocabulary, creative thoughts and writing. Some are reminiscent of Scrabble or Boggle while others push you to work on your ability to create stories quickly.

As I said, this is only a sampling of the vast games available that can be utilized to make learning more fun. We play so many that I’m sure I could come up with many more.Let me know what you think of these 25 games for teaching children (and adults) about a variety of subjects!

What types of subjects do you feel are the weakest in your lesson plans?

Whether you're a teacher at school or at home, these 25 games will add some fun to your lesson plans. - SahmReviews.com

54 thoughts on “Sneaky Education: 25 Games for Teaching

  1. Wow! So many great educational games! I really like Sumoku and Peptide. I wish we would have had these kinds of games in our science lessons when I was a kid!

  2. As a homeschooling mom, I love sneaky learning! It is especially difficult to find fun ways to sneak in vocabulary and spelling so I am definitely checking these out. Thanks for sharing!
    🙂
    Traci

  3. I can’t believe there are so many more games out there that aren’t in the stores where you usually find games! I feel so behind! I love your post because it educates me on what else is out there. Especially this one where I can teach my son as well!

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