Start by asking students to think about board games they have played before, such as Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, or Chess. Invite a few volunteers to share: What was the game? How did you learn to play it (from family, friends, or reading rules)? Why do you like this game?
Prompt a short class discussion on why board games need clear instructions:
Ask if anyone has experienced confusion from unclear rules and how it affected the game.
Write four headings on the board: Setup, Turns, If → Then Rules, How to Win.
Use Snakes & Ladders to model each one, then invite pupils to suggest other games.
Setup: Board with start/finish, one counter per player, one die. Everyone starts on “Start.”
Turns: Roll the die, move that many spaces, then pass the die to the next person.
If → Then Rules: If you land on a ladder’s bottom, then climb to the top. If you land on a snake’s head, then slide to the tail.
How to Win: First to reach the finish square wins.
Explain: these four parts make any game clear and fair. Point out the conditional thinking (the if/then surprises) and the repeating pattern (roll → move → pass) just like loops. Ask, “Where is the if in this game? What repeats every turn?”
Then try filling the same four headings for a different class-favourite game.
Now we are going to play a game similar to snakes and ladders but the rules are slightly different. Read through these rules with your class and play this game below in the next step!
Setup — A 5×5 grid with a single path from START to FINISH at opposite ends (like Snakes & Ladders). Place two counters (Teacher, Class) and one die. Use the interactive board attached in the next step on your screen.
Turn order — Teacher and Class alternate. On your turn, roll the die and move that many squares along the path.
If → Then rules —
If BLUE, then move forward +2.
If RED, then move back −1.
If GREEN, then move forward +5.
If BLACK, then move back −3.
Otherwise, no effect.
How to win — First counter to reach FINISH wins (no exact roll required).
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