Beech Grove

This game, Mancala, is very difficult to play.  I see how it can be useful in math but man is it hard to pick up in the beginning. I have seen this game before be never knew how to play it.  Looking on the wiki I saw that it has over 800 names and has been played all over the world in places like Syria.

This game is first an foremost a math game.  You have to make sure you count where the pieces are going to end up so that you end up with the most pieces.  This can teach counting and addition to those that struggle with these concepts.  This would be a good sponge activity to play in almost any class but especially math.

It is also a strategy game.  You have to plan out your moves based on what your opponent needs to get more stones that you.  It will teach students to think critically in order to win.  These types of games develop thinking in a way that most don't.  You have to be a few steps ahead to really come out on top.

One of the biggest lessons that I learned on this game was patience.   In order to plan your moves correctly you have to sit and think.  This isn't a game like checkers where little thought goes into the moves.  I didn't think on one of my moves and my opponent took like 30 pieces.  It really makes you think and increases your thought process to allow you to do other tasks easier.

The last thing that I saw this game could teach would be sportsmanship.  This game can get aggravating very fast.  If you don't keep a level head you may get heated in the moment and do something you regret.  I was finding myself frustrated because I could not win.  This would be a good way to teach students that in all circumstances they should be a good sport about things.