There are a few ways to play a board game in a classroom. I will list a few useful tools and techniques that can work in a classroom.
Tools
1. A Projector with a Document Camera
Being able to project a tableau or game board helps a lot. I find myself projecting the tableau for a game like Codenames or the locations in Spyfall. This helps maintain a bit of structure in the classroom since students don’t need to move away from their desk.
2. A Bluetooth Speaker
Playing games is a fun atmosphere, you can enhance this by playing atmospheric sounds through the speaker to get everyone in the zone. You can also play certain sounds to ensure that students know that they have to pay attention once they hear it. Having the speaker gives the teacher a bit of flexibility because the class will get loud during a board game session.
3. Extra Printouts of the Rulebooks
Having just one rulebook is setting up the game to be disrupted with long pauses as players parse through the rulebook. The rulebook will constantly be exchanging hands which is why I suggest photocopying it or having a digital version available to players so they can help each other find the spot where they are stuck.
4. A Digital Timer
Having a visible digital timer that counts down the length of the session helps to prepare students to know when to clean up the game that they are playing. Some students have difficulty with the clock or forget what time the class ends on specific days.
5. Digital Camera
Some games can be continued on a different day, having a digital camera can help save the game by capturing where everyone is at. They can decide to continue the game on a different day. Cellphones are more than sufficient for this.
Techniques
1. One game going for the entire class
There are a few games that can play a massive number of players. Games like Werewolf or Codenames can include an entire class for a game. Werewolf needs a very charismatic storyteller (ie. the teacher) while Codenames needs a good moderator to ensure that the pace of the game is maintained and everyone is included. These games are an excellent change of pace.
You can also split the class into teams and hold a bracket tournament. This works well for short games that rely on speed such as Spot It! in a second language class.
Other games are just as fun to watch as it is to participate, these are normally party games and one that works fantastic in this dynamic is Funemployed.
2. Board game carousel
Once students are familiar with the rules of a board games, getting the game started should be quick. One way that this can be done is to teach a few volunteers to be ambassadors of a certain board game. Then when it is time to carousel where different groups of students are playing different games in the classroom. You can have one ambassador playing the game that they understood. This reduces the reliance on the teacher and the rule book to ensure that pace is maintained.
Creating this sort of system where students play different board games during these sessions ensures that there is variety and a better chance at having one of the games resonate towards students.
3. Teams of 2 or 3 for each board game player
Most board games play somewhere between 2-5 players. A large classroom size can range between 25-30 students. You don’t want to have to purchase 6 of the same type of board game. One way to combat that is to create teams
Teaching With Board Games 