Badge: Printables – World Games

Game printables are ideal for travel or as additional activities at events or meetings. A simple sheet and a few counters can go a long way to keeping kids, and even adults, occupied.

Steps

1. Purpose and theme.
From hosting a World Game Night to celebrating a holiday like World Thinking Day, world games can be part of the activities or encompass an entire event. Determine your theme. Decide how you will use your game printables.

2. Preparing for multiple uses.
Many printables are created to be used once and discarded. With games, you may choose to use a game board multiple times. Laminating (clear contact paper) or placing your prints into plastic binder sleeves will help protect it for many uses.

If your game is for single use only, be sure to note that the original sheet is the “MASTER” so that others make copies of it and don’t destroy the original.

NOTE: Always keep digital masters of the printables you create.

3. More pieces.
Many games need more than just a board to play. These parts can also be made out of paper. See what you can find online or create your own. Parts may include:

Counters
Playing pieces
Dice
Spinners
Score sheets

What other playing pieces can you include?

4. Enrichment Project printable sheets.
Explore the printable games and puzzles listed in the EP supplements list below. Find one or more that look interesting. Try the game(s) yourself. Do you think others would enjoy the game(s) you’ve tried?

5. Web finds.
Explore the Web for additional printed games and puzzles. Make sure each item includes instructions. Teacher sites have many theme-driven printables. Try one or more games that you find with others.

6. Adapt a game.
Find a non-printable game that you can adapt to a printable version. Recreate it as a printable. Include all items needed to play the game. Track the steps you take creating your game so you can do it again. Playtest your game.

7. Create your own.
Create your own world game using AEP supplements, from other printables or your own imagination. Create rules and any additional parts you need. Playtest your game and track feedback to improve your game. Release it to others.

If you really enjoy creating games, check out the AEP badge program “Printables: My Own Games.”

8. Creation challenge.
Challenge others to create a printable world game based on a theme, an existing game or other topic you wish. Create guidelines for creating the game. If you wish, also create guidelines for the game itself. Some things you might want to include are:

One part should be printable
Rules must be complete
All play parts must be included
Limit length of play
Where it should be able to be played
Ages of players
Physical storage area
Additional rules

Host a play test night with score / comment sheets.

9. Make a night of it.
Host a game event / night featuring your printable games. Be sure to include instructions. You can have a variety of games or one game and declare a champion.

10. Share with others.
Create a binder, box or other way to distribute printed world games. Be sure to include the additional items needed to play such as counters and dice. A few places these might be enjoyed include: