Questions Othello


Questions Othello

 

David Hanley

 

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary 3-6
SKILLS: Speaking
TIME: 45 minutes
MATERIALS: Worksheets, two-sided counters, large demonstration board and counters
OBJECTIVES: To practice forming and saying longer sentences

 

PROCEDURE:

 

1. Start by drawing large grids of five squares by five squares (at least) on A4 paper. Above each column write the name of a subject (English, Mathematics and so on) and alongside each row write the name of an animal (goat, giraffe, etc.)

 

2. Next you have to make counters for the game, they have to be two-sided, i.e. each side has to be a different colour. If you can’t find cards already made like this, then it’s probably easiest to get very large sheets and cut and stick together over and over. In the game all squares will be covered, so that’s twenty-five for each board. I made eight boards so this meant groups of four children playing (two against two).

 

3. You need to make a big example board to demonstrate to the children with the teacher. It will only take a short demonstration before the children realize that the game is based on othello.

 

4. So how do you play othello? One player starts by saying, for example “I like English and tigers” and they place their counter down on the appropriate square with their colour face up. Then the opposing player does the same, with a different combination of subject and animal. With groups of more than two the pupils will obviously rotate. The object of the game is to have more squares on the board covered with your colour when all squares are filled.

 

5. Now the important tactical part. If a player places a piece beside an opponent’s piece, and that same player has another piece on the other side (i.e. the opponent’s piece is between two of the other player’s) then that piece is turned over. It doesn’t matter if it’s horizontal, vertical or diagonal. What’s more, many pieces can be trapped and turned over at the one time. The children will all know how to play so don’t worry about explaining this.

 

NOTES: