Last Updated on July 1, 2022 by Brie
You know what they say: it’s never too early to get your kids into board games. Board games are an excellent way for kids to learn about strategy, sequencing, and sportsmanship. In addition to helping with math, board games also help children develop a sense of community, competition, and patience while they wait for their turn (or wait for someone else to finish). So, without further ado, let’s dive into the top 5 best board games for second-grade homeschoolers!
1.) Rummikub
Rummikub is a game that involves moving tiles from one pile to another. The goal is to make runs, or rows, of the same color or numbers (like a poker hand) and then get rid of all your tiles before anyone else.
The best thing about Rummikub is that it’s not only fun for kids but also lets them practice their math skills at the same time.
Kids get to practice matching numbers and colors with this board game.
2.) Blokus
Blokus is a strategy game that is played on a board with squares. It is like a grid. The game’s goal is to place all your pieces on the board by taking turns. You can only place one piece at a time, and you must be able to make squares out of all your pieces so that no other piece can fit inside the square that you have created. Once all players have placed their pieces, the player who has put more pieces on the board wins.
Blokus is a game of spatial intelligence because it requires players to use their mental abilities to make moves that help improve their chances of winning while minimizing their opponents’ chances of winning. It also requires players to visualize different possible outcomes based on what they do each turn and how those actions affect other players’ positions. It is kind of like a new form of chess in this way.
3.) Perfection
Perfection is a fun strategy game for two players in which each player’s goal is to get four of their pieces in a row. The first to do so wins. Players take turns moving one of their pieces by sliding it along a line horizontally or vertically (not diagonally) until they land on the same square as an opponent’s piece. At this point, they capture that piece and remove it from the board. The first player who gets four of her pieces in a row wins!
This game lasts about 30 minutes. Second-graders should be able to play independently after five or six games; its rules are simple enough for young children to understand but not so simple that adults won’t enjoy playing too.
It’s appropriate for ages six and up due to the pieces’ size and the game’s complexity. Connect 4 has a similar strategy and is also rated for ages 6+.
4.) Monopoly For Second Graders
Monopoly is a popular board game in which the players compete to become the wealthiest party. The rules are simple. However, the game can be exhaustingly long.
Each player starts with $1,500 of Monopoly money and rolls two dice to advance around the board. If you land on an unowned property, you buy it; if you land on one that someone else owns, you pay them rent. You can also spend money to build houses or hotels on properties that increase their value.
The winner is the first person whose net worth reaches $1 million or more—but there’s no guarantee! If your opponents bankrupt you by taking all your properties, that’s it for you: You lose! The goal for each player is to get as rich as possible without going bankrupt themselves (which would also mean losing).
After buying a property from another player, it will go up in value based on how many houses or hotels have been built on it. When someone lands on a property owned by another player who has already built some buildings (or gets lucky enough to draw “Chance” cards), they can pay extra rent until those buildings are removed from play.
If you don’t want to get a traditional Monopoly game board, there are a variety of themed ones you can purchase from Amazon.
If you feel like the game of Monopoly might be a little too long or frustrating for your second grader, you could get Monopoly Junior which is rated for kids ages 5 and up. it is a simplified version of monopoly There are not as many pieces and the board has fewer spaces. This is also good if you have a combination of younger and older children at home.
Animal Crossing is a very popular game among elementary school-age kids right now, especially second-grade homeschoolers. You can find Animal crossing live activities on DIY.org and Outschool. If you want to keep the animal crossing fun rolling and bring on the educational aspects of economics into your child’s homeschool routine, then try out an Animal Crossing Monopoly Board.
LOL Surprise Dolls are another popular toy among second graders! What better way to teach money “smarts” than through the gamification of something kids love, like LOLs. The LOL Monopoly set comes with blind bags, LOL money, and plays out like the regular monopoly game giving your child all the fun of a LOL surprise and all the benefits of game-based learning.
5.) Forbidden Island
This game is rated for ages 10+ so it may be a little advanced for second grade.
There are four players in Forbidden Island, and each player takes on a different role.
The Navigator must guide the group to find objects on the island that they can do things with, such as flying in a hot air balloon or pumping water out of swamps.
The Scientist keeps track of their progress when they find these items, recording their findings by moving around a “time track” from 0-30 minutes for each item found.
The Robber steals cards from other players during his turn, so he should be placed near them!
The Builder builds structures like bridges or boats to help make it easier for other players to get around safely.
Though this game may be complex for younger ages, it is a great social study teaching aid to show how different parts of a community work together for the greater good. It may be a little advanced for second graders. There is quite a bit of reading involved.
These Are Some Fun Board Games for Second Graders to Play
The following board games are a great way to have fun with your second grader and teach them math, problem-solving, and other essential skills while having fun.
These games are also great for homeschoolers because they can be played together as a family.
We hope you found this list helpful, and feel free to check out our blog for more reviews of games for second-grade homeschoolers. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below!
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