Ancient Games Dice: The Oldest Board Game in the World

Did you know that people have been playing board games for over 5,000 years? In this mission, we'll explore the science behind why we love games and how simple pieces can create exciting challenges, just like in ancient games like Senet.

The Big Question

Why do we invent games with rules and chance?

What You'll Need

• Pencil and paper
• A coin

Mission Steps

1. Invent a Game. Grab your pencil and paper and think about your favorite things to do.
2. Add Rules. Write down 2-3 simple rules for your game. What can players do? How do they win?
3. Add Chance. Decide how to add a bit of surprise. For example, you could say, "Flip a coin: Heads means you move forward one space, tails means you stay put."
4. Play and Observe. Play your game with a family member. Did the rules make sense? Was the coin flip exciting?

Talk About It

• What was the hardest part about creating rules for your game?
• How did adding a coin flip change how you played?
• Can you think of other games you play that use rules and chance?

Take It Further

For older rangers (ages 9-12), try designing a game that uses movement on a grid or requires strategic thinking. Think about how ancient games were played on boards with specific paths or layouts and how they might have incorporated elements of strategy.

FAQ

Q: My child is too young to write rules. How can they participate? A: Younger children can draw pictures of their game and explain their ideas verbally to a parent who can help write them down.

Q: What if we don't have a coin? A: You can use any random chance generator, like rolling a die and assigning outcomes (e.g., even numbers do one thing, odd numbers do another), or even drawing slips of paper from a hat.