Ben Orlin, a St. Paul teacher turned author, has collected old fashioned paper-and-pencil games from around the world. Math Games with Bad Drawings: The Ultimate Game Collection features 75 math-inspired games, each easy to learn, endlessly playable and perfect for all ages. If you can play tic-tac-toe, you’re already off to a great start.
Orlin shares fascinating stories about the games’ origins, why they matter mathematically and tips for variations that keep players coming back for more.
For the holidays, I recommend the party in a box game kit. Based on the book, this all-in-one kit contains 34 of Orlin’s favorite games along with dice, notepads, pencils, a rules booklet and Orlin’s signature stick figure drawings.
The book and the kit make perfect holiday picks for screen-free family fun that sneakily cultivates curiosity and critical thinking. Laugh, collaborate and discover a shared love of math along the way—no experience (or artistic talent) required!
Rima Parikh is the owner of the Thinking Spot, which focuses on STEM-related books and games. Play more at thethinkingspot.us.
