Ancient Games & Dice: The Oldest Board Game in the World

We're going to travel back in time, just like on the podcast episode, to explore the ancient world of games and how they've been played for thousands of years. Get ready to create your own piece of game history!

The Big Question

How can we use simple objects to play a game with chances, just like ancient Egyptians did?

What You'll Need

• Cardboard or stiff paper
• Scissors
• Markers or crayons
• Small objects for game pieces (like pebbles, buttons, or dried beans)
• A small cup or container

Mission Steps

1. Design Your Board. Draw a grid of 30 squares on your cardboard, arranged in three rows of ten. You can decorate your squares if you like!
2. Make Your "Dice". Use your markers to draw dots on four small pieces of cardstock or paper, similar to dice (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 dots).
3. Set Up Your Game. Place your game pieces on the first square of your board. Put your "dice" into the cup.
4. Play with Chance. Take turns shaking the cup, drawing one "die," and moving your pieces forward that many squares. You can make up your own rules for what happens when you land on certain squares!

Talk About It

• What makes playing a game with a board and pieces different from just throwing a ball?
• How did using drawn "dice" create a chance element in your game, like in Senet?
• Can you think of another simple game you could invent using just a few household items?

Take It Further

Older Rangers (ages 9-12) can try to research the actual rules of Senet and play their homemade version with those rules. They can also investigate other ancient games from different cultures and compare how they were played.

FAQ

Q: My child is too young to draw a perfect grid. A: That's okay! Help them by drawing a simple outline on the cardboard and let them fill in the squares. Imperfect is perfect for exploration! Q: We don't have anything to use as game pieces. A: You can use small bits of paper, crumpled-up foil, or even just draw circles on the board for each player to move. Q: Is it okay if we don't use exactly 30 squares? A: Absolutely! The important part is creating a path for the game pieces and having fun inventing the rules.