The Maze Game
Any Size
Grades 1-2
No equipment needed
10 minutes or more
Development Goal
To develop strategic thinking.
Before You Start
- Number players from one up.
- Remind everyone that this is a silent game and the must remain silent for the entire time.
- Tell the group there is a hidden path from the start to the end of the maze.
Set Up
Create a 5×5 (or larger) grid for the maze with designated start and end squares. On a small piece of paper, create a map of the correct path the group must travel that only the leader will be able to see.
How to Play
- As a group, their goal is to find the secret path and get everyone from the start point to end.
- Students take turns according to their number and they each get a chance to guess where the path is.
- When it is their turn, they will step into the maze at the start and begin to choose an adjacent square – either forward, to the side or diagonal to the one they are standing on.
- The player may look to his/her classmates for help.
- The others may signal silently, such as: signal yes by giving a thumbs up, signal maybe by giving thumbs in the middle, and signal no by giving a thumbs down.
- If the square the student has stepped into is on the path, let them know by saying “Yes.” If it is a square that is not on the path, tell them “No.” Or use silent signals, too.
- Players continue their turn if they are right.
- Once they step into an incorrect square, it is the next person’s turn.
- As they begin to discover the path, they can mark it with markers to help the rest of the group.
- Once they have uncovered the secret path each person needs to go through from start to end, while everyone continues to remain silent.
Variations
- Squares can be repeated in the course of the path.
- Do not inform students of the markers, just have them by the side of the maze and see if they notice.
- Let students make up their own silent signals instead of using the thumb method.
- Challenge students by not letting them use facial expressions.