Board games are not just for game nights. They can also be very educational and some even make perfect learning tool which make them perfect for classrooms or home schooling as well as those family game times. Learning through play is an excellent way to discover new things and expand your knowledge. Most educational games we have been played focus on reading and spelling, phonics, maths or word games but we have been trying a different game, a geography revision game for KS3 and CE students that has been designed around the geography syllabus. Oaka Books kindly sent us On the Map – The Global Locations Board Game.
If I was to ask you what river you were on if you took a boat ride through Newcastle, would you know? What about if I asked you something a bit tougher such as what country lies between France and Italy or to name 2 countries in Africa beginning with S? And then asked you to find them on a map? These are kind of questions children will be learning in school geography lessons and expected to know the answers to. And these are the type of questions players will be expected to answer in On the Map.
On the Map is a geography-based revision board game suitable for 3-4 players, age 10+. Supporting the KS3 (11-14 years) and CE (Common Entrance) syllabus, it has also been endorsed by the ISEB. It a fantastic revision and learning game that has a 20 minute playing time and is perfect for all types of learners, including those that respond better to visual learning. It is perfect for testing geography knowledge and aiding in recall, making it great for revision.
In the box:
- Double-sided Playing Board
- Coloured Question Cards – UK & Europe (Pink), UK & Europe Quick Fire Questions (Lime Green), Rest of the World Questions (Purple) and Rest of the World Quick Fire Questions (Jade)
- 2 Country Points Sheets
- 4 Main Playing Pieces (Car, Plane, Tug and Sailing Boat)
- 4 sets of coloured pieces (to go with your main playing piece)
- Rules/Instructions
This board game has a double-sided board, so has two different ways to play; one side focuses on the UK and Europe, flip it over and you have the Rest of the World. The board (both sides) is a vibrant mix of colours and symbols, representing continents, countries, capitals, mountain ranges, rivers, deserts, and even lines of latitude and longitude like the Equator, Prime Meridian, and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. A whole world of learning and fun to enhance and test geographical knowledge.
Everybody doesn’t learn in the same way; some are great at reading text books and worksheets, others need a more hands on visual approach. On the Map caters for different learning styles. Not only does it ask questions, it is perfect for visual learners too with the use of its colourful maps. There are question cards relevant to each side of the board and the quick-fire quiz questions can also be used independently of the game to test knowledge and recall. And the questions support the KS3 and CE syllabi, although not all questions will be tested in CE exams (these question cards are marked with a star), adding a fun element to revision. It is also worth noting that due to space the UK does not include geographical areas such as The Pennines, Snowdonia, The Grampians and The Lake District and that details of some countries have deliberately been left out to keep the focus on the information required for the Common Entrance exam.
On The Map includes questions on:
- Continents
- Key Countries
- Capital Cities
- Mountain Ranges
- Rivers
- Deserts as well as the Equator
- Prime Meridian and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
On the Map is a strategic question and answer board game for 3 or 4 players; you can play with 2 players if you have someone independent to read out the quick fire questions.
Setting up the game is quick and easy. Unfold the board and place it in the centre of the table with the side you want to play facing up; UK & Europe or Rest of the World. Each player chooses a vehicle playing token; Car, Plane, Tug or Sailing Boat, and takes the 20 matching coloured counters.
Playing the game is straightforward. Players take it in turns to role the die and move the appropriate number of spaces. When landing on a country space, that player must answer a question correctly to win that country, if they want it (placing one of their coloured counters on that country on the map in the centre of the board if successful). Landing on a “dice” square lets players roll again, while landing on a “back” square moves them backwards one space.
Now for some added fun. If a player lands on a country space that is already owned by another player, that player can decide if they want to try and take it from the other player or not. If they want it, a Quick Fire question is asked to both players (Quick Fire questions are about capital cities). The first player who answers correctly wins that country. If no one answers correctly, the player can try again when their turn comes around again or choose to move on.
But it isn’t just a matter of collecting countries on the map; players can only hold a maximum of 10 countries at any one time! Players might have to sacrifice one country in order to get another that is worth more points. Each country is worth an allocated number of points (as shown on the points sheets).
There is no finish or end space, the game ends after 20 minutes have been played (no timer is supplied so you will need to keep an eye on the time, or do what we do and set a timer on Alexa). The player who has collected the most points wins.
Overall, this is an excellent engaging game that is not only educational but is perfect for high school geography revision. It has been designed for KS3/CE students and meets the national curriculum, helping students with learning/revising key global locations. The questions are set according to the curriculum and are designed to help players recall information (and even learn new things) with the maps helping them visualise where the countries are located in the world, what other countries are around them, if they are landlocked countries etc.
As well as being a board game that is excellent for revision purposes, it isn’t just a revision tool, it is also fun game trivia game and a game of strategy; as players can only hold a maximum of 10 countries they must be selective in what countries to try and take – do they take another players country or not and do they risk sacrificing one country in order to try and win a higher scoring one?
While it is broadly a question and answer game, it is also beneficial for visual and kinaesthetic learners with the use of the maps, making geography fun and interactive.
With questions covering continents, key countries, capitals, mountain ranges, rivers, deserts, and more, it covers everything in the KS3/CE syllabus and helps students recall the information giving them an effective, fun and less stressful way to revise.
I think that it is a fantastic game, and not just for revision purposes. And it is screen free! It is a lot fun, very informative and it helps players understand more about different countries and the world that we live in. On the Map is perfect for use at home or in the classroom. And while it is designed for KS3/CE students, anybody can play and expand and test their world knowledge!
On the Map is a superb geography revision game, making revising more enjoyable, effective and fun. It is an excellent investment for parents and educators looking for engaging ways to enhance, test and reinforce their children’s geographical knowledge in a fun and interactive way, building their confidence in the subject.
A board game that is a fun sociable game and an excellent revision tool that will suit different styles of learning, perfect for visual and dyslexic learners. You can’t beat learning through play.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £29.98
For more information or to buy, visit www.oakabooks.co.uk.
