Four in a Row Paper Game

What you need

• Paper, 1 sheet
• Crayons or markers, 2, different colors
• Ruler, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Set out one sheet of paper, a ruler and two different colored pencils or markers on a table. Supervise young children, as pencils and markers can be chewed or have sharp points.

1. Use the ruler to draw a grid seven squares wide.
2. Now draw the lines across to make six squares tall.
3. Each player picks a color and decides who goes first.
4. Take turns picking a column and coloring the lowest empty square.
5. Try to line up four of your color across, up, or diagonally.
6. Block your partner when they have three in a row.
   Ask: Where could your partner connect four next? How can you stop them?
7. Aim to make two threats at once.
   Ask: Can you set up two ways to win so your partner can only block one?
8. Play best of five rounds on fresh grids.
9. Try a bigger grid that needs five in a row! Who will you challenge next?
   Ask: What new plan will you try, and who else could you challenge?

Play it again

• Bigger board: draw a larger grid and aim for five in a row.
• Quick round: give each turn only 10 seconds to decide.
• Team up: grown-ups and kids play on opposite teams and talk plans out loud.