This Friday, our Year 3s took on a fantastic strategy challenge: a game called Nim 7.
At first glance it looks simple—just a row of counters and the chance to take one or two at a time.
But very quickly, the children realised… this game is full of surprises!
The room was buzzing with excitement as pairs leaned over tables, whispering strategies, making predictions, and trying to outsmart their partners. It was brilliant to watch their confidence grow as they started spotting patterns and seeing that mathematics is not just something to do but it’s something to think about.
What were we investigating?
- Can you tell who’s going to win before the end of the game?
- Is there a way to guarantee a win right from the start?
- Does going first make a difference?
The children explored these questions with enthusiasm, testing ideas, debating moves, and celebrating their strategies.
What we discovered
By the end, lots of children realised:
- There are moments when you can predict the winner before the game ends.
- There is a winning strategy… if you can find it!
- And yes going first can give you a big advantage (but only if you use your moves wisely).
Why not try Nim 7 at home?
All you need is 7 objects– coins, Lego bricks, grapes, pasta shells… anything works!
How to play:
- Line up 7 objects.
- Take turns removing 1 or 2.
- Whoever takes the last object wins.
A little tip to get you started:
If you go first, try taking 1 object.
Then see if you can always leave your opponent with 3, 5, or 7 objects at the start of their turn.
Your child might be able to explain why this helps!
It’s a lovely after-dinner activity- quick, fun, and full of sneaky strategy!
As we watched the children think, question, experiment, and discover their own strategies, it was a perfect reminder that learning is so much more than getting the “right answer.” It’s about curiosity, confidence, and those wonderful little sparks of excitement when something finally clicks.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler
The Year 3 team