This week in Year 3, our maths lesson turned into a brilliant game of strategy and teamwork! We played noughts and crosses but not just for fun. The children were challenged to work in teams of three to discover if there’s a way to play so that you never lose.
They quickly realised that by working systematically, they could find patterns and plan ahead. Through trial and error, discussion and lots of games, the children developed a clear strategy:
If you go first, always start in the centre
Try to make a row of two and watch carefully to block your opponent
Think ahead to spot traps and avoid losing moves
If you go second, take the centre if it’s free or a corner if it’s not.
The room was full of energy, excitement, and some brilliant strategic thinking!
“We found the best starting move is always the middle!” said Avni.
“You have to look at what they might do next, not just your move,” explained Mohammed.
“We kept trying different ways and then me and my partner found the one that worked! added Anna
“You should always start in the middle if you go first but block the centre if you go second.” said Husnain
By the end of the lesson, the children were confidently using their strategy to either win or draw every game. It was a great way to build logical thinking, collaboration, and resilience.
Why not try it at home?
Playing noughts and crosses at home is a fun and easy way to practice these skills with your family. You can challenge each other to find the best moves, work as a team, or even create new rules to make it more interesting. It’s a fantastic way to develop problem-solving, strategic thinking, and patience while having fun!
Try this similar activity:
Once you’re noughts and crosses pros, why not try Connect Four? It’s another game where you need to plan ahead, block your opponent, and think strategically. You can play it with a friend or family member, and just like in noughts and crosses, the goal is to line up four of your counters in a row- horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It’s a great next step in building those logical thinking muscles!
See the pictures below to catch the fun and concentration in action!
