Home › Education › Resources for Schools › Elementary Lesson Plans

Nim: A Game Played All Over the World

Share

Each player should have 12 pebbles in three piles.
enlarge image

Each player should have 12 pebbles in three piles.

In China, this game is known as jianshiji, which is translated to mean "pick up pebbles." This game was known in Europe as early as the 16th century. Some believe that the name "nim" comes from the German word nimm, which means "take." Did this game develop in both places because of its simplicity? Or did the concept travel from one place to another as global trade increased during the last 1,000 years? We will probably never know the answer to that question, but we do know how to play.

Questions
Where did this game originate?
What is strategy?
Are games and math related?

Objectives/Skills
Subtraction
Deducing strategy

Time Required
45 minutes

Materials Required
At least 21 pebbles (or beans or buttons...) for each child. The game starts with 12, but the number can grow.
The extension activity will require giving away 24 - 42 pebbles in a ziplock bag.


Procedure

  • Pair up all the children in class.
  • Each player has 12 pebbles. Ask the children to divide the pebbles into three piles of 3, 4, and 5 pebbles each.
  • The two players in each game take turns picking up pebbles from one of their piles. 
  • Each player must pick up and set aside one or two pebbles during each turn. The pebbles must come from the same pile.
  • The winner picks up all his or her pebbles first.
  • Let the children play the game several times. What is the best way to win? Teach children the word "strategy" means a plan for winning. There are strategies for all sorts of things in life: games, sports, careers, and even how one country relates to another country.
  • If time and skill sets allow, try making the game more challenging with more pebbles and more piles. Does the same winning strategies work?  Why do strategies change sometimes?

Extension
Send the children home with a bag of pebbles. Ask them to teach a parent or guardian the game. The next day ask if they were able to play together? Did the parent or guardian understand the rules? Did the child explain strategy?

 

Post new comment

Your comments are welcome, please adhere to our guidelines

Be respectful. Personal attacks will not be tolerated; nor will profane, abusive or threatening posts.

Keep it short (150 words or less), Stay on topic.

Asia Society reserves the right to moderate all comments and remove or edit for guideline violations. Thank you.

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Type the characters you see in this picture. (verify using audio)
Type the characters you see in the picture above; if you can't read them, submit the form and a new image will be generated. Not case sensitive.