MathMINDs Games: South of the Sahara

MathMINDs Games are storybook board games that combine math, history and literacy in a highly connected experience. Through each story, youʼll learn and play games as you explore real events from the game's country of origin.

Achi is a historical game played in Ghana that is very similar to Tic-tac-toe. Add in a connection to the magic square from ancient China and you have the recipe for a storybook board game that shows how math connects different cultures around the world!

The four unique species of butterflies found on Mt. Mabu in Mozambique inspired a four-player version of Gulugufe, traditionally a two-player game. Play with the concept of negation as you flip your caterpillar pieces and strategically move them across the board to capture opponents.

Lemurs, the national animal of Madagascar, show you how to move the pieces in Fanorona, a two-player game from the country. Add in the lemurs’ ages and you can use the mathematical concept of comparison to strategically knock off opponents’ pieces.

—description from the publisher