Educational Games for Middle and High School

Playing games can be a great way to make learning fun, and spend quality family time together.   Below are a list of learning games for middle and high school students you can use to practice and learn about various topics  (for elementary games, click here ).   While there are many great online games too, in this list I'm only listing games you play offline with others (siblings, parents).  

Most of the items on this list are free, but there are a few board games (some of which may already be in your closet) or printable games you can purchase which I've include, which are marked with a $. 

KEY

$ = Not a free resource

$ + $ = Free and not free resources

PK = Preschool

E = All of Elementary

LE = Late Elementary (3rd - 6th)

MS = Middle School/Junior High (6th - 8th)*

HS = High School (9th - 12th)*

K-12 = All school age (not PK)

ALL = All Ages

*Why do I even bother including Elementary in the Key?   Because sometimes its nice to find a game you can play with the whole family that everyone can learn from.

This post contains a few affiliate links through which I can earn commission.

 

Mixed Skills/Any Skill
5 Learning Games (these can be used for various skills)

English/Language Arts

Spelling

Boggle Word Game (E/MS)

Prefixes/Suffixes and Greek/Latin Roots

Affixes and Roots Games (LE/MS/HS)

Greek Roots Tarsia Puzzle (LE/MS/HS)

Roots and Affixes Go Fish (LE/MS/HS)

Languages

French
Various French Games by Ellen McHenry (E/7+/MS)

Latin
Latin Games, Various (ALL)

Geography
(Also see History)

South America

Birds of Brazil Bingo (K-12)


US States - Multiple States

13 Colonies Dominoes (K-12)


US States - Specific States

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Geogrphy/Geology - Bottom of Page (K-12)

Health/Nutrition

Fruits and Vegetable Nutrition Games (ALL)



History
(ALSO look under Religion for religious history games)

Historical Games
These game are actual games played in ancient cultures and other times in the past.   They are useful for living history style exploration. 

Senet - Ancient Egyptian Game (Printable, LE/MS/HS)

Ancient Egyptian Snake Game (Printable, ALL) 

Ancient Rome - Tabula, an Ancient Roman Game (LE/MS/HS)  

Rota - Roman Tic-Tac-Toe (Printable, ALL)

Native Americans - Games from the Aboriginal People of North America (ALL)

World History

History Buffer Games (Various Eras - Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

Egyptian Trivia Game (Printable, LE/MS/HS)

Digging Up Greece (LE/MS/HS)

Viking Voyages (LE/MS)
    + Viking Voyages Expansion Pack (LE/MS/HS)

The Great Italian Wars (Unsure of Age Range)
This is an card game that recreates the atmosphere of the Italian late Renaissance (1494-1527) during the famous period called the "Italian Wars".  The Game is free in pdf form, but you have to register for free at Board Game Geek.

Sail the Seas - Explorers/Bodies of Water (LE/MS/HS)

Storming the Bastille (French Revolution Game) (LE/MS/HS)

US History

History Buffer Games - US History (Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

13 Colonies Dominoes (K-12) 

Bluebird Math Circle (All)
Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.


Math

For more math before Algebra/Geometry, see the math section of my page for  Learning Games for Elementary.  

MISC

Traditional Native American Games Organized by Math Skill (ALL)

Bluebird Math Circle (All)
Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.

ALGEBRA

Prime Numbers
Loot the Pirate Ship (Printable, LE)

GEOMETRY

Area/Array Game (Printable)

Area of a Triangle Card Game (MS/HS)

Science

Anatomy

Find My Wound: An Anatomical Directions Game (Requires File Folder, HS)

Bone Bingo (HS $)

Lymphatic System Board Game (HS $)

Animals and Habitats

Various Animal Games by Ellen McHenry (All)

Phyla Ecology Game (LE/MS/MS)

Birds of Brazil Bingo (K-12)

Birds of Prey (LE/MS/HS $)

Gastropods (Mollusks) Bingo (K-12)

Poison Dart Frog Habitats/Rainforest (Requires cardboard, Lots of Set Up, E/MS)


Biology
(See Animals, Botany, Cells, Human Body/Anatomy)


Botany

Various Games About Plants by Ellen McHenry (ALL)

Photosynthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Plant Taxonomy Game (MS/HS $)

Cells
 
Pond Scum - A Protazoa Game (LE/MS/HS)

Translation Taxi RNA Game (MS/HS $)

Cellular Respiration Game (MS/HS $)

Photosynthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Protein Synthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Thanksgiving Protein Synthesis Game (MS/HS $)

Earth Science

Nitrogen Cycle Game (HS $)

Chemistry

Various Free Games by Ellen McHenry  (K-12)

Periodic Table Battleship (Requires File Folder, MS/HS)

Make 5 - A Game About Mineral Chemical Formulas (LE, MS, HS)

Carbon 14 Game (MS/HS) $

Nuclear War/Radioactive Decay (MS/HS) $

AP Biology Games  (HS $)


Human Body/Anatomy

Various Games by Ellen McHenry


Habitats (see Animals and Habitats)

Pond Scum - A Protazoa Game (LE/MS/HS)


Nature Study

Nature Scavenger Hunt (K-12)


RELIGION (Christian)

Journeys of the Apostle Paul Game (LE/MS $)

St. Patrick of Ireland (LE/MS $) 

MISC
 
Family Friendly Version of Cards Against Humanity (LE/MS/HS)

Lego Building Game (Requires Legos, ALL 4+)

Bible Games, Various (ALL)

Concentration, Memorization, and Observation Games (LE/MS)

Click Here Elementary Learning Games

Learning Games for Elementary

Playing games can be a great way to make learning fun, and spend quality family time together.   Below are a list of learning games you can use to practice and learn about various topics (for middle and high school games go here).   While there are many great online games too, in this list I'm only listing games you play offline with others (siblings, parents).    

Some of of these games are meant to be played with other children the same age.  If a parent is playing, I suggest adding an element of chance  to the parent's turn to make it more fair (For example, the parent could have to guess what hand your child is holding something in to be able to play their turn, or if it is a quiz style game, or the children could answer all the answers and the parent only moves if they get the answer wrong).   If an older child is playing with a younger child in a game of skill, I suggest giving the younger child some sort of similar advantage (a head start in a race game, two turns for every one turn the other child plays, etc.).

Most of the items on this list are free, but there are a few board games (some of which may already be in your closet) or printable games you can purchase which I've include, which are marked with a $. 

KEY

$ = Not a free resource

$ + $ = Free and not free resources

PK = Preschool (May or may not include 2-3 year olds)

KG = Kindergarten

EE = Early Elementary (KG - 2nd)

E = All of Elementary

LE = Late Elementary (3rd - 6th)

MS = Middle School/Junior High (6th - 8th)*

HS = High School (9th - 12th)*

K-12 = All school age (not PK)

ALL = All Ages (May or may not include 2-3 year old)

*Why do I even bother including MS/HS on an elementary school list?   Because sometimes its nice to find a game you can play with the whole family that everyone can learn from.   If you're looking for more games for Middle and High School, check out Ellen McHenry's Basement.

Mixed Skills
Educational Bingo Games
Jump and Learn Game

5 Learning Games (these can be used for various skills, ALL) 

Early Learning Skills

Colors and Shapes

Jump and Learn Game (Requires chalk, PK/KG)

Dino Sort - Teaches Sorting/Classifying (Printable, PK/EE)

Soccer Spin - Probability, Predictions, Tally Marks (PK/K)

Math

Various/Mixed Math Skills

Angry Bird Math - Counting/Probability (Printable, EE)

Storm the Castle Game (EE)

Sheep Herding Math (ALL)

Math Card Games, Various (Requires Card Deck, PK/E)

Traditional Native American Games Organized by Math Skill (ALL)

6 Math Games (board and card games to use for learning math $)

Bluebird Math Circle (All) - Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.  

Number Recognition

Number Bingo (Printable, PK/KG)

Jump and Learn Game (Requires chalk, PK/KG)

Subsidizing (Ability to quickly tell how many of an object there is)  

Caterpillar Number Match (Printable, PK/KG)

Ten Frames War (Printable, PK/KG)

Skip Counting
Various skip counting Games (Printable, KG, EE)

Place Value
Place Value Game (Printable, EE)


Money

Coin Recognition Game (Printable, ALL)

Race to a Dollar (Printable, Requires Change, EE)

Coin Recognition Games, Various 

Monopoly (Board Game, LE/MS/HS $)


Addition
Five In a Hive - Mental Math/Adding to 5 (Printable, PK, K, EE)
Find 10 - Adding to 10 (Printable, K/EE)
Adding to 10 Game (Printable, K/EE)
Adding Up to 12 Game (Printable, E)
Adding Dice Game (Printable, Requires Dice)
Race to a Hundred  +10/Number Charts (Printable, EE)
15 Game (Printable)
Sea Slide Addition Game (Printable, EE)
Addition Facts that Stick - 5 Week Game Based Curriculum (Printable or Book, E, $)

Subtraction
Subtraction Facts that Stick - 5 Week Game Based Curriculum (Printable or Book, E $)
Dino Subtraction Game (Printable)
No Prep Subtraction Game (Printable)
Robot Subtraction Game (Printable)
 

Number Lines
Frog Jump Number Line Game (Printable, E)


Multiplication

Loot the Pirate Ship (Printable, LE)

Multiplication Games by Games 4 Learning (Printable)

Multiplication Facts that Stick - 5 Week Game Based Curriculum (Printable or Book, E $)

Kingdominoes (Board Game, LE/MS/HS $)

Multiplication Facts Games by Cooties and Cuties (Printable Games, LE)

Division
Loot the Pirate Ship (Printable, LE)
Division Facts that Stick - 5 Week Game Based Curriculum (Printable or Book, E $)  

Fractions
Monster Math: Factions vs Decimals (Printable, LE)

Decimals
Monster Math: Factions vs Decimals (Printable, LE)

Prime Numbers
Loot the Pirate Ship (Printable, LE)


Area 

Area/Array Game (Printable)

Area of a Triangle Card Game (MS/HS)


Language Arts

Various/Mixed
Language Arts Adventure (EE)


Alphabet - Letter Identification
Jump and Learn Game (Needs chalk, PK/KG)
Alphabet Bingo (Printable) 
Bunny Hop Alphabet Game (PK, EE)

Reading - Phonics
Uno Style Phonogram Game (Printable, E $)
Hard and Soft G Go Fish (Printable, E)
Homophones Game (Printable, E)


Reading - Sight Words
Rotten Bananas (Needs Colored Paper, K, EE)
Sight Word Go Fish (K, EE)

Spelling
Spelling Balloon Game (Need Balloons, Sharpie, E)
Boggle Word Game (E/MS)

Grammar
Silly Sentences (Puzzle Game or Board Game, E, $)

Vocabulary
Various Vocabulary Games

Prefixes/Suffixes and Greek/Latin Roots

Affixes and Roots Games (LE/MS/HS)

Greek Roots Tarsia Puzzle (LE/MS/HS)

Roots and Affixes Go Fish (LE/MS/HS)

Writing/Composing

Campfire Storytelling Game (All Ages)

Computer Coding

Computer Coding Game  (Requires Cards)
Computer Coding game
 

Geography

World
Various Geography Games by Ellen McHenry (Various Ages)
Coleoptera (Beetles/Weevils) Around the World (printable, LE/MS/HS)


South America
Birds of Brazil Bingo (K-12)

Antarctica
Scientists of Antarctica (LE/MS/HS $) 

US States - Multiple States

13 Colonies Game (K-12)


US States - Specific States

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Geogrphy/Geology - Bottom of Page (K-12)

Texas
Ride 'em Cowboy Texas Game (E)

Foreign Language

French
On Vacation Around the World (in French) (Printable, E 7+/MS)



Health/Nutrition
Fruits and Vegetable Nutrition Game (ALL)



History 
The first section are game from historical time periods, and others are games that teach about these time periods.

Historical Games
These game are actual games played in ancient cultures and other times in the past.   They are useful for living history style exploration.  

Senet - Ancient Egyptian Game (LE/MS/HS)

Ancient Egyptian Snake Game (ALL)  

Ancient Rome - Tabula, an Ancient Roman Game (LE/MS/HS)  

Rota - Roman Tic-Tac-Toe (ALL)

Native Americans - Games from the Aboriginal People of North America (ALL)

World History

History Buffer Games (Various Eras - Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

Egyptian Trivia Game (Printable, LE/MS/HS)

Digging Up Greece (LE/MS/HS)

Zeus on the Loose (Card Game, E/MS $) 

Age of Exploration Dice Game (E/MS $)

Viking Voyages (LE/MS)
    + My Viking Voyages Expansion Pack (LE/MS/HS)

Age of Exploration Dice Game (LE)

Sail the Seas - Explorers/Bodies of Water (LE/MS/HS)

Storming the Bastille French Revolution  (LE/MS/HS)

US History

History Buffer Games - US History (Printable, LE/MS/HS $ + $)

Great Depression Simulation Dice Game (LE/MS)

Bluebird Math Circle (All)
Math activities for various ages, many of which are related to Native American history and culture.

Religion (Christian)

Journeys of the Apostle Paul Game (LE/MS $)

St. Patrick of Ireland (LE/MS $) 

Science

General/MISC
Scientists of Antarctica (LE/MS/HS $) 


Animals and Habitats
Various Animal Games by Ellen McHenry (All)
Safari Animals Seek and Find (PK - K)
Phyla Ecology Game (LE/MS/MS)
Birds of Brazil Bingo ( K-12)
Birds of Prey (LE/MS/HS $)
Gastropods (Mollusks) Bingo (EE, MS, HS)
Poison Dart Frog (Requires cardboard, Lots of Set Up, E/MS)
Various Frog Games See links in post...it's more than just the pictured game  (Elementary)
Pond Scum - A Protozoa Game (LE/MS/HS)


Cells
Pond Scum - A Protozoa Game (LE/MS/HS)


Chemistry
Make 5 - A Game About Mineral Chemical Formulas ( LE, MS, HS)
Various Free Games by Ellen McHenry  (K-12)


Earth Science
Various Games by Ellen McHenry (K-12)


Nature Study
Nature Scavenger Hunt (K-12)



MISC

Family Friendly Version of Cards Against Humanity (LE/MS/HS)
Lego Building Game (Requires Legos, ALL 4+)
Various Lego Building Games  (Requires Legos, ALL 4+)
Bible Games, Various (ALL)
Concentration, Memorization, and Observation Games (LE/MS)  




Shared on Little's Learning Link-up

Jump and Learn Game

Here's a fun, active game to play with your kids to help them practice a whole number of things.  You can practice letters, numbers, shapes, colors (in English, or a foreign language).  It can be played indoors or outdoors with different materials.

MATERIALS:

OUTDOORS: Chalk, and an area with cement.

INDOORS: Colored construction paper and scissors (you can also use colored play foam sheets, which cost more, but last longer).


PREPARATION:

OUTDOORS: Draw whatever you want to learn with the different colored chalk.

INDOORS: Cut out shapes in paper or foam sheets of various colors, then draw other things you want to teach (like numbers, letters, etc) on them.  Scatter them around the room.


GAME PLAY:

To play the game, the parent or leader calls out the shape, color, number, letter, etc. The children have to run to what you just called out  and stand or jump on it (for indoors, I suggest telling kids to just touch it with their hand or foot, as the paper gets messed up pretty quick). You can mix it up twister style, and tell them, for example, to put their foot on red and their hand on the number 1.   This is especially fun with several kids but can be played with just one, and you as the caller.


For a little more challenge, for older kids, call out an equation that equals a number you've written, and have them run to it.   Or, for letters, you can call out "the word duck starts with what letter?" or "the word cat ends with what letter?"  You can have them run to "a shape with four equal sides" or a shape that has "no angles."    So, this is a game that can grow with children as they learn new things. 

Linking Up at 

Throwback Thursday

and several of the linkies

Found Here