SIMCC Games · Teacher guide
Box Claim
Draw lines to close boxes; each box scores its row times its column.
- Trains
- Times tables up to 5 × 5 · Adding up a score · Planning ahead
- Ages
- 8 and up
- In class
- Pass and play. Pairs share one device. Choose Lower Division: a 3 × 3 grid of boxes. In pass and play the level sets only the grid.
A ten-minute starter
- Show about 2 minDraw a 3 × 3 grid of boxes, with 1 to 3 along the top and down the left. Each box is worth its row times its column: row 2, column 3 is worth 6. Draw a line to close a box's fourth side, claim it, and draw again.
- Play about 6 minPairs play pass and play at Lower Division. Play two games: New game swaps who draws first.
- Talk about 2 minThe result shows each player's boxes as a sum, such as 1 + 6 + 9 = 16. Ask pairs to read theirs out. Which boxes decided the game?
Questions to ask the class
- Which box on a 3 × 3 grid is worth the most?Listen for: Row 3, column 3: 3 × 3 = 9, in the far corner.
- All the boxes on a 3 × 3 grid add up to 36. You have 20. Can you lose?Listen for: No. The other player has at most 16.
- What is a safe line, and when do they run out?Listen for: A line that leaves no box with three sides. Near the end every line gives something away.
A common mistake
Drawing the third side of a box, so the other player closes it.
How to help: Before each line, look at the boxes on both sides of it. The game points out a line that gave a box away while a safe line was left, and Hint (H) shows a good line.
Assign it
On the coach dashboard, choose your class under Cohorts. In Assign practice, pick Box Claim and the drill Box Claim, add a due date if you want one, then press Assign. Students find it on their Train page.
It opens against the computer. Ask students to start at Lower Division.
Wins against the computer show under By game, as each student's device reported them. Pass-and-play games do not show.