Many teachers today now use board game templates in their classrooms to catch the interest of young children not just for learning but to have fun too. You can download these printable board games for free and they have become powerful and effective tools for teaching students how to talk, think, and enjoy themselves while learning. You can even personalize a board game with a text of your own choice and mix it up with images.
Board Game TemplateS
Different types of board game layouts
There are a variety of printable board game layouts and templates on different topics that you can download free. These are great for young children and ESL students. You can have a choice of downloading then printing the templates or you can use a blank board game template, then customize it by adding your images or words.
Blank Board Game Templates
Playing board games in a classroom can benefit students immensely. These games are a lot of fun and students, especially the younger ones, learn best when they’re enjoying themselves. Also, the use of printable board games can lessen the teacher’s talk time, giving an opportunity for students to speak for themselves. Here are some templates that you can download and print:
- Can Can’t
This is a dice board game. Download and print a blank board game template then add your own text or images. Although this is an easy game, it’s incredibly fun to play. Here are the steps to play this game:
For this game, each pair of students needs one die.
Students take turns rolling the die and moving their player (this can be a sharpener, an eraser or any other object). Then they start a dialogue based on the image on the square their player landed on.
The main objective of the game is to reach the middle star to get a point. After winning the point, the students go back to the beginning then play all over again.
If a student lands on a red-colored square, they should go back to the starting point.
If a student lands on a green square, they can make 2 moves forward.
If a student lands on a square that says “Change Places,” the student changes places with their partner.
This activity helps students start conversations with each other using target expressions and keywords.
Just practice the target expressions and keywords with the class before you play the game. - Race Around the World
Make your own version of this game by downloading a blank template then start adding your text and images. With this game, you don’t need dice but your students need an eraser or some other small object to use as a game piece. The game is best played in pairs and the first one who makes it all the way wins the game. One player travels clockwise while the other moves in the opposite direction. Here are the steps to play this game:
Both players start at the bottom then play the “Rock, Scissors, Paper” game. The winner moves their game piece one space forward.
The students then start a dialogue using the target language based on the image in the square.
This game doesn’t need much preparation. All you need to do is print the board game template or use a board game maker then practice the target expressions with the students before they start playing. - The Spinner Game
Create your own game by downloading and printing a blank board game layout then add your own images. The game is best played in pairs and each pair of students need a pencil and a paper clip. Here are the steps to play this game:
Students place the paper clip in the middle of the board and place the pencil in the middle of the clip.
The students then take turns flicking the paper clip to make it spin.
The board game consists of 8 sections and the number at the bottom of each of the sections are the corresponding points.
One student spins the clip then starts a dialogue using the keyword that the paper clip lands on. Then the student jots down his/her points.
Then the next student takes a turn.
Practice the target keywords and expressions first before letting your students play. - Flick the Eraser
Download then print a blank board game template, then start adding the needed text and images. Again, this game is best played in pairs. The players each need an eraser or some other small object that they can flick using their finger. They also need a crayon or colored pencil. Here are the steps to play this game:
One student places the eraser at the bottom of the board. The student then tries to flick the eraser up the board with his finger.
If the eraser lands on an image, the student starts a dialogue based on that image.
The student that flicked the eraser colors the shape he landed on or writes his name in it.
Then the other student takes a turn.
The game comes to an end when all of the shapes have gotten colored-in and the student who colored the most number of shapes wins. - Guess Who
This is a really fun game and your students will definitely enjoy in class. A student gets the chance to guess the character his partner chose by asking questions. You can consider this an English lesson about describing the appearances of people. You can also use this game to train students to formulate questions. - Apples to Apples
The board game helps develop thinking and vocabulary skills. Here, the players have 5 random cards and one of the players puts an adjective card down. The other players then choose noun cards best described by the adjective. Students will have lots of fun with this game. It’s also a great way to practice the students on the parts of speech while adding words to their vocabulary. - I Spy
This is a simple game but a great one for introducing new words to kids and young learners. The players look at pictures with several random objects on them. The objective is to try and find the right objects on the cards.
Printable Board Games
How to make your own board game?
There is as much fun creating a unique board game as playing the game itself. You can even make personalized board games and give them as gifts, use them for a specific classroom activity or use them with your family to keep everyone occupied during rainy days. You can find printable board game templates, tips, and accessories free on the internet.
Board Game Layouts
Then you can customize the templates by following these steps:
- Select a theme for your game and its design
Whether it’s a specific location, activity or character, every great game always has a theme. It should also have a type from drawing to trivia to collecting. Select a theme to design that revolves around your game, then choose the type of board you need to achieve your end goals.
Try gathering ideas before creating your actual board game. Take notes that answer important questions about gameplay like:
What’s your game all about?
How does a player win?
Is the purpose of your game for education, entertainment or both?
Does your game involve rolling a pair of dice where players move on a linear track or do the players need to complete mini-games, role play or follow other rules?
How do players move across the board? - Print a board game template
You should already have an idea about the rules of your game. Search for a printable game board that best suits the theme and rules of your game. You can customize your chosen template with special decorations, embellishments, and spaces before printing. - Print the accessories for your board game
When making a homemade board game, you need more than just an idea and a game board. The game should also have accessories that you need to complete the gaming experience. These accessories may include game cards, dice, game pieces, and more. - Create your board game’s packaging
After completing all of the elements of your customized board game, it’s time to package everything up so everything stays together. You can use a word processing software to make a customized logo for the box too. Here are some options for you:
If you can fold your game, use a shoebox or a photo box as a container for it.
Small craft organization containers or tackle boxes with hinged-lids are ideal, especially for games that include plenty of tiny pieces.
You can also use a cereal box, which is a bit larger than a standard piece of paper as your game box that opens on one end. Wrap it up and stick the logo of your game on it.
You can use a manila envelope to slide the game board in together with cards and other flat pieces.
Gift boxes made for t-shirts and other items of clothing are the perfect design and size for your customized board games.