You can also use the Shisima Game board to discuss an octagon and its properties (number of edges and points) and other places we see the octagonal shape used in real life (for another fun shape game, try this shape scavenger hunt). But older kids might enjoy the strategy of this math game, too (like whether or not it’s a good idea to move to the shisima on the first move, or how one might trap the other player so that it’s impossible for them to block a win).

My kids enjoyed playing this fun math game, especially my oldest (who is six years old). Simply download the printable (by subscribing below), then print the game board of your choice (one is blank in case your kids want to practice using a ruler to draw the lines themselves).Īfter you’ve downloaded the game printable, check out the DIY directions below to prepare and play the game. You can draw your own Shisima Game board using the photos for reference but I’ve made it even easier for you and your kids to make your own Shisima Game with a free printable. But, I decided to make a Shisima Game board for my kids that will be more durable for repeat gameplay. You can make your own Shisima Game, too! All you need is a home printer, some crayons, a piece of cardboard, and some glue. Often, kids in Kenya will simply draw a game board (the shape of an octagon) in the dirt to play and use rocks or bottle caps as their game pieces. Once you learn the rules and practice, maybe you will be able to move your impalavali as fast as the kids in Kenya! “Water bugs” move very quickly making it hard to keep track of where they are likewise, Shisima players move their pieces so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. The game is called “Shisima” (meaning “body of water”) because the center of the game board is the “water.” And the game pieces are called the “ impalavali” (meaning “water bugs”).

The math game I am sharing today comes from Kenya, a country in East Africa. I highly recommend this book, as kids learn not only all different types of math games and puzzles, but a great deal about other countries and cultures, too! I recently learned several from the book, Math Games and Activities From Around the World by Claudia Zaslavsky. A Cool Maths Game that’s Multicultural, too! And while most children in the United States are familiar with this classic three-in-a-row game, what they may not know is that variations of the “three-in-a-row” concept are played all over the world. With four kids, it seems like every time we eat out at a restaurant, one of them inevitably decides to draw a Tic-Tac-Toe board to challenge their dad or me.

Please read my full disclosure policy for more information. Disclosure: This “Shisima - A Cool Maths Game from Kenya” blog post, contributed by Bethany of , contains affiliate links as an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

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