Pencil, Paper, Play! 6 Free 2-Player Games for Busy Brain Breaks

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Transitions & routines support

Pencil, Paper, Play!

Six no-prep 2-player games for the minutes between tasks: Dots & Boxes, Battleships, X + O’s, S-O-S, 21 Sticks and Four in a Row. Print the sheets, grab a pencil and play.

All classes2-player gamesBrain breaksPrintable PDF
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Irish version: Peann Luaidhe, Páipéar, Imir!

Dots & Boxes game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable packBattleships game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable packX + O’s game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable packS-O-S game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable pack21 Sticks game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable packFour in a Row game page from the Pencil, Paper, Play! printable pack

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What it supports

  • giving busy brains a short, structured break
  • practising turn-taking and friendly competition
  • filling gaps between tasks with no prep

Resource details

  • Category: Transitions & Routines
  • Audience: All classes
  • Type: Printable pencil and paper games
  • Pages: 6
  • Prep: Print and play

How to use it in class

Keep a few copies in the drawer for early finishers, wet breaks and the gap between lessons. Pairs pick a game and stop when the bell goes. The 21 Sticks page ends with a challenge: can the pair spot a winning strategy? It makes a good extension for pupils who finish early.

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