Big Elementary School Game (Das große Grundschulspiel) is a German educational board game designed for elementary school-aged children. The game tests and reinforces basic school subjects including math, language, and general knowledge through question-and-answer gameplay combined with board movement. Players advance around the board by correctly answering questions appropriate to their grade level.
Components
Game board with a path of spaces
Question cards (organized by subject and difficulty)
Player pawns
Die
Answer key or reference sheet
Setup
Place the game board in the center. Sort question cards by subject/difficulty if applicable. Each player selects a pawn and places it on the start space. Determine the first player.
Turn Structure
On each turn:
Roll Die: Roll to determine how far to move.
Move Pawn: Advance your pawn along the path.
Draw Question: Draw a question card matching the space you landed on (subject/difficulty may vary by space color).
Answer Question: Attempt to answer the question correctly.
Resolve: If correct, remain on the space (or gain a bonus). If incorrect, move back or lose a turn.
Actions
Roll and Move: Roll the die and advance your pawn.
Answer Questions: Respond to questions on math, language, and general knowledge. Questions are age-appropriate for elementary school children.
Subject Categories: Different spaces on the board correspond to different subjects, testing a range of knowledge.
Bonus Spaces: Some spaces provide bonuses (extra moves, skip ahead) or penalties (move back, lose turn).
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The first player to reach the final space on the board wins. Players must answer questions correctly to maintain their position and advance.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Difficulty Levels: Questions may be organized by grade level, allowing older and younger children to play together with appropriately challenging questions.
Educational Focus: The game is designed to reinforce school learning in a fun context.
German Language: The game was originally published in German, with questions in German language, math, and knowledge subjects.