Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Giant Garden Noughts and Crosses: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Giant Garden Noughts and Crosses is a free printable game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children print and cut out the X and O pieces, then play on a lawn sized board outdoors. It is for two players, takes about 10 minutes, and needs chalk and stones. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play noughts and crosses on a giant scale. They use printed X and O pieces and take turns to place them on the board. Each player tries to make a line of three while stopping the other player from doing the same. The game is played outdoors, so children can hop, point and talk through their choices as they play. Stones hold the pieces down if it is windy.
- X
- O
About noughts and crosses
Noughts and crosses is a game for two players. One player uses X and the other uses O. The board is a grid of three rows and three columns, which makes nine spaces. Players take turns to place one piece in an empty space. The first player to get three of their own pieces in a straight line wins.
The rules are short, so children can learn them in a minute. That leaves their attention free for the interesting part, which is thinking about what might happen next. A giant board makes the game bigger and more physical. Children can stand at the edge, point to spaces and explain their plan to each other out loud.
Fun facts about noughts and crosses
- The board has nine spaces, set out as three rows of three.
- A winning line can go across, up and down, or corner to corner.
- In America the same game is called tic tac toe.
- If nobody makes a line of three and the board is full, the game is a draw.
- Players who think carefully about every move often finish a game with a draw.
Skills and curriculum link
- Turn taking
- Planning ahead
- Fair play
- Blocking an opponent
- Explaining your choices
What children will be able to do
- I can take turns in a game.
- I can think ahead to make a line of three.
- I can block my opponent and explain why.
Ideas for the grown-up helper
- Play a practice game firstPlay one quick game together before the real one. Say your moves out loud so your child hears how you decide where to go.
- Name the linesPoint out rows, columns and corner to corner lines. Children find it easier to spot a line of three once they can name the different kinds.
- Talk about fair playAgree that players take turns and that the winner is the first to make three in a row. Say that losing a game is a normal part of playing.
- Pause before each moveAsk, "What could happen if you go there?" Give your child time to look at the whole board before they choose.
Key words
- TurnYour go in the game. Then it is the other player's go.
- RowA line of spaces going across the board.
- ColumnA line of spaces going up and down the board.
- DiagonalA line of spaces going from one corner of the board towards the opposite corner.
- BlockPut your piece in a space so the other player cannot finish a line there.
- DrawWhen the board is full and nobody has three in a row.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up. A grown-up can cut out the pieces for younger children.
- Pick a dry day and a clear outdoor space. Mark out the board with chalk, with three rows and three columns.
- Read the rules aloud together. Decide who is X and who is O, and who goes first.
- Take turns to place a piece on the board. If it is windy, hold the pieces down with stones. Talk about each choice.
- Play again. Two quick games work better than one long one. Come back to it another day, because repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Play together as a team against a grown-up. Talk about each move before you place the piece. Say aloud where the grown-up could make a line, and where your team could make one. Swap roles after a game, so your child sees the grown-up thinking too.
To stretch confident children
Play to the best of five games and keep score. Make a tally mark on the ground with chalk each time someone wins. Before each move, ask the player to say one reason for their choice. The first player to win three games takes the title.
Make it a game
Use big hops to place each piece on the board. The player hops from the edge to the space they have chosen and puts the piece down. Then they hop back and the other player has their turn. Keep it calm and safe.
Talk about it
- What are you thinking about before you place your piece?
- Where could you make a line of three? How do you know?
- How can you stop the other player from getting three in a row?
- What did you notice about the board after a few turns?
- How does it feel when you have to wait for your turn?
- What would you try differently next time?
Take it off the page
Painted stone pieces
Paint stones with a cross or a circle and let them dry. Use them as game pieces on a chalk board on another day. A grown-up should supervise the painting.
Lines in the garden
Go on a walk around the garden or park and look for lines of three. Count three fence posts, three flowers or three paving slabs in a row.
Small board game
Draw a grid of nine squares on a piece of paper. Play noughts and crosses with two colours of pencil. Compare it with the giant garden version.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first game, then let them lead. Say your own thinking out loud. Keep each game short, praise good ideas, and treat losing as part of the fun.
Teachers
Use it as an outdoor starter, a plenary, a table activity or a reward time on a dry day. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Pairs can play while you listen for how children explain their moves.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider games plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, counting walks and everyday talk. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, so mixed age groups can play together.
Where this fits in learning
Before this game, children practise taking turns and following simple rules in board games and playground games. They also learn to count and to notice patterns and shapes around them.
After this game, children can try other games that need planning, such as Four in a Row. They can also keep score with tallies, as in the Balloon Volleyball Score Sheet, and learn to play games with longer rules.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What were you thinking about before you placed your piece?
- How did you stop your friend from getting three in a row?
- What would you do differently next time?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Giant Garden Noughts and Crosses for?
It is written for Year 1, which is ages 5 to 6, in Key Stage 1. Younger or older children can play too. Adjust the help and stretch ideas on page 2 to suit your group.
- What do I need to play?
You need chalk and stones, plus the printed pieces. Play outdoors on a dry day. If it is windy, hold the pieces down with stones. A grown-up can cut out the pieces for younger children.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes. Each game is quick, so you can play two or three in one sitting. Short rounds keep children interested and give everyone a turn at going first.
- How many players do I need?
You need two players. One plays X and the other plays O. If you have more children, they can take turns, or play in teams of two against another team.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Play together as a team against a grown-up. Talk about each move before you place a piece. Say your thinking out loud so your child can hear how you choose where to go.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. Black and white printing works well on plain A4 paper, so you do not need to print in colour.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as an outdoor starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.