Noughts and Crosses - Space

The game of Noughts and Crosses, also known as Tic-Tac-Toe, takes an educational twist with a space-themed version aimed at pairs of pupils. In this engaging classroom activity, students use a traditional 3 x 3 grid but instead of simply placing their 'O' or 'X', they must first answer a question about our solar system correctly. Each pair of students is equipped with pens of different colours to distinguish their answers on the grid. The questions serve as a fun way to test and reinforce their knowledge of space, including facts about planets, the Sun, and other celestial phenomena.

As the game progresses, students take turns to answer questions such as naming a dwarf planet, counting the number of planets orbiting the Sun, and identifying the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun or one full rotation on its axis. They'll also be quizzed on the nature of the Sun, the order of planets in our solar system, and other interesting space facts. A correct answer allows the student to place their mark on the grid in the space of their choosing. The game then continues with the normal rules of Noughts and Crosses, where the objective is to get three of their marks in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This activity not only makes learning about Earth and space more interactive but also encourages strategic thinking and recall of key scientific information.