The
Game Where It's OK to be Smart!®
This fast-paced game helps kids develop
important skills needed to succeed in school. Since players compete at their own age
levels, Brain Quest is designed for children of different ages to play together Players
can also attempt to answer questions for grade levels higher than their own grades for
bonus points. It actually makes learning fun! The game for grades 1-6 contains more than
1,500 questions based on school-related subjects.
Race through the school playground answering
questions about stuff you learn at school. Questions are co-curricular and cover social
studies, English, math and science. Easy, fun, colorful pictures in the Preschool &
Kindergarten game work with 4 basic questions for more than 1,000 possibilities.
1995 Learning Magazine Excellence in
Classroom Products Award
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Object of Game
To be the first player to reach Finish; players race along the path by correctly answering
questions.
Equipment
Brain Quest Game Board
256 Cards
4 Playing Pieces
1 Die
Parents' Summary of Rules
To start the game, the youngest player rolls the die. The player on the youngest player 's
left becomes the Reader for this turn. The Reader picks a card from the tray and announces
the category at the top of the card. The youngest player chooses a grade level equal to or
greater than his/her current grade (for the purposes of this game, players who are between
grades are in the grade that they just completed). The Reader reads the question from the
chosen grade level, and the youngest player answers. If the youngest player answers
correctly, s/he moves his/her playing piece the number of spaces rolled on the die plus
the number of grade levels above his/her grade level (if any) for the question. For
example, fourth graders who roll a 2 and answer a sixth grade question correctly move 4
spaces (2 for the die roll plus 2 for answering a question two grade levels higher than
their current grade.) If the youngest player answers incorrectly, s/he may not move. Play
passes to the left (the player who was the Reader rolls the die, and the player to his/he
left becomes the Reader for this turn.) The first player to reach Finish is the winner.
Set Up
1. Each player chooses a playing piece and places it at Start.
2. Questions are printed on the side of the cards with yellow bands at the top; answers
are printed on the side with red bands.
3. Fold the Brain Quest cards in half so that the questions (yellow side) face out.
4. Fill section 6 of the tray with cards, and place any extra cards aside. Leave section 7
open for discards.
5. Players should sit around the board according to their ages. The youngest player should
sit down first, then the second youngest player should sit on the youngest player 's
right, etc. The oldest player should end up on the youngest player 's lets. This seating
arrangement will allow players to read questions close to their own grade level.
6. Suggestion: Have pencils and paper available, particularly for some of those pesky Math
questions!
Starting the Game
The youngest player ("Player") starts by rolling the die. The player on the
youngest player 's left will be the "Reader" for this turn. The Reader picks a
card from the tray and reads aloud the subject at the top (English, Math, Science, Social
Studies, or Grab Bag.) Readers should pinch cards shut so that the answers are hidden
inside the cards.
Choosing a Question
Each card has six questions on it, one for each grade level in the game (1-6). After
hearing the subject, the Player announces a grade level equal to or greater than his/her
current grade level. Players earn a bonus for answering questions from grade levels higher
than the grade they are in (please see Moving and Bonus Points, below.) Players may not
choose a grade level lower than their current grade.
During the summer, Players' grade levels are the grades that they just completed.
Sixth graders, and players who have completed sixth grade, may only answer sixth grade
questions.
After the Player picks a grade level, the Reader reads the question from that grade
level on the card. The Player answers the question, and the Reader announces whether the
answer is correct or incorrect. If Players give incorrect answers, Readers should announce
the correct answers. Answers are printed inside the cards.
Moving and Brain Quest Bonuses
When Players answer correctly, they move their playing pieces the number rolled on the die
plus a Brain Quest Bonus of one space for each grade level above their current grade. For
example, a third grader who rolls a 4 and correctly answers a sixth grade question moves
seven spaces on this turn (4 from the die plus one extra space for each grade above third
grade.) Sixth graders may not earn Brain Quest Bonuses.
Players must move the full number of spaces they earn on each turn (exception" please
see Finish, below.) Players' turns are over after moving.
Players may not move when they answer incorrectly, and their turns are over.
Players Who Have Completed Sixth Grade
Players in junior high may only answer sixth grade questions, and they must subtract 1
from each die roll. Players who have completed junior high may only answer sixth grade
questions, and must subject 2 from each die roll. Players who subtract from a die roll and
end up with 0 or a negative number lose their turn.
Continuing Play
When a player's turn is over, the Reader becomes the new Player. The person on the new
Player's left becomes the new Reader.
Track
When Players reach the track, they move their playing pieces along the lanes of the track
that have the same number as their grade levels. For example, all first graders will move
along the track marked "1."
The Mud Puddle
Players who end their turn on the mud puddle space at the end of the track lose their
turn. Players may only lose one turn per game in the mud puddle. Players still serve as
Reader while they are in the puddle.
Foursquare
Players must move through the foursquare portion of the board in numerical order, starting
at space 1.
Finish
The first person to reach Finish wins the game. Players may stop on Finish even if they
have more spaces left to move (this is the only time that Players may move less than the
full amount of spaces that they earn.)
Tips for Reading Questions
There are two types of questions in the game that Readers should take special care in
reading: questions that include an underlined space(__) and questions that have letters
with dashes between them (for example, M-r-s.) Players fill in missing words for questions
with an underlined space; Readers should say "blank" whenever the underlined
space appears so that Players will know where the missing words belong. Questions that
include letters with dashes usually deal with spelling; when Readers see dashes, they
should say each letter separately.
Finally, our special Peek & See Cards are deigned so that Readers can play along
too--so don't peek! |
