Top Board Games for Elementary Age Kids that Teach Science

Science encompasses many disciplines, from anatomy and biology to environmental sciences like geology and all sorts of things in between. You can help your children learn about science in a fun and exciting way using board games that teach science.

Educational games are great for parents and children of all ages, but it can be hard to know which science board games are the best, especially for kids age six to eleven.

Check out some of our top choices for some of the best science board games for learning during your next family game night! Educational board games are a way to actually make learning fun, which is something that can be quite hard to achieve! This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase through them,Bounceback Parenting will receive a small percentage at no extra cost to you.

Best Science Board Games for Kids

The Magic School Bus: Science Explosion

• Age Range: 5+
• Teaches: STEM Learning
• Players: 2-4

The Magic School Bus: Science Explosion is a great science board game that encourages hands-on learning through STEM activities through the familiar characters of Ms. Frizzle and The Magic School Bus. The goal of this game is to cause a volcanic eruption, which builds excitement throughout the game to see who can make it happen.Each kid will be so swept up in the excitement of this fun game that they won’t realize how much they are learning as well!

We also love this game because Harvard Scientists and educators developed the game and put it to the test at science camps before ever the game ever hit the shelves. The attention to high quality makes this educational game perfect for STEM knowledgeand family fun.

Some Body

• Age Range: 6-10
• Teaches: Biology and Anatomy
• Players: 2-4

Learning about the human body is something that never really seems to end throughout life, and we love this game that can be played in different ways depending on the ages of those playing. Younger children can play with the game like a puzzle, matching the body parts to the right places. Older kidscan learn the scientific names for parts of the body and their functions. There are five different ways to play total which means this science game will never get boring as your kids get older. Games that grow with the player will end up being a great investment!

Operation Escape E.V.I.L.

• Age Range: 8+
• Teaches: Chemistry
• Players: 2-4

This board game was the recipient of The Creative Child Game of the Year Award as well as the winner of Academics’ Choice Brain Toy, and many others. Chemistry is a hard science subject to learn for many kids, and Operation Escape E.V.I.L. makes learning about chemicals fun through magic tricks, science projects, and hands-on learning. Chemistry can be very fun when it’s taught in an exciting way, since it can be such a hands-on science activity.

And parents, don’t worry about content! E.V.I.L. stands for Earth Vision Industrial Labs, and the scientist’s goal is to develop a chemical that can put an end to malnutrition. One chairman has plans to turn the chemical into a mind control potion, and the other scientists must escape! This game develops curiosity, imagination, chemical properties awareness, decision-making skills, and critical thinking skills.

Xtronaut

• Age Range: 7+
• Teaches: Astronomy
• Players: 2-4

Learning about outer space and the solar system is super fun with Xtronaut, a Good Housekeeping Award-winning board game. We love this board game because it uses real-world scenarios and technology to engage the imagination into space exploration.

If your child is at least seven years old and interested in space, this game is perfect for learning the basics of space missions, rockets, and the solar system. NASA scientists designed this science board game to give kids a real scientific look at what being an astronaut is all about. Because, let’s face it, which kid doesn’t dream about being an astronaut at some point?

Photosynthesis

• Age Range: 8+
• Teaches: Earth Science
• Players: 2-4

Kids understand that we breathe oxygen, but understanding where that oxygen comes from is where Photosynthesis the board game comes in. This learning game is also an Amazon’s Choice game that teaches children age eight and up all about how seeds become trees and plants. Photosynthesis is also a great game for teaching critical thinking, decision making, and strategy. Another reason why we love this science board game is because of the beautiful 3D graphics that help players build their forests.

Herd Your Horses

• Age Range: 7+
• Teaches: Animal Science
• Players: 2-6

If your child loves horses, they will love playing the Herd Your Horses game, which transforms players into ranchers that need to round up their 50 horses. Each of the 50 horses is illustrated on a jumbo playing card with details about the species depicted. A game booklet with more scientific information is included with the games as well as 42 adventure cards that keep the game interesting. You can also choose between five different stories for gameplay including pretending to be the wild stallions. When playing with adults, this game can be appropriate for children as young as five, but the manufacturer’s recommended age range is seven to twelve.

Operation

• Age Range: 6+
• Teaches: Biology Anatomy
• Players: 1+

Operation is a classic board game that teaches children about biology and anatomy, but also beginners look at medicine and surgery. Players have to operate on Sam, the patient, to make him feel better, but they must be careful to remove his organs perfectly otherwise the buzzer will sound! If you can get the bone or organ out without triggering the buzzer, you’ll win money!  Operation can be played solo, but also with many other people. The recommended age for this game is children six and up, but younger children can enjoy trying to remove the pieces as well because the game teaches sciences as well as hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Into The Forest Nature’s Food Chain Game

• Age Range: 7+
• Teaches: Earth Science
• Players: 2-6

Into the Forest teaches children about the natural food chain in forest ecosystems and is perfect for kids in third grade and up. The game cards included can be used as a card game, or play with the board for more hands-on and interactive fun. The game also educates on the life cycle of plants, food webs, and animals in the forest. This game is also a great science board game gift for science teachers in elementary school classrooms because the game often coincides with a curriculum based on habitats and the food chain.

Kerplunk

• Age Range: 5+
• Teaches: Physics
• Players: 2-4

Kerplunk is a truly classic board game which has developed into a family favorite for a reason – it is simply so much fun! Players take turns removing sticks without letting their marbles drop through the tube. Kerplunk is an educational board game that teaches a skill relatively rare in board games – physics.

The players learn to manipulate the physics of the marbles through their placement and removal of the sticks. While this is a relatively simple physics experiment, it directly exposes kids to different physics-based ideas, and forces them to strategize with their placement and removal of the sticks. This game has achieved classic status for a reason – because kids have enjoyed it for so many years.

Why Are Board Games Great for Learning?

Before we wrap up this article, we’re going to jump into the many reasons that board games are such a great method of learning for children of all ages. You might still be a bit hesistant to buy a science-based board game. But let’s run through the many reasons that these are such excellent learning opportunities:

Interactive

The first reason that games are great for learning is that they are interactive. Kids are able to learn concepts better if they are able to interact and experiment with them. They see how their inputs make a difference, which helps them to gain a deeper understanding of the concept, whether they realize it or not. Board games allow for this interactivity, which is why they are so well-known as learning tools.

Competitive

Not many things will keep kids engaged like some healthy competition! Many of the board games on our list were meant to be played competitively, whether as individuals or as part of a team. Competition is great for learning because, in order to win, you have to become good at the game. This encourages kids to learn all about the concepts involved in the game in order to master it. Just make sure that the competition stays light-hearted, casual, and fun!

Sensory

You have probably heard about how kids have different “learning styles”. And it’s true that some kids learn better visually, some learn better by seeing and touching, and some learn in other ways. Different games offer the opportunity to engage all of these learning styles, by offering different “sensory experiences”. Games allow children to touch, build, read, see, and even hear! Depending on what type of learning style your kid is most adept, there are games built specifically for that style. Try out a variety of games, and see which one they gravitate toward most. You might find a new favorite game, as well as one that is most suited to their learning style!

Fun

Finally, games are fun! We’ve all heard the phrase “make learning fun”, and games are one of the few things that can actually do it! For all of the above reasons and more, board games offer the tools and guidelines for kids to learn about different science-based concepts while having a blast! Different kids will enjoy different games, and that’s totally fine. Try to give them a variety of gamesto discover what they like best. You might develop a life-long interest in games.

Conclusion

Playing board games is an excellent way for families to bond together, and when you can combine learning with fun, there’s no better educational tool! These family-friendly board games that teach science are perfect for kids in elementary school and make great gifts for kids who love science and hands on learning.