MATHEMATICS SUBJECT ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY Class: VIII Chapter: NUMBER PLAY

 MATHEMATICS SUBJECT ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

Class: VIII
Chapter / Theme: Number Play
Activity Title: Navakankari – Strategy, Counting & Logical Reasoning

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🔷 Topic

Number Play through the traditional Indian board game Navakankari (Sālu Mane Āṭa / Chār-Pār)

Navakankari Navakankari, also known as Sālu Mane Āṭa, Chār-Pār, or Navkakri, is a traditional Indian board game that is the same as ‛Nine Men’s Morris’ or ‛Mills in the West’. It is a strategy game for two players where the goal is to form lines of three pawns to eliminate the opponent’s pawns or block their movement. Gameplay 1. Each player starts with 9 pawns. The players take turns in placing their pawns on the marked intersections. An intersection can have at most one pawn. 2. Once all the pawns are placed, the players take turns to move one of their pawns to adjacent empty intersections to form lines of three. The line can be horizontal or vertical. 3. Once a player makes a line with their pawns they can remove any one of the opponent’s pawns as long as it is not a part of one of their lines. A player wins if the opponent has less than 3 pawns or is unable to make a move.

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🎯 Aim of the Activity

• To develop logical thinking, strategic planning, and numerical reasoning

• To understand patterns, counting, and combinations through gameplay

• To connect mathematics with Indian traditional games

• To enhance decision-making and problem-solving skills

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🧰 Materials Required

• Navakankari game board (printed/drawn)

• 9 pawns (coins) for each player (two different colors)

• Notebook & pencil

• Observation table worksheet

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📋 Prior Knowledge Required

• Counting

• Understanding of patterns

• Basic idea of turns and strategy

• Concept of horizontal and vertical alignment

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🧩 Description of the Game (Given)

Navakankari is a two-player strategy game similar to Nine Men’s Morris.
Each player places 9 pawns on the board intersections and tries to form a line of three pawns.

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🪜 Procedure / Steps

Phase 1: Placing Pawns

1. Two players take turns.

2. Each player places one pawn at an empty intersection.

3. No intersection can have more than one pawn.

4. This continues until all 18 pawns are placed.

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Phase 2: Moving Pawns

5. Players move one pawn at a time to an adjacent empty intersection.

6. Movement is allowed only along the lines drawn on the board.

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Phase 3: Making a Line

7. A line of three pawns can be formed horizontally or vertically.

8. When a player forms a line, they remove one opponent pawn (not part of a line).

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Winning Condition

9. A player wins if:

   • The opponent has less than 3 pawns, OR

   • The opponent cannot make a move

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📊 Observation Table (Sample)

Turn No.	Player	No. of Pawns	Lines Formed	Pawn Removed	Strategy Used
5	Player A	9	1	Yes	Blocking
8	Player B	8	0	No	Position control
12	Player A	7	2	Yes	Double line

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🔍 Observations

• Players who planned placements early had an advantage.

• Blocking opponent lines was as important as forming one’s own.

• Symmetry and balance helped in controlling the board.

• The game involves counting moves, predicting outcomes, and logical deduction.

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💭 Reflections (Student Thinking)

• I learned that numbers and patterns appear naturally in games.

• Every move affects future possibilities.

• Strategy is more important than speed.

• Mathematics is not only calculations but also thinking ahead.

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🔥 Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

1. Why is it important to prevent your opponent from forming a line?

2. Can you predict a win in advance by counting possible moves?

3. Is it better to attack or defend early in the game? Why?

4. What happens if one player makes careless placements?

5. How is this game related to logical reasoning and permutations?

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✅ Answers / Solutions (Teacher Support)

✔ Key Mathematical Learnings

• Counting: Tracking pawns and moves

• Patterns: Recognizing potential lines

• Strategy: Minimizing opponent options

• Decision-making: Choosing optimal moves

✔ Winning Strategy (Sample)

• Control the center intersections

• Create two possible lines at once (fork strategy)

• Block opponent before completing a line

• Reduce opponent pawns to below 3

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📌 Conclusion

Navakankari is an excellent example of how traditional games enhance mathematical thinking.
Through this activity, students understand number play, logical sequencing, and strategic reasoning in a fun and engaging way.

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📎 Suggested Extensions

• Draw the board and label intersections with numbers

• Count total possible lines of three

• Compare Navakankari with Tic-Tac-Toe or Chess