Loch Nessie and Ladders

Objective: This game is a "rainy day" game. Students will have fun playing a "Chutes and
Ladders" game with a twist.

Materials: Loch Nessie and Ladders game board, one die, game pieces (can be beans, mosaic
pieces, buttons, etc.), Loch Nessie and Ladders cards

Background: This is part of a multi-activity unit designed to help children investigate water
mysteries. Please refer to "Water Mysteries, Myths, Legends, and Strange Occurrences" for
additional information.

Procedure:
Laminate the Loch Nessie and Ladders game board and the set of cards. Carefully cut apart
the cards to form a deck. Make copies for the game board and cards for multiple group play.
Place game cards face down on the bottom left corner of the game board.

This game is designed to be played like "Chutes and Ladders" in that when a player lands on a
Loch Ness Monster space or a ladder space, his/her game piece will be affected.

If a player lands on a space occupied by a Loch Ness monster head (there is some type of
writing in the space designated as the "head" space) student must scoot down the body of the
Monster and end in the space at the tip of the tail (there is additional writing in the space
designated as the "tail" space).

If player lands on a ladder space, student must shoot up the ladder to the space where the
ladder ends. The end space will be a higher number on the board.

All players place their game piece on the "Start" block. Players roll the dice to determine who
goes first. The highest number rolled begins play. Play continues around the table clockwise.

To begin play:
Player rolls dice and moves to designated space. If player lands on the Head space of the
Loch Ness Monster, he/she must scoot down the body of the Monster, ending on the Tail
space. Player's turn is over.

If player lands on a Ladder space, player must shoot up the ladder to the higher numbered
space. Player's turn is over.

If player lands on any other space on the board, player must draw a card and do what it says.
After completing whatever the card's instructions are, player's turn is over.

Play continues until someone lands on the Finish space. Player does not need an exact number
to land on the space.

Extensions:
Have students make a crossword puzzle about the Loch Ness Monster and other water
monsters. If your class has a vocabulary list (spelling list) they're working on, have students
incorporate each spelling word into the puzzles.