Bandu (or Bausack abroad) is a dexerity game for people of all ages. It moves quickly, accommodates up to 6 players, and is able to be modified easily and in many ways. Bandu is out of print in the US, versions online average $25. Bausack is an international version that averages $80.  If you have lots of random wooden or plastic objects around your classroom, you can make your own version pretty easily.  Check local thrift stores, I have been lucky to find one complete and one in-complete version within the past two years.

The incomplete or DIY version is great to leave out for classroom choice time as a filler or skill game.  I have used everything from thread and ribbon spools to small classroom/math blocks and cut toilet paper tubes in DIY versions. Students when playing alone have also augmented the bean supply with counters and real beans~ this game is incredibly flexible.

Marketed Components: 6 rectangular bases, 48 wooden pieces in regular and weird shapes, 30 plastic beans.

Version 1

To play the easiest version (ages 3 and up), each person is given a rectangular starting block. This is the base for your tower, all subsequent pieces must be placed on it. Proceeding around the table, each player has a turn using the remaining pieces placed on the table in a pile.  On your turn, you select a wooden piece from the pile and attempt to stack it on your tower without it falling over.  My preschoolers enjoyed playing until only one tower stood, but for students with shorter attention spans the first “fall” restarted the game. The tallest tower at the first fall would then be the winner.  Some groups of students just allowed the person with the fallen tower to return their pieces to the pile and start over.

Version 2

Instead of using the chosen piece on your own tower, you give the piece selected on your turn to another player to add to their tower.  Again, you can play until one OR all but one tower falls in the first version. This version can be harder for very young children who usually prefer to use the piece themselves.  I recommend this for older 4 year olds and up, or students who are able to play Version 1 with little supervision.

Version 3

Experienced or older players in groups of 3 or more may enjoy using the “auction” beans. I usually just evenly divide the 30 beans between the players. In this version, on your turn you select one piece from the pile and place it on the table to sell it. Students take turns bidding any number of beans to have the piece.  Bids can not be changed once the bidding has moved to the next bidder. The player “selling” the piece decides who to sell it to, and trades the piece for the offered beans.  In this version, I usually had the tallest tower at the first fall be the winner to move the game along.  This version is also good for practicing counting but this can extend the time needed to play.  A small group format with an adult is helpful.

Version 4

Best for older experienced students.  Using the auction style of version 3, the students bid NOT to be given the piece up for sale.  The seller takes the beans from the highest bidder, and then gives the piece to any other player.  I did not force my students give it to the lowest bidder to allow them to show empathy and increase their flexibility in strategy, e.g. to experiment if giving someone a break early in the game was repaid later.

Version 5

Using a die with colors instead of numbers, divide the game pieces into color-matching tubs or bags.  Or if you have a DIY set of pieces, or pieces you don’t mind coloring, you can create sub-sets of pieces to match the colors on the color-sided die.  On a player’s turn, they roll the die and select a piece from the appropriate color/bag/bin.  This was a great way to review color knowledge in a meaningful way.

Version 6

Create a group tower with a preset height goal. I had a student select the piece and then hand it to a different student to place- we did not use a rectangular base for this challenge.  I worked on social-skills and I messages with this version.

Other Bandu Uses

1) The pieces can be used as attribute blocks when discussing lines, curves, corners, counting, etc. with elementary children. Passing the pieces in a bag and letting students pick one and describe it can be done during circle or to start math discussions.

2) Select 3-5 of the pieces and ask students to brainstorm any characteristics the blocks share- again this is good for practicing mathematical vocabulary. Students also liked playing “which doesn’t belong?” with 3-5 pieces displayed in the center of our circle. We discussed the answers to decide if they made sense or not and tried to find as many logical answers as possible.

3) Using the beans or other small objects, students practice measuring the pieces in non-traditional units.

4) In a small group, the students can sort the pieces into categories of their own making.

5) Provide each student with a different basic piece and have them draw the shape.  Then have them turn the shape into a familiar object. After five minutes have them trade with a neighbor and repeat.  For a math-literacy connection, have the students create stories based on their drawings.