Sea battle — the coordinates game

Sea battle is a coordinates lesson in disguise. To fire a shot, a child has to name a square by its column letter and row number — exactly the skill used later for graphs, maps and spreadsheets. It also trains logical thinking: after a hit, where is the rest of the ship most likely to be? And it needs only paper, a pencil and a friend.

⚓ Best for ages 6–12

How to get the most from these sheets

• Start with the 6×6 grid and three small ships for children under 7, then move up to 8×8 and the classic 10×10.
• Always say the letter first, then the number (“C4”, not “4C”). It is the same convention as a map index or a spreadsheet cell.
• Place a book or a folder between the two players as a screen, and use a pencil so ships can be redrawn for a second game.
• After the game, compare sheets and ask: “Which shot gave you the most useful information?” — a nice way to talk about strategy.

Frequently asked questions