Giant Yut Nori: Korean Board Race with Human Pieces
A movement version of yut nori, the Korean New Year board game, in which players toss four sticks and the result tells how many spaces the pieces move; here the pieces are students on a cone board. It builds strategy, quick math and teamwork.
How to play
- Share the origin: in Korea, families play yut nori on Lunar New Year by tossing four flat sticks. Set up a square board of 20 cones (5 per side, 10 feet apart) with two diagonals of 5 cones crossing through the center.
- Make 4 teams of 6 in pinnies. Each turn, two team members are pieces, one is the thrower and the other three do the challenge for each space.
- The thrower tosses 4 flat disc cones in the air: 1 face up moves 1 space; 2 face up, 2; 3, 3; all 4 face up, 4 plus another throw; none face up, 5 plus another throw.
- One piece runs that number of cones. The three non-pieces do one jumping jack per space moved. If a piece lands on a corner, it may take the shortcut along the diagonal.
- If a piece lands on another team's cone, that piece goes back to start; if it lands with its own teammate, they may travel together. The first team to bring both pieces home, back to start after a full lap, wins.
- Teams take turns in order. Roles switch within the team after every turn. Play two games of about 10 minutes.
Rules
- The team says out loud which piece it will move before anyone runs.
- Safety: the thrower tosses the discs gently upward, never toward anyone.
- A team that takes more than 20 seconds to decide loses its turn.
Variations
Easier
One piece per team and no send-back rule.
Standard
Two pieces per team, shortcuts and the capture rule.
Harder
Three pieces per team, and the challenge changes by corner (squats, jumps, shuttle run).
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility: serve as the team's strategist or permanent thrower and choose which piece moves.
- Autism: post a card with the throw results drawn out (1 to 5) so the meaning of each toss is clear.
- Fitness: jumping jacks may be swapped for side steps for students who need it.
Learning goals
- Decide as a team which move is best each turn.
- Connect the throw result with travel and fitness challenges.
- Learn a traditional Korean game and its connection to holidays.
Equipment for a class of 25
- flat disc cones: 16
- cones: 28
- pinnies: 24
Teacher tip
Demonstrate the scoring before you play, since it's the hardest part to grasp.
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