Building History: Fifth Graders Craft and Play the Royal Game of Ur

In a unique blend of history, craftsmanship, and play, fifth-grade students in Mark Mortensen’s Woodworking class at The Peck School dive deep into the ancient world by building and playing one of the oldest known board games in history: the Royal Game of Ur.

The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the Game of 20 Squares, dates back to approximately 3000 BCE. Unlike some ancient games reserved only for the elite, this game was played by both royalty and commoners alike across regions stretching from the Middle East to Crete and Sri Lanka. With pawns set up in the guard chambers, tomb, and penalty zones, players take turns rolling the dice and advancing pieces along a shared central path. The goal is to be the first to move all seven pawns off the board by exact count.

This interdisciplinary project ties directly into the fifth-grade history curriculum, where students are exploring the question “What makes a civilization?” As they study ancient civilizations, students also step into the roles of archaeologists, game designers, and craftspeople—bringing history to life through their hands.

Through this project, students are introduced to new tools such as a miter box, backsaw, and a pneumatic nailer. They learn to make precise 45-degree cuts, forming clean corners for their frames. Measuring, cutting, gluing, and assembling the gameboard teaches not only woodworking skills but also the value of craftsmanship and patience.

Students also create their own playing pieces from birch plywood, sanding, and staining them in two tones. The dice are crafted from wood blocks and drilled using a drill press to create symbolic dot patterns. The result: three dice that dictate movement across the 20 squares of the board.

To top it off, students thread their game pieces on rawhide lacing, creating a portable and tactile connection to their creation. Each student’s board is unique, a product of both personal creativity and historical understanding.

“It’s fun to watch students make connections between what they were doing in woodworking and what they had learned in history—understanding the game’s cultural significance and then building it with their own hands,” said Mortensen. “Though the game involves chance, it’s also about decision-making and risk assessment—making it a perfect learning tool for fifth graders.”