HOW TO PLAY

Learning Objective: By the end of the game, players will be able to recall the name of the selected theorists, discuss their theories, compare their ideas with classmates, and apply the new information to content from both in and outside of the classroom. 

Game Objective: Players try to collect as many ‘books’ (or, all four Category cards that correspond with a theorist featured on the Question cards) and the player with the most ‘books’ at the end of the game wins.

Materials: 

• (1) deck per 5-8 solo players/teams of two: 

  • • (48) Counter Canon Theorist cards

    • (5) Canon Theorist cards

    • (12) Question cards

    • (65) Category cards

• (1 per player) 'Hit The Books' bibliography

• (1 per deck) Instruction booklet

Setting up:

This game can be played in groups of 5-8 solo players, or in groups of 5-8 pairs. (For the sake of clarity, these Instructions will refer to both players and pairs as simply 'players,' except when making necessary distinctions)

1. The game can be played with anywhere from 5–8 players/teams

2. The dealer shuffles the Category cards and the Canon Theorist cards together and deals each player/pair 6 cards. Players should only look at their own cards. 

3. All 12 Question cards are laid out in the center of the table, portraits facing up.

4. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table, creating a draw pile.

How to Play:

1. The player right of the dealer begins the game.

2. When you ask an opponent for a card you need, you must have at least one card from the book you are asking for. Pick one theorist card you hold in your deck. Then, choose an opponent and ask if they have the card you need.

3. If they do not have the card, they will say “Hit the books” and you draw one card from the draw pile. 

4. If the person DOES have the card you are looking for, you may ask someone again (it could be the same player or a new player) up to three times until you are told to “hit the books.”

5. As soon as you have a ‘book’ of 4 cards of the same theorist you pause the game and lay your book down.

6. Read the cards in order: Doing Theory, Academic Genealogy, Big Theory, and Read This!

7. Pick up the Question Card corresponding to the theory book just made, choose one question, and discuss.

How To Win:

• Once someone runs out of cards they are out. 

• The person with the most books at the end, once all the books have been played, wins.

✽Teacher Tip: You can adjust the game to fit time restraints. Have groups play until a certain number of books are collected, or, after a certain time has passed, have groups play until the next book is made.)

Canon Theorist Cards

1. If you have a canon theorist in your hand cards, you can use that to skip the turn of the person to your right.

2. When using a canon theorist, place it on the table and read about it. The person to the right will then lose their turn and you can pick up another card in its place from the draw pile. 

3. If you want to be sneaky, and you have more than one canon theorist, you can raise the stakes and skip over as many people as canon theorists played and draw that number of cards from the draw pile.

4. You may only play canon theorist cards at the start of your turn, and once you play the card(s) your turn is over.

Question Cards

This card is played when a player completes a book. After the player reads aloud the information on the 4 theorist cards, the corresponding question card is pulled. The group will collectively choose one question to discuss. Once the question is answered, the game continues.

✽Teacher tip: Gear this section of the game towards learning objectives by:

1. Extending or shortening the time given to each question.

2. Having just the player/pair who asked the question respond to it, or opening it up to a group discussion.

3. Choosing what tier of questions students will ask.