Go to the Head of the Class
Go to the Head of the Class Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object
All "pupils" start in Kindergarten and move from desk to desk, advancing from grade to grade, until one player reaches the "Head of the Class" and wins the game.
Note: The first time you play, some questions may appear tricky; but you'll soon learn the answers, which will help you out the next time you play.
Contents
- Gameboard
- 3 colored dice
- 6 plastic tokens
- Quiz Booklet and Game Rules
Gameplay
Roll any two dice. The player with the highest total goes first. Play then passes to the left.
Setup
Place the gameboard on a table. Each player selects a playing piece. Beginning with the oldest player, each player must roll the black die and place his or her playing piece on the appropriate space, beginning in the Kindergarten (lowest-numbered) row.
Note: During the game no two pieces may occupy the same space at the same time. If you roll the same number as another player, place your playing piece on the next empty desk of a higher number.
On Your Turn
Roll all three dice to determine what question you will answer.
- The RED die indicates the category number.
- The BLACK and WHITE dice indicate the number of the question you will answer.
For example: if you roll Red 3, Black 4 and White 1, you must answer question 4 - 1 in category number 3 (History).
The Quiz Booklet
The quiz booklet is divided into eight sections. The first six sections contain different subjects, the seventh section contains the "Pop Quiz" questions, and the last section contains the "Exam" questions (more about those later).
Each page is divided into three columns, each with a different level of difficulty. The first column contains "Student" questions, which are the easiest to answer. The second column contains "Scholar" questions, which are moderately difficult to answer. The last column contains the most challenging "Graduate" questions.
Choose the level of questions you want to answer during the game; all players do the same. Players may choose different levels, or they may all choose the same level. If, during the game, you feel that the level you have chosen is too easy or difficult, you may choose to change your level. However, any level changes must be done at the beginning of a turn and before your question is asked.
As a general guide, younger children may do best playing at Student level, while older children play best at Scholar level and teens/adults enjoy the challenge of the Graduate level.
The Teacher
The oldest player serves as the Teacher for each game. The Teacher opens the Quiz Booklet to the category page rolled and then reads the correct question aloud. (When it is the Teacher's turn to play, the Teacher chooses which player gets to read the question.)
In the previous example, the Teacher would turn to category 3 (the red die roll) and read question 4-1 (the black and white roll) in the History category from the appropriate column (Student, Scholar or Graduate).
During the game, if any player gets the same question twice, the Teacher should read the next higher numbered question (or next lower if need be).
Each player is allowed a reasonable time to answer the question. However, if a player cannot make a guess in a reasonable time, it is considered an incorrect answer (see Moving From Desk to Desk).
After a question is answered, the Teacher then reads the answer out loud. Move ahead or back the appropriate number of spaces, depending on your answer (see Moving From Desk to Desk).
No player may help another player to answer a question. However, it is perfectly acceptable to use a piece of paper and pencil when answering questions in the Math category.
The Desks
Moving From Desk to Desk
- If you answered the question correctly, move ahead SIX desks, in numerical order.
- If you answered the question incorrectly, move back TWO desks.
Remember... no two pieces may occupy the same desk at any time. If you are moving forward and the desk you are moving to is already occupied, move to the next higher numbered desk.
If you are moving backward and the desk you are moving to is already occupied, move to the next lower numbered desk.
If desk number 1 is occupied by another player and you must move to that desk, you must exchange places with the player who is occupying that desk.
For example: Anne is on desk number 1 and Jimmy is on desk number 3. Jimmy does not answer his question correctly and must move backwards to desk number 1. Anne and Jimmy switch desks and Anne is now on desk number 3, while Jimmy is on desk number 1.
Homework Desks
If you land on a desk marked "Homework," immediately roll any one die of your choosing. This roll determines your grade for the homework. Grades range from an A+ (great work!) to a D (not so hot). Refer to the Homework charts listed on the gameboard to see how many spaces you must move.
Note: the Homework charts are printed on the gameboard, which is not part of this scan, so the spaces-per-grade values are not reproduced here.
Pop Quiz Desks
If you land on a desk marked "Pop Quiz", roll the black and white dice to determine which question you must answer. Refer to the section with the heading "Pop Quiz" in the Quiz Booklet for your question. If you answer correctly move forward six desks. However, if you answer incorrectly, you must move back two desks.
Exam Spaces
The highest numbered desk in each grade is an "Exam" space. If you land on one of these spaces, immediately roll the black and white dice to determine which question you must answer. Refer to the section with the heading "Exam" in your Quiz Booklet for your question. If you answer an Exam question correctly, move ahead nine spaces. If you answer an Exam question incorrectly, you must move back two spaces.
The Last Six Desks
If you land on any of the last six desks (numbered from 85 to 90) here's your chance to shine... and possibly win the game!
On your next turn, roll the black and white dice and answer the appropriate question from the section marked "Exam" in your Quiz Booklet.
Note: If you happen to land on desk number 90 and it is already occupied, move back to the nearest unoccupied desk.
Winning the Game
If you answer an Exam question correctly while on any desk numbered 85 through 90, advance to the podium space marked "The Winner" on the gameboard. This is the Winner's Space... congratulations! You're at "The Head of the Class" and you win the game!
If you do not answer this Exam question correctly, move back two spaces. On your next turn if you are still on a desk numbered 85 through 90, you may roll and try to answer another Exam question. Good luck!
Optional Rule: Doubles
If a player rolls doubles with the black and white dice (for example a 3-3 or 6-6), move forward the total number rolled if the question is answered correctly, or back the total number rolled if the question is answered incorrectly.
For example, a roll of 3-3 results in a player either moving ahead or back six spaces! A roll of 5-5 results in a player either moving ahead or back 10 spaces!
Safety Notice
Not suitable for children under 3 years because of small parts - choking hazard.
Quiz Booklet Sections
The quiz booklet's six subject sections (1 Art & Music, 2 Geography, 3 History, 4 Language, 5 Mathematics, 6 Science), the Pop Quiz section and the Exam section each hold questions in three columns (Student, Scholar, Graduate). The question text is not reproduced in this transcription.