drwjkirkpatrick-web/shisima-game-lesson
Record type:
software
Creator:
drw
Host:
Educational Shisima board game from Kenya with AI opponent — lesson plan for ages 10-17
# Shisima — A Strategy Game from Kenya 🇰🇪
An educational project that teaches students ages 10–17 how to code by building a traditional Kenyan board game with an AI opponent.
## What Is Shisima?
Shisima is a traditional three-in-a-row strategy game from the **Tiriki people** of western Kenya. The word *shisima* means "well" or "source of water," and the game pieces represent water bugs drawn to the well. Players move pieces along an octagonal board, trying to align three in a row through the center.
## What's In This Repo?
| File | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `index.html` | Complete playable game with AI opponent. Just open in any browser. |
| `LESSON_PLAN.md` | Full 6-session lesson plan for teaching students ages 10–17. |
| `starter/index.html` | Student template with TODO comments — build the game yourself! |
## Quick Start
1. **Play the game:** Open `index.html` in any web browser. No installation needed.
2. **Read the lesson plan:** Open `LESSON_PLAN.md` for a complete teaching curriculum.
3. **Build it yourself:** Open `starter/index.html` in a text editor and follow the TODO comments.
## What Students Learn
- **Data structures** — representing a board game as arrays and adjacency lists
- **Algorithms** — the minimax algorithm for game AI, with alpha-beta pruning
- **Game logic** — valid moves, win detection, game state management
- **Web development** — HTML, CSS, SVG graphics, and JavaScript in one file
- **Cultural awareness** — the origins of Shisima and Kenyan board game traditions
## Difficulty Progression
Shisima is the simplest of Kenya's traditional board games. Students who master it can progress to:
1. **Shisima** (this project) — 9 positions, 6 pieces, minimax AI ★☆☆☆☆
2. **Giuthi** (Kikuyu) — 2-row mancala, relay sowing ★★☆☆☆
3. **Kiothi** (Meru) — mancala with setup phase, chain captures ★★★☆☆
4. **Bao la Kiswahili** (Swahili) — "The King of Mancala" ★★★★★
## Requirements
- Any computer with a web browser and text editor …