Bus Complete

Topic
- Language
- Transport & mobility
Learning skills
- Cooperation
- Logical thinking
- Language, reading & writing
Activity type
- Board game
- Quiz & challenge game
Materials
- Basic
- Self-made
Age
- 6 - 11 years
- 12 - 14 years
5 - 15 minutes
2 - 4 players
Intermediate
Calm
Small (office, pavement)

Contributors

Mobile School

View profile

Everything you need to play this game

Large piece of cardboard or thick poster board
Markers or paint
Ruler
Pencil for sketching
Optional: stickers for symbols
Two circles cut from cardboard (1 large, 1 smaller)
Brass fastener (split pin) or thick pushpin
Scissors
Glue
Optional: printed alphabet and category labels

Make it yourself

Step 1

The game route

Draw the road: Use a pencil and ruler to sketch a wide, winding road from Start to Finish. Make it zigzag, circular, or creative—but clear enough for pawns to follow.
Add step lines: Inside the road, draw striped dashed lines to represent each “step” the players will take. Make about 20–30 steps, depending on the desired length of the game.
Draw road symbols: Along the road, draw these symbols on the sides: bus stop, stop sign, traffic light and gas station.
Label Start and Finish: Write START at the beginning and FINISH at the end in big, bold letters.

Step 2

Spinning disk (word challenge wheel)

Cut two circles: outer circle (about 30-35 cm wide), inner circle (about 20-25 cm wide)
Outer circle - 8 categories: Divide the outer circle into 8 equal segments like a pizza. Label each one with a category: Sports, First Names, Animals, Food, Cities or Countries, Household Things, Transportation, Song or Music
Inner circle - alphabet: Write all the letters A–Z around the edge of the smaller inner circle.
Attach with a pin. Place the small circle on top of the large one. Use a brass fastener or pushpin through the center so the inner circle can spin.
Create an arrow from cardboard. Attach it to the center (on top of the circles) with the same fastener or with a washer to allow it to spin freely.

Step 3

Game pawns: buses

Draw and cut out 2 small bus shapes from cardboard (around 4–5 cm long). Color them in fun bus colors (yellow, blue, red). Add windows and wheels. Attach a base so they stand upright. Cut a small rectangular strip, fold it into an L-shape, and glue it to the bottom.

Good job!

A step-by-step guide to play the game

Create two teams. Each team gets one bus pawn.

Place both buses on the Start line of the game route poster.

Team 1 begins:

Spin the outer wheel to choose a category (e.g., Animals).
Spin the inner wheel to choose a letter (e.g., A).
The team has to name as many words as possible that match the combination (e.g., ant, alligator).
For every correct word, move the bus forward 1 step.

Team 2 takes their turn following the same steps.

Alternate turns between teams.

Watch for road signs as you move:

Stop Sign: If your bus lands here, the other team gets two extra spins on their next turn (two category-letter combinations).
Gas Station: If your bus lands here, your team gets two spins next turn (double move opportunity).
Bus Stop: Teams swap buses – each team continues playing, but now with the other team's bus position!
Traffic Light: You cannot pass this symbol—even if you name 10 words, your bus must stop here until your next turn.

The first team to get their bus exactly to the Finish wins the game.

Extra game information

This game concept was developed by a team of Sanoma during a StreetwiZe leadership expedition in Lanaken, Belgium.

Variations

If teams are stuck, allow teammates to act out or draw clues.
Keep the game moving with a timer or fun music.

What people said about this game

Be the first to write a review

If you have played this game please help inform other people by giving a review.

Have you played Bus Complete game?

Don’t hesitate, share your feedback and help others to pick the right games. Tell us how it was and how the children reacted? Or do you have any advice for other players, a fun variation, a possible improvement?