Circular Nim

Here is another NIM activity that is different from the usual type.  It encourages players to think about spatial(geometry) issues rather than just number as in the traditional.

The activity could be approached, through a class/group demonstration and then assigned as an independent activity.

Once students have found a strategy for winning encourage them to tweak the rules to create a new/similar activity.

As usual I do not share answers or strategies, as I believe that this takes away the investigation, thinking and creativity of learning.  If we as teachers know the answers we can subconsciously encourage students to look for the answer, strategy we have when there could be others as well.

Enjoy the exploring