Learning through Pretending: Playing Diner
This week at Barrister Unschool: Learning through Pretending!
I remember playing Diner when I was growing up—setting up a table and menus for my parents, getting out the little pretend server pad, taking their fake money, bringing out plastic …
Barrister Unschool: Expanding our Knowledge
This week at Barrister Unschool: We’re expanding our knowledge!
Discovering a game that’s fun to play is one thing, but we’re always SUPER impressed when we come across a game that makes it fun to learn.
Covering geography, history, …
Farewell, Oak & Shield
TL;DR: our Oak & Shield Gaming Pub has closed. Our Board Game Barrister locations at Mayfair Mall, North Shore, and South Milwaukee remain open.
All adventurers know in the back of their mind that their adventures will come to an …
Barrister Unschool: Growing Logic Challenges

Building Skills by Building Things
I want to talk about learning by building.
Let’s start here:
I built a birdhouse.
Over the course of the past year, I’ve been steadily taking more of an interest in woodworking. I suppose that’s a bit of an understatement. …
Must be present to win – we’re reopening: why now?
Good evening, everyone.
Way back in May, when our governmental leaders were ignoring the advice of public health scientists and issuing a conflicting cluster of recommendations (and the occasional regulation) on how to reopen businesses and the economy, I realized …
The History of the Teetotum and How to Make One
Taking into account all the games that have ever existed in history, there are a few common elements that have persisted throughout the ages—playing cards, dice, coins, game boards and pawns—game components we know and love. But there’s one game …
Putting Paint on Plastic
As I was writing up the description for this Saturday’s Socially Distant Miniature Painting, I noticed myself actively avoiding a phrase that I’ve used many times in the past: “Join in with other local painters.”
I then recognized why; …