An Upcoming Shark Week Homeschool Hit: Crabs in a Bucket Review:

We received Crabs in a Bucket from Timberdoodle Co in exchange for our honest review!

This summer, our homeschool was crawling with fun and strategy thanks to Crabs in a Bucket, a fast-paced game of bluffing and betrayal that had our whole family clawing for victory! Included in the Timberdoodle 2025 9th Grade Curriculum Kit, this clever little game couldn’t have arrived at a better time. We cracked it open during our favorite themed summer tradition: Shark Week!

While the world was watching sharks on the screen, we were watching each other at the table waiting to see who would get caught, who would escape, and who would be the sneakiest crab of them all.

What is Crabs in a Bucket?

Crabs in a Bucket is a high-energy, social deduction game where players act as crabs trying to escape the bucket, but with a twist. Not every crab wants everyone to get out! Some players are assigned roles like the “Bucket Crab” (who wants everyone to fail) and “Escaping Crabs” (who win by successfully escaping).

Each round, players vote on whether others get to “climb” or fall back into the bucket. But beware: those who seem helpful might just be bluffing! It’s a game of reading faces, strategic alliances, and clever communication. The game comes with an instructional booklet and QR scan for those visual learners who need a more visual approach to learn game play.

Educational Connections

Though it’s packaged as a fun game (and it is), Crabs in a Bucket sneaks in real critical thinking practice:

• Social Dynamics & Psychology: Players must read body language, analyze behavior, and determine who they can trust—great for developing emotional intelligence and understanding group psychology.
• Logic & Strategy: Like chess with claws, every move must be calculated. The more you play, the more nuanced your strategy becomes.
• Communication Skills: Whether convincing others to vote your way or throwing them off your trail, persuasive speaking and listening are crucial.
• Teamwork & Debate: Players must sometimes cooperate—even with their competitors. This teaches collaboration and negotiation, essential life skills for high schoolers.

This kind of game-based learning fits beautifully into Timberdoodle’s multi-faceted, hands-on approach to education. It’s not about worksheets it’s about thinking critically and creatively in real time.

Perfect for Shark Week

The ocean vibes, the struggle for survival, the intense suspense it’s like Survivor: Crustacean Edition during Shark Week! While we learned about apex predators and marine biology during the day, we dove into this game at night. The theme and tension of the game mirrored everything we loved about Shark Week. It kept the whole week cohesive and themed a homeschool mom’s dream!

A Game for the Whole Family

Though recommended for older kids and teens (and part of a 9th-grade kit), our whole family got in on the fun. The rules are easy to understand but the strategies? Deep. Everyone from middle schoolers to adults found it engaging. It quickly became a go-to game night favorite.

We laughed, debated, accused, and defended ourselves all without screens. Even our most game-shy family members got sucked in (pun intended).

Final Thoughts

Crabs in a Bucket isn’t just a clever Timberdoodle pick it’s a homeschool win, a summer fun staple, and the perfect way to blend game-based learning with family bonding.

If you’re using the Timberdoodle 2025 9th Grade Curriculum Kit, make sure this game doesn’t stay on the shelf. Whether you’re tying it into Shark Week or just breaking it out for a rainy day, this is one game that’s worth clawing over!