This study investigated the effect of three play strategies on academic performance of low achiev-ing Basic 1 pupils in primary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental research design using pretest, posttest, control group was adopted where pupils screened to have low achievement scores were selected from schools randomly assigned to treatment groups. Participants met on dif-ferent treatment strategies for eight weeks of two contact hours each. Academic performance was assessed before and after treatment with data analysed using Analysis of Covariance. Results in-dicated that the three play strategies are effective in improving pupils’ academic performance (F (3 124) = 310.566; p <0.05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that any of the play strate-gies could be effectively utilized in improving the academic performance of low achieving pupils.