Learning more about traditional games - Activities for kids

A lot of people love to play games and some games are carried over from generation to generation.  

In these days kids tend to play a lot of video games, but today we are going to have a look at some traditional games or board games.

        

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• What is your favorite board game to play with your family or friends?
• Write down the rules and objective (why do you play it) of the game you like most. (you can choose more than one game if you want).  Use your own words and check your spelling.
• You are now going to watch a video of a traditional game played by children and answer the questions that follow (have a look at the video again if you cannot answer all the questions)

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1. Why did only the men play the first game they mention?
2. In which country did they play this game?
3. What is this game similar to?
4. Where does the name "Jumping Pin" come from?
5. Why is this game played inside water?

• Think about a game that everybody knows and say how many people play the game, how is it played and what is meant by the word 'traditional'.
• Speak to an older person and find out what games they played when they were young.

Lets read a piece on two traditional games from Mexico and answer the questions that follow

                                    

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The name of this game is "Sun and Ice" and is played in Mexico.

To play it you form two teams.  When the players of the one team touches you and say "Freeze", you cannot move.  You have to stand still until one of the players on your team touches you and says "Sun", then you are free to run again.

Another traditional game comes from Turkey and is called "Korebe".  The game is played by five to ten children.  One of the children is 'it' or 'on'.  That child is blindfolded.  The blindfolded child tries to catch the other players.  If someone is caught, then that child becomes 'it' again and the game starts over.

1. Which two countries are mentioned in this piece?
2. What are the names of the games?
3. In your own words, describe how it is played.
4. Find a video on one of these games and watch how it is played.

Achi is a game play by children in Ghana.  You use colored pebbles and a board marked out in the dust.  This game is played in many countries and it may vary (differ) from place to place and have different names.

                                  

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How is this game played?

You need two players and each one must have 4 markers (like stones or marbles or coins or buttons).  Each player takes a turn to put one of his/her markers on the board at any point.

When all eight pieces are placed on the board, the player may move one of their markers along a line onto the next open dot.

The aim is for a player to get three markers in  a straight line (like in naughts and crosses)

1. Do you think it is easy or difficult to play this game and why do you say that?
2. Draw an Achi board on a piece of paper and play the game.
3. If you would like to make an Achi board you can follow the instructions on http://www.auntannie.com/GamesToMake/Achi/
4. If you are still not sure how to play the game, watch the video

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And now you are going to design your own board game

• Do some research on different traditional or board games
• Decide on which ones you like most and try and think of a game you can make using different games
• You can even start from scratch and make a totally new game.
• Remember you need rules for the game and and objective, so you will have to write it down clearly for others to read
• Explain the game in your own words to your friend.
• If you want to make the game you are welcome to do that, otherwise, just think about what game you want to design and write it down.