Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
WORLD IN 8
GAMES
Students play traditional children’s games from
different countries around the world.
DRIVING QUESTIONS
GRADE LEVEL 3 – 5
• How are children around the world same as or different from
TIME NEEDED 8 periods, 60 min each me?
• Why is it important to learn about different cultures?
SUBJECTS SOCIAL STUDIES
OVERVIEW
STANDARDS A case of xenophobia has swept across the nation and across the
Language Arts SL.3.4 world. Many people are afraid of those from other cultures simply
SL.4.4 because they only focus ways in which others are different from
themselves. While there are many ways in which cultures and
MATERIALS people differ from each other, we often forget that we are all
human and we have more similarities than we realize. We all love,
q Poster paper
q Game Instruction Cards we all smile, we all cry, and we all like to play games as children or
q Game materials: as adults. This activity allows children to recognize similarities
o Handkerchief through the playing of a series of games from different countries
o Balls and cultures.
o Black & white paper / board
o Stones or alternative OBJECTIVES
q Game reflection sheets
q Matching cards • Students compare and contrast other cultures to their own.
q Reflection • Students recognize their assumptions of other cultures and
identify the similarities between other cultures and their own
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS culture.
None
WARM-UP
VOCABULARY/TERMS
Culture Pose the question, “What do you think children are like in other
Acculturation countries?” Students will likely discuss ways in which children in
Xenophobia
other countries are different.
If students have trouble providing ideas, provide guiding questions
such as:
o What is their culture like?
o What does school look like?
o What do they do for fun?
o What do they eat/drink?
As students provide their ideas, write them on a poster paper. You
will return to this poster after the conclusion of the activity.
GAMES ACTIVITY
1. Choose the first game you are going to play and gather the
corresponding materials.
o The Handkerchief Game (Egypt)
WARM UP NOTES
o Fire on the Mountain (Tanzania)
o Cztery kąty / Four Corners (Poland) Prior to the whole-class discussion, allow
o Fehér-Fekete / White & Black (Hungary) the students time to think and share their
o Kongki Noli / Stones (South Korea) ideas in small groups or partners.
o La Tomate / The Tomato (France)
o Mamba (South Africa) GAMES ACTIVITY NOTES
o Sur papaq / Cap Dragging (Azerbaijan) This activity consists of a variety of 8
o Bonus Game: Mancala (Ethiopia) games from different cultures. It is not
2. Provide instruction on the rules of the game. When introducing the necessary to play all 8 games, but
game to the students, the country of origin should not be revealed playing at least 4 games is
even though the country is provided in the instructions below. The recommended. The games can be
students will try to guess which country it is from at the end of each played in any order.
game and then again after playing all the games. It is
recommended that you use the English name of the game so that SPORTSMANSHIP NOTE
the name does not give away the country of origin. Prior to playing the games, ensure that the
3. Play the game. students understand what a good winner
and loser looks like.
4. Following each game, students provide their feedback on the game
through the reflection sheets.
1. After all the games have been played, students discuss the following questions as a class:
o What did you like about playing all of these games?
o Do you think any of your friends would like to learn and play the games?
o Which games reminded you of other games? Give examples.
2. Write the following countries on the board or on poster paper: Egypt, Tanzania, Poland, Hungary, South Korea,
France, South Africa, Azerbaijan.
Write the countries in no particular order.
3. Students each cut out the matching cards and tape the card under the country that they believe the game
corresponds to.
4. After the students have tried their best to match the games, students discuss if it was possible to know which game
belonged to which country. Guide the conversation so that students see that all children around the world like to
play games. Then, reveal the real names of the games.
5. Revisit the poster you made in the Warm-Up. Help students see that while there are many ways in which cultures
and people differ from each other, we often forget that we are all human and we have more similarities than we
realize. We all love, we all smile, we all cry, and we all like to play games as children or as adults.
EVALUATE LEARNING
Following the discussion, students complete the reflection sheet which includes the following prompts:
o Write about qualities that all people share.
o Why should we care about all humans around the world?
Alternatively, students can write in their class journals or on a piece of lined paper.
RUBRIC
RESOURCES
o https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/international_inspiration_traditional_games_resources_full_set_
part1.pdf
o http://www.recallgames.com/games/78
o http://www.recallgames.com/games/30
o http://www.recallgames.com/games/73
o http://www.recallgames.com/games/53
o https://sites.google.com/a/uni.edu/the-cultural-and-diverse-playground/asia/kongki-noli
The Handkerchief Game
Setup:
o Prepare a flat playing space that is about the size of a basketball court
using chalk or cones (or a basketball court can be used) and draw a
circle in the center.
o Designate one leader, then divide the remaining students into two equal
teams. Alternatively, the teacher can be the leader.
o Players on each team go to opposite ends of the playing area and then
numbered from one to the number of team members.
Game play:
o The leader stands in the center circle holding a handkerchief (or similar).
o The leader holds out the handkerchief with an extended arm and calls a
number.
o The player from each team with the called number runs towards the leader to try to grab the handkerchief from
the leader.
o The player who retrieves the handkerchief tries to run back to their team while the other player tries to tag them.
o If the player can successfully return with the handkerchief, their team scores 1 point. If not, the team of the tagger
receives the point.
Option:
The leader holds two handkerchiefs in each hand and the players grab one. Whichever player returns to their side first
scores the point.
Safety Notes:
Remove any debris from the playing area prior to the game.
Instruct the students on safe tagging.
Mamba
Setup
o Mark out a playing area with set boundaries.
o Choose one player to be the Mamba.
o The other players spread out in the playing area.
Game play:
o The Mamba runs after the other players and tries to tag them.
o When a player is tagged, they become part of the snake’s body by joining at its tail. They join the snake by holding
on to Mamba’s shoulders.
o Each player tagged joins at the tail of the snake which is the most recent person tagged.
o While the players in the snake are attached, only the head of the snake (the original Mamba) can tag players. The
other players in the snake, however, can help block or corral the other players.
o Players are not allowed to go through the snake’s body.
o The game ends when all but one player has been tagged. This person becomes the new Mamba.
Options:
Rather than holding on to each other’s shoulders, the tagged players can hold hands.
Vary the size of the playing area in various rounds of the game. You can also shrink the playing area as more players
get tagged.
Safety Notes:
Remove any debris from the playing area prior to the game.
Instruct the students on safe tagging.
La Tomate
Setup:
o Select an area large enough for the number of players in each game. There
should be 6 to 10 players to start each game.
Game play:
o Player stand in a circle facing inward. The players feet should to spread wide with
their feet touching the adjacent players. Players form a fist with each hand and
bend over. They are going to use their fists to guard the opening between their
legs.
o The goal is to use their fists and hit a ball between the legs of another player. The
teacher throws a ball (e.g. rubber playground ball or volleyball) into the middle of
the circle to start the game.
o When the ball goes through a player’s legs, that player puts one hand behind their back. When the ball goes
through that player’s legs a second time, they turn around and face outward but can use both fists again. The third
time, the player puts one hand behind their back. The fourth time, the player is eliminated.
o When there are only two players left, the game ends and both players are the winners.
o If the ball gets hit out of the circle, resume the game by throwing it back in the circle.
Option:
Reduce the number of times a ball can go through a player’s legs. For example, after the first time the ball goes
through their legs, they can turn around. Then if it happens gain, they are eliminated.
Safety Notes:
If a ball that is too hard is used, the ball could hurt if it hits a player’s body.
Stones
Setup
o Gather 5 small “stones.” Possible stones could be party scatter gems like the ones in
the picture on the right (found online or at a party store), mancala beads, or dice.
Game play:
o The player can only use one hand to play this game.
o The player scatters 5 stones on the ground or flat surface.
o They pick up one stone, tosses it in the air, then quickly picks up another stone in
time to catch the stone that was tossed. With two stones in hand, the player throws
one of them in the air and picks up another stone in time to catch the tossed stone.
This repeats with the fourth stone as well.
o In the second round, the player picks up two stones at a time when one stone is tossed.
o In the third round, the player picks up three stones at time.
o In the fourth round, the player picks up all four stones.
o In the last round, the player throws all five stones up at once and tries to catch them on the back of their hand.
Then, the player tosses the stones up using the back of their hand and tries to catch them with their palm.
o If any stones are dropped, the player repeats that round.
Option:
Reduce the number of rounds played.
Play in pair or groups. The players switch after each round.
Safety Notes:
The students should avoid throwing the stones too high.
Name ______________________________
________________________ Reflection
(name of game)
If you could change the game in any way, what would you change?
Name ______________________________
________________________ Reflection
(name of game)
If you could change the game in any way, what would you change?
Name ______________________________
Reflection
Write about qualities that all people share.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why should we care about all humans around the world?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________