Stories 'n Stones: The Games the Ancient Ones Played
Stories 'n Stones:
Since 2002, Experimental Archaeologist, Larry Kinsella, and his wife, Storyteller, Marilyn Kinsella (aka Taleypo, the Storyteller) have combined their talents to produce informative, entertaining, hands-on programs for schools, libraries, museums, and special events. In each of the programs, Marilyn starts with a story that has many of the objects that Larry has replicated and used as an experimental archaeologist. Then, Larry gives a short history and demonstrates the of uses of the stone tools and weapons. Marilyn concludes the program with another story related to the theme. A Question and Answer session follows each one-hour program. The programs are geared toward third grade thru Adult. However, with some adjustments, the Kinsella's have successfully given the program to K-2nd grades. Hands-on activities upon request.
...The Games the Ancient Ones Played
After Marilyn tells The Ball Game Between the Birds and Animals, Larry demonstrates the various game pieces that the Indians used and how they were made. One demo includes the Chunkey Stone. The last story is a star legend about boys playing with atlatls and spears. Q&A. If time and space allow, the audience will throw spears using the atlatl. Developed for the 2008 Summer Reading Program.
The following list of games and much more info and pictures is from Native Tech. Be sure to visit to get the most comprehensive list of games on line.
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Pin and Ring Game
"The ring and pin
game has ancient Native American roots. Nearly Every Native nation across
North America has its particular version which uses unique materials from
the natural environment for the ring and pin. In all varieties of this game,
a ring or other target is fastened to a cord. The target is thrown into the
air and must be speared by the pin attached to the other end of the
cord....."
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Bundle and Pin
Game "Native Americans have many uses for the cedar tree. Cedar
twigs, greenery and all, have both sacred uses (as in smudging and
purification rituals) as well as secular use. One such secular use for cedar
twigs is the 'bundle and pin' game. This traditional Woodland Indian game is
called "T'wis", by the Passamaquoddy Natives of Maine. The T'wis is an
indoor game that is composed of an oblong piece of moose hide, about four
inches in length, punctured with small holes, the center one being slightly
larger than the others..."
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Ball and Triangle
"A traditional toy used by Penobscot children consisted of a stiff
piece of birch bark cut into a triangular shape, with a hole in the center.
To one corner of the bark triangle is attached a string, and a ball is
attached to the other end of the string. The circular hole in the center of
the bark triangle is made only slightly larger than the ball attached to the
string..."
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Buzzer Game
"The buzzer is an amusement as well as a game of skill for Native American
children across North America. Usually made of a flat piece of wood,
pottery, gourd or bone..."
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Native American
Board Games This page includes "Playing Leader," "Jump the Creek,"
"Hunting Animals," and "Serpent and Stones..."
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Cornhusk Shuttlecock Game "A game of shuttlecock, sometimes played with
a wooden battledoor, is common among the tribes on the Northwest coast. The
Zuni play with shuttlecocks made of corn husks, stuck with feathers, batted
with the hand, and a similar object was found in a pre-European
cliff-dwelling in the Canyon de Chelly..."
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Netted Hoop and
Pole Game "Natives of different groups have their own special ways
to play the Hoop and Pole game, but in all the games a person tosses a long
dart of some kind at a circular hoop. In this version of the game the hoop
is rolled along the ground, set into motion by a third player, while the two
other players throw their pole as the hoop rolls in front of them. The score
depends on how or if the pole falls on or through the hoop..."
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Cornhusk Wheel &
Corncob Dart Game "Natives of different groups have their own special
ways to play the Wheel & Dart game, but in all the games a person tosses a
dart of some kind at a circular hoop. As in this version of the game, the
cornhusk wheel tossed out onto the ground in front of the players, and the
people take turns throwing their darts at it. In other versions of the game
the hoop is hung from a tree, or the hoop is rolled along the ground, set
into motion sometimes by a third player, while the two other players toss
their darts as the hoop rolls in front of them..."
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Bowl and Dice Game
"The dice game has innumerable variations across North America. This
traditional game is called Hubbub in southern New England. The game
described in the 1600s includes five or six small dice which are tossed in a
wooden bowl or basket..."
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Other Native
American Games & Toys A list with short
descriptions of eleven more games and toys.
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GAMES AND TOYS Have Fun with NativeTech's Online Interactive Games ...
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www.apples4theteachers.com also has many great pages about different kinds of games. Here are the links to their pages:
Hazard Games
Learn about these two favorite Native American Games - Pa-tol-stick and
Plum Stone.
Guessing Games
Try your hand at these Native American Guessing Games: Ata-a-kut, The
Hand Game, Hiding the Disks, I-ou-tin...
Ball Games
Native American ball games include: Ball and Racket, Ta Be, Double Ball, Hoop and Javelin, and Follow My Leader.
Games of the North American Indians by Stewart Culin |
American Indian Games: A True Book by Jay Miller |
Further Information
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