7 Games from Around the World !

1. 7 Games from Around the World ! Cultural Response Portfolio

2. Pakistan: OunchNeech • Players: Four or more; ages 5 and up • What You'll Need: An outdoor space with lots of obstacles like tree stumps, a slide, a swing, rocks, or sturdy benches. • How to Play: The game begins with one child as "It." He chooses either ounch (up) or neech (down). If he chooses neech, then the ground is not safe; runners can be tagged out unless they are ounch, up on something like a stump or a rock. The opposite is true as well: If "It" chooses ounch, then the ground is safe so everyone remains on terra firma. Of course, children quickly realize that it's boring to stay only in the safe zones. The first person tagged becomes "It" for the next round of the game. • Significance: This game is a great way for children to work on gross-motor skills and can be a good tool to see how well students can follow directions. With this game, students can also acquire words from another ethic group.

3. Greece: Statues • Players: Four or more; ages 4 and up • How to Play: Choose one player to be "It" and have her stand, eyes covered, in the center of a large, open playing field. She starts to count, at least to 10, but she can go higher. The point is that there's no set ending number; only "It" knows when she'll stop and open her eyes. While "It" is counting, the others scatter around, never sure when she'll yell "Agalmata!" (That's "statue" in Greek. It is more authentic; or to just say "statue" if that's easier.) On this cue, players freeze, taking on poses that mimic famous statues. They can pull from any statue they've ever seen a photo of -- a javelin thrower, The Thinker, even the Statue of Liberty. Kids are allowed to use found items, such as sticks, a ball, or a Frisbee, to add a touch of realism. "It" tags any statues that are moving -- they're out -- then tries to make the steady ones laugh or move. The last player remaining composed is the winner and becomes the new "It.“ • Significance: This game could enhance balance in children, as well as, promote acquiring new language they may have never heard in the United states before. The games surrounds itself around ancient Greek statues and can educationally broaden the mind toward historical figures.

4. United Kingdom: Pass the Parcel • Brief History: A popular party game in the United Kingdom, Pass the Parcel may have been played during the medieval era. During that time, a special gift would have been wrapped in cloth and pretty ribbons. Today, a package covered in layers of colorful paper is passed from child to child to the sound of music. • Players: Five or more; ages 4 and up • What You'll Need: A surprise gift wrapped multiple times (in layers, different colors or patterns), tape and music! • How To Play: Using a different pattern or color for each layer will make it easier for kids to tell them apart. To play, ask the kids to sit or stand in a circle, then turn on the music. Players pass the parcel around until an adult stops the music. The player who is holding the gift removes one layer of wrapping paper. Start up the music again and continue playing until the final layer of paper is removed. The child who "wins" the prize can keep it or not. • Significance: Connection to United Kingdom’s history and medieval time period, along with color and pattern recognition for younger students. • Also, enhances fine motor skills.

5. Brazil: Luta de Galo- “Fight for the Roosters” • Directions: It is played by two children, but more kids can play by taking turns. Each player will need a handkerchief or a piece of cloth tucked into a pocket or waistband with enough of it hanging out so that the other person can grab it. Both players need to cross their right arm across their chest since they are not allowed to use it. Then, hopping on one leg, each player must try to capture the handkerchief from their opponent using his left hand. If the child puts the other leg down, or unfolds their right arm, he is disqualified. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOD2vDne7kk&feature=player_embedded This is a video demonstrating the game. • Significance: This game seems very fun for students, enhances coordination, competition, gross-motor and the motivation to speak another language. (Portuguese)

6. Portugual: Contraband • Directions: The playing field should be a large one. A chosen site, near the edge of the field, is agreed upon to be the boundary where the contraband must be placed. The players are divided equally into police and contrabandistasor smugglers who group themselves along three sides of a large rectangle, leaving one end area open. The rectangle should be in the center of the playing area. The police are on the outside and the smugglers are on the inside of the rectangle. The contraband object, which may be a small coin, stick, or rock, is given to one of the players of the smuggler's team. The smuggler and his or her teammates try to keep the police from knowing who has the object. They also try to break through the police so that they can place the contraband article on or across the boundary line. The game is finally won by either the smugglers as they are successfully able to get their contraband over to the agreed upon boundary or by the police for not letting them get through or catching them before they are able to reach the boundary. • Significance: Very intense game intended for older students (possibly in relation to or played after “Mendez” lesson in American schools). Promotes diversity and a new language, as well as, competition, skill and connection to real life events!

7. Spain: Spanish Fly • Directions: The game is very similar to leapfrog, as played in the United States. While jumping the leader performs certain feats for the other players to follow. Many different stunts may be introduced. The leader may jump over and touch the back with one hand and wave a cap in the other, or jump without touching, or make a turn while jumping, or do as he or she desires. Any player who fails to follow the leader takes the place of the back to be jumped over. The game "Dima" from Iran is quite similar to "Spanish Fly.“ • Significance: Appeals to competition and skill, interesting because it resembles a game both in the United States and India. Encourages students to attempt and take risks!

8. Italy: Bimbo • Directions: One player is chosen to be the bimbo or captain and is given two small green leaves. The others stand in two lines facing each other about 15 feet apart. All players hold their hands behind them, palm open. The bimbo walks slowly up and down behind the lines and quietly drops a leaf into one player's hands, then walks on. The player holds the leaf without indicating he or she has it. The bimbo crosses to the other side, walks on, and then suddenly drops the other leaf into the hands of a player in that line. The bimbo walks on and then suddenly calls, "Stop! Thief! Lucky Leaf!" Then the two players who hold the leaves run as fast as possible across to the opposite side. Each of the two players tries to drop his or her leaf into the hand of some other player before the bimbo tags him or her. As the leaf goes to each player he or she passes it onto the next in line, for no player wants the bimbo to catch him or her holding a leaf. When a player is caught with a leaf in his or her hands, that player becomes the new bimbo and the game is started again.(20 or more, two lines) • Significance: This is a very popular game in Italy played by many children and young people at festivals. Appeals to dramatization, competition, skill and speed.

9. Works Cited: • Note:That all the slides are full of typed directions and the game’s significance because the website wants to provide the best explanation of all the games. As well as, each game is open to further adapt to teaching about diversity in our cultures!  • http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/4h/4h05500.pdf • http://www.incultureparent.com/2012/09/five-fun-games-from-around-the-world/ • http://www.parents.com/fun/games/educational/games-from-around-the-world/