Below is a list of fun active games from around the world. These games may be integrated into PE or play.
Ampe
Number of Players 10-12 children
Recommended ages 8-12
Origin : This game comes from Ghana. It is a game that helps with coordination and agility. (Great for P.E.)
How to Play
1. Choose one player to be the leader, and the others stand in a semicircle, with the leader facing the player at either end of the group.
2. The leader and the player both clap hands. Then they jump in place at the same time. Then they jump and thrust one foot forward.
3. If the two have put the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes her place. If they have thrust a different feet forward, the leader moves to the next player and the same routine begins.
4. A point is scored every time the leader is successful. Every player takes a turn as a leader. The one who scores the most points wins.
Source: Hopson, Dr. Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p. 17
Da Ga
Number of Players 12 to 20 children
Recommended ages 8-12 years old
Origin: This game is from Ghana. Da Ga means "boa constrictor" which is found rarely in the United States.
How to Play
1. Make an area about 10 feet square on the ground. This is called the " Home of the Snake".
2. Choose one player to stand inside the "Home of the Snake." All the other players should surround this person.
3. The first player reaches out and tries to touch any of the players. If touched, that player joins the player on the inside. The two hold hands and and then reach out (using only the free hand) to try and touch the other players.
4. The remaining players must stay close to the outside of the home of the snake. While they are on the outside, they can sing, dance, or skip to avoid the players in the circle.
5. The last player left begins to form a new snake in the next game.
Source: Hopson, Dr. Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p. 39
Banyoka
Origin: Though associated with Zambia, the game was played by the Bemba tribe who lived in what is now both Zambia and the southern part of Zaire. Banyoka means "the snakes". The game probably developed from observing these creatures roaming the region.
How to Play
1. Choose a play area that is a bit of an obstacle course, with bushes and large rocks. For younger players, it's probably best to have the starting point be atop a hill. You can create an obstacle course using toys, pillows, boxes, and cartons.
2. The players divide into two groups, each group havng at least six players.
3. Each group becomes a "Snake" by the players sitting one behind the other on the ground, legs spread and hands placed on the shoulders of the player in front, or arms wrapped around the waist.
4. Each snake moves forward by the players swaying their bodies back and forth. The snake can sing a song.
5. The object of the snake is to reach a designated finish line first. But the real fun of the game is to maneuver around bushes, rocks, and/ or other objects, to "slither" around and over them while remaining connected to each other.
6. The game can also be played with one snake. The competitive aspect is gone, replaced by a follow-the-leader quality. The "head" of the snake decides the direction, turning one way then another and choosing which obstacles to go across or around. If the line is long enough, it's fun for players to deal with a new obstacle or change of direction while players farther behind are still coping with the previous one.
Source: Hopson, Dr. Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p. 20
Mbube Mbube
- Mbube Mbube uses one of the Zulu words for lion.
- Pronounced "Mboo-bay Mboo-bay," this game uses a Zulu word for lion. The Zulu tribe is based in what is modern-day South Africa. The game is good for groups of six or more.
In this game, children help a lion, or mbube, locate and capture an impala (a deer-like animal with antlers). Players begin the game standing in a circle and two blindfolded players start the game. One player is the lion and the other one is the impala.
First, both players are spun around. Next, players in the circle begin calling out to the lion, "mbube, mbube!" As the impala gets closer to the lion, the circle players’ chants get quicker and louder. Conversely, if the lion is far away, the circle’s chants decrease and get softer.
If the lion fails to catch the impala in a minute, a new lion is chosen, and if the lion catches the impala, a new impala is chosen.
- Ghana's children often grow up playing simple games like Ampe
- .Ampe is a simple game played by schoolchildren in Ghana. Like Mbube Mbube, Ampe is a great game for groups.
In this game, the group chooses one player to be the leader. Then, the other players stand in a semicircle as the leader faces the players at either end of the group.
Next, the leader and the player at the end both clap hands. After that, both jump in place at the same time. Lastly, both jump and thrust one foot forward.
If both put the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes the leader's place. If they each put a different foot forward, the leader moves to the next player and resumes the same physical challenge.
Leaders get a point for every time they defeat a player, and every player takes a turn as a leader. The player with the most points wins.
Chigora Danda
Origin: This game was attributed to Zimbabwe, but it's thought it may have originally come from India because in one of the country's languages danda means "pole" or a "long stick" and there is a game there called Guli Danda. However, the rhythmic tapping and the clapping of Chigoro Danda is African.
How to Play
1. The players alternate so that three play each game.
2. Place two of the poles (4 to 5 feet long) on the ground parallel to each other, 4 feet apart. The third pole is laid across the middle of the poles. Two players sit at each end of the cross bar, and the third is in the middle, straddling and the cross pole.
3. The two seated players lift the cross pole up and down, tapping the parallel poles. The surrounding players clap, and a rhythm is established. Start very slowly.
4. The third player hops off.
5. The raising and a lowering of the clapping and hopping increase in speed. The game ends when the third player fails to hop on the cross pole.
6. The players rotate so everyone has a turn hopping and manipulating the cross pole. Someone can time how long the third player stays in each game, but probably more useful to have each player keep count. (An adult supervisor can help make sure the game doesn't become fast-paced enough to cause an injury.)
Source: Hopson, Dr. Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p. 36
Kudoda
Origin: You'll quickly notice that this game is a familiar one. An original version, often played with stones or pebbles, can be found in Zimbabwe.
How to Play
1. Players sit in a circle.
2. Place the bowl (preferably a metal one) in the center. Fill it with about 20 marbles.
3. The first player takes a marble and tosses it into the air. (Not too high!) He/she then tries to pluck as many marbles as he/she can before catching the tossed marble.
4. Players take turns. When all the marbles have been collected, the person with the most is the winner.
Source: Hopson, Dr. Darlene Powell, Hopson, Dr. Derek S., and Clavin, Thomas. "Juba This and Juba That" Simmon and Schuster, 1996. p.70
Hamesh Avanim (Five Stones)
Origin: Israel
Number of Players 2 or more players
Equipment Five gold-colored square stones. Use 5 pebbles if these are not available.
How to Play
1. Toss the five stones on the ground.
2. Select one stone for tossing.
3. Toss the stone in the air, pick up one stone with your other hand and catch the tossed stone on the back of your hand. Continue until you have picked up all stones.
4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 only this time pick up two stones at a time. Repeat this picking up 3 and then 4 stones at one time.
SOURCE: Lankford, Mary D. "Jacks Around the World" Morrow Junior Books, New York 1996 p. 12
Kimo
Origin: Hawaii
Number of Players Usually 2 players
Equipment 100 'ili'ili which are small rounded pebbles collected on the beach. The pile of stones is called 'ai'.
How to Play
1. Choose one slightly larger pebble. This pebble is called the Kimo.
2. Toss the kimo into the air and pick up one of the pebbles from the pile of 'ai'. You need to pick up the pebble and catch the Kimo before the Kimo falls on the ground.
3. Place the pebble to the side that you just earned.
4. Pick up one pebble at a time. Failure to catch the kimo ends your turn.
5. Count the number of pebbles that each player has after all the pebbles have been picked up from the 'ai'. The player with the most 'ai' wins the game.
SOURCE: Lankford, Mary D. "Jacks Around the World" Morrow Junior Books, New York 1996 p. 32
Ram,Ram,Rip
Origin: Malaysia
Number of Players 2 players
How to Play
1. 1 player holds out hand, palm up.
2. The other player places his/her index fingers in hand.
3. Say Ram, Ram, Rip together, and the player with outstreched hand tries to snatch index finger of the other player.
Source: http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-asia/play_e/lip_e.html
Wan, Tu, Zum
Origin: Malaysia
Number of Players 2 or more players
How to Play
1. This game is similar to another game called Rock, Paper, Scissors.
2. The signs are:
Bird-all five fingers bunched together at the fingertips
Rock- clenched fist
Pistol-outstreched thumb and index finger
Plank-palm facing down with fingers together
Water- palm facing up with fingers together
3. As with Rock, Paper, Scissors, the players say 'Bird, Rock, Pistol, Plank, Water' and then make one of the five signs. The following shows what beats what.
Bird beats plank and water
Rock beats bird, plank, & water
Pistol beats everything except for water
Plank beats bird and water
Water beats everything except Bird and plank.
Source: http://www.wnn.or.jp/wnn-asia/play_e/lip_e.html
