Fun and Games In Colonial America

Nine

Pins

Mor

risRollin

g

The

Hoop

Archery

Rag D

olls

Mus

ic

Introduction: • The colonists did not have any factories or

technology to make their toys so they had to make their own! Their toys may appear to be funny looking or seem boring, but the kids were thoroughly entertained.

• Some of the games the children played on a daily basis were not only for entertainment but used by their families as a way to teach important life skills.

• For example: Archery was an everyday activity that was used to enhance hunting skills but Colonial children found it awesome!

Game 1:Nine Pins

• The challenge of the game is that the pins were in a different order every time. Therefore you would have to roll the ball differently.

• The pins were made of wood and it was played on the floor with a ball (also made of wood)

• The pins were originally called Kegels (Kegels means Skittles in German).

• It originated in the U.K. and spread all over Europe eventually to the New World.

Kegels?I like

the orangeSkittles

the best!

Rules:• Someone sets up Nine Pins on the

ground.

• Another person then takes a ball, rolls it on the floor, trying to hit all Nine Pins.

Wait…isn’t that bowling?

Game 2:Rolling the Hoop

• It is also called “Hoop Trundling” in some countries.

• Originated in Ancient China and still played today.

• Also played in the New World by the colonists and by the Blackfeet Indians.

• The hoops and sticks were both made of wood.

But what if I wanted

to be like… you know…RedFeet?

Rules:1. Each player has a stick.

2. All players have to try to keep the hoop upright for as long as possible.

3. Players may also show off their “Mad Skillz” by performing tricks.

Wait… why doI always look

shocked aboutsomething?

Game 3: Nine Man’s Morris

• It originated in Ancient Rome• One game usually lasted about 1 hour. • There are variation’s such as “Three

Man’s Morris” or “Six Man’s Morris”• Sometimes described as an “Older

version of checkers.”• The pieces were usually made of rocks

and wood.

Rules to “Nine Man’s Morris”:

• Rules:1. Each player has 9 “men (pieces)”2. You must place a piece on an empty

intersection until you have three in a row. Then you remove an opponents piece.

3. The object is to leave your opponent with three pieces left.

What else did the colonists do for fun?

Is it lunch time yet?

• Make wooden toys

• Make rag dolls

• Listened to music

• Practiced Archery

Rag Dolls

• They were made of cotton.

• They would use scraps of their clothes for the clothes for the doll.

• Black tea was used for any dyes.

• Patterns were made from tissue or newspaper.

Eventually the dolls looked like this…

Hey everyone! I came out really

good when the colonists made

me! The only problem is… I don’t

have a face. If your wondering

where my legs are though, they

disappeared in my ridiculously

long dress

So now it is time for the wooden toys!• They were made out of

wood (obviously).

• There were two main different wooden toys: blocks and wagons

• Blocks were used to build imaginative things such as bridges.

• Wagons were used to carry stuff around… like him

music.People played man-made Instruments.Some of the instruments played were called:1. The litophone

2. The banjo

3. And The Violin

Wouldn’t it be cool if Lady GaGa played

the banjo?

Music? Haha. I could justimagine a Lady GaGa

concert in Colonial Times.Hmm… I wonder…

Can’t grow my, Can’t grow my…No one can grow my annoying crops.Because it’s rockyIn New England.

Archery

• Archery was important in colonial times because this taught them hunting skills.

• The bows and arrows were made of wood.

• Archery was originated in pre-historic times, when people needed to hunt for food and clothing.

Thank you for watching!

• Editing done by MICHAEL

• Research done by MICHAEL

• Slideshow made by MICHAEL

• Um… anything else that had to do with this video was the responsibility of MICHAEL

(No creepy talking orange faces were harmed in the making of this slideshow)