What you need
- Egg carton (dozen size)
- 2 tuna cans; washed, rinsed and dry
- Craft paints
- Paintbrush
- 48 marbles, tiny rocks, beads, beans, or other similar objects
- Rules (see below)
How to make it
- Cut off the egg carton lid. If it is cardboard, recycle it.
- Paint the egg carton in the color desired. Let dry.
- Paint the tuna cans on the outside. Let dry. (If you paint the
inside, the paint will chip off as you play.)
- Paint designs on the sides of the egg carton and tuna cans if you wish.
Let dry.
- Play the game.
Rules - There are many different versions of Mancala. Check with
your librarian or go online
to search for other variations.
Object: 2 players compete against each other to collect as many
marbles in their Mancala (tuna can) as they can before one of the players clears his side of the egg carton of
all its marbles. This is a game of strategy so it is recommended for children ages 7 and up.
Setting up the game: Place the egg carton between the 2 players, in
a horizontal line. Set one tuna can at each end of the egg carton. The 6 egg carton cups closest to you
make up your side of the game board. The Mancala (tuna can) to your right
is yours. Place 4 marbles in each of the cups. Choose a player to go
first.
Playing the game: The first player picks up all the marbles in one
of his cups. The player then starts with the first cup to the right and starts dropping one marble in each
cup. If he reaches the end of his side, he is to drop one marble in his Mancala, then continue around to
the other side of the board. He is not, however, to drop a marble in his opponent's Mancala.
If the player places his LAST marble in his own Mancala, he gets to take
another turn. Example: If you start the game, a good play may be to choose the cup that is located
4th from the right. You would pick up 4 marbles, dropping one in each cup and ending in your Mancala.
This gives you an extra turn.
If the player drops his last marble on his side of the board in an empty
cup, he captures all the marbles in his opponent's cup directly across
from that cup. All the captured marbles, plus the capturing marble itself,
get put in the capturing player's Mancala. Players are not allowed to
touch marbles in order to count them. If you touch your marbles, you are
to play that cup.
Winning the game: The game ends when one player runs out of marbles
on his side of the egg carton. When the game ends, the other player gets
to take all his stones from his side of the egg carton and place them in
his own Mancala. Strategy sets in by determining whether it is wiser to go
out, or play longer, depending on how many stones are in the opposing
players cups.
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