Make it at Home

Wampanoag : English Colonists

Wampanoag Make-It-At-Home Activity

Wampanoag toss and catch game
Toss and Catch GameThis is an ancient game played among many Nations of Indigenous People. It has different meanings according to the Nations that play it. Easy to make and fun to play, here are directions for you to make it at home!

MATERIALS:
  • Thin cotton string or jute twine about 12 inches long
  • A non-poisonous piece of vine about 12 inches long (Bittersweet is good)
  • A straight, somewhat thin stick about 8 inches long

First the string is tied on, about 3-4 inches down from one end of the stick. Tie it in a tight knot.

Take the piece of vine and twist it around itself in order to make it into a circle. With the bittersweet vine you will find that it winds around itself very well but fashion a circle out of it about the size of a fifty cent piece. Secure it with the other end of the string.

The object is to swing the circle out and up and try to catch it with the end of the stick you are holding. Once a person gets good at catching it repeatedly with one hand, then it is good to try the other hand.
This game is an important eye and hand coordination exercise. When the hands and eyes work well together, hunters have better control shooting arrows from a bow, or people can weave better and it helps people perform other exacting skills as well.

Colonial Make-it-at-Home ActivityColonial fox and geese game diagram

click here to print

The Game of Fox and Geese
This game was very popular in the 17th century. It takes a lot of skill to win. Good luck!

Number of Players: 2
Equipment Needed: 15 geese (use something small for the geese, like small stones,
buttons, or dried corn, beans, etc.)
1 Fox (this piece must look different from the geese)
Setting up: To make your Fox and Geese board you may print and use the game board
provided above or, if you'd like to play outside, draw the game board into the sand using a stick. Use the game set up diagram, also provided below, to set up your pieces for the start of the game.
Rules: For the geese to win they must corner the fox so that he can't eat them. For the fox to win this game he must eat all the geese. The fox knows he has won if there aren't enough geese on the board to cover him. To begin the game, place the fox and geese on the board as shown in the game set up diagram. Decide who will start first. The pieces move along the lines only moving one space at a time. The fox can move in any direction while the geese can only move forward or sideward. The fox captures the geese by jumping over them to an empty space, just like jumping in checkers. Any goose that the fox jumps is taken off the board. The geese do not jump the fox, but move along the lines trying to corner the fox so that he cannot move.

Plimoth for Kids

COLORING PICTURES

Downloadable picture files that you can print and color.

RECIPES

Impress friends, parents and teachers with these recipes from the past.

MAKE IT @ HOME

Who needs videos? Make your own fun, 17th-Century style!

STORIES

Tales form a Wampanoag and Colonial kid's perspective.

TALK LIKE A "PILGRIM"

Grandma's, Grandma's, Grandma's, Grandma might have talked like this!

HOMEWORK HELP

Enough stuff to fill up a whole bunch of reports.

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