How did a board game get from Arabia to the pueblos of New Mexico?

What was one of Ben Franklin's favorite hobbies?

See below for the answers!
Check out our Kits in Explore the materials we have for Here's all the info you need on



 

New Mexico
• Art and Science of Balloons**
• Ecosystems of the Southwest
• Every Drop Counts - Water Education
• New Mexico Science Kits

Classrooms
• Art Kits
• Hands-On Science Kits
• Math Manipulatives
• Math Kits
• New Mexico Science Kits

Schools
• Family Math
• Hands-On Science Kits
• Math Fun for Families of Young Children
• Math Explorer
• Science Explorer for Families

After School
• Multicultural Games
• Multicultural Math Mini-kits**
• Scence and Math Kits for Groups

Special Programs
• Ecosystems of the Southwest
• Every Drop Counts - Water Education
• Proyecto Futuro - Bilingual Science kits in ife, Earth, and Physical Science

Everyone
• Art and Science of Balloons**
• Games People Played
• Native American Games and Toys**

Groups
• Family Math
• Math Fun for Families of Young Children
• Math Explorer
• Multicultural Games
• Science Explorer for Groups

Museums
• Games People Played
 • Native American Games and Toys**


Training

Site Map

**indicates products suitable for homeschoolers

Games and Toys of North American Indians

  • Authentic - Each activity is based on the landmark 1902 monograph.
  • Educational - Each package contains information about the tribe and game.
  • Complete - Each package contains EVERYTHING needed to make and play the games and toys as well as complete instructions.
  • Fun - These are great games of luck and skill. Some seem familiar but others are very different from anything you've ever played.

Available in the Smithsonian Institution's gift shop!

Games People Played

"Games People Played" are classic board games sized to go with you. . . to a restaurant, on a trip, to the movies.

Each is self contained in a CD-like case with game history, instructions, and all game pieces included.

Each game suitable for players aged 6 and up (Games for Younger Players) or 8 and up.

Games with a Twist and Games for Younger Players were recently awarded a Parents' Choice Silver Honor Medal.

 

 

Native American Games

The Native American Games kit is based on the classic 1902 Smithsonian monograph by Stewart Culin. Included in the kit are task cards and materials for 20 different toys and games of chance or skill from Native American groups.
If the group you're studying is not directly mentioned, information in the Teacher's Guide allows you to find a game or toy from a group related by language or region. Eight activities include enough materials for each child in a class of 30 to take the activity home. The other 12 activities include materials for groups of children to play.

 
 

Multicultural Games of the World

This kit includes gameboards, task cards, and playing pieces (e.g. glass markers, shells, dice, sticks) for 20 games of strategy and chance from all over the world.
 

Multicultural Math Mini-Kits

Want to get back to basics? How about 2500 years back? Using ancient number systems and alternative algorithms gives students a new look at the same old problems!
   
   
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Center for Hands-On Learning
206 Frontage Road
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-896-1122 - 800-894-1492
   
 

Games can tell us a lot about people. In the 1200s, the game Alquerque was a contender with chess as the game for the wise. The Moors took the game with them to Spain when they conquered it and the Spanish then took it to the now American Southwest. In the 1800s, children in the pueblos of New Mexico were seen playing a game called Picaria which is played on a portion of the Alquerque board. You can get both games in Games People Played.

Ben loved magic squares. Check out his favorite one here!