The Indian Stick Game!

This Thanksgiving we taught the children how to play an Indian Stick game.  The children were divided into two teams, the Cranberries and the Butternut Squash. The children were given three craft sticks with Native American symbols drawn on one side of each of the craft sticks.  A member from each team came up one at a time to the front of the circle and tossed the sticks.  For every stick that landed on the side with the symbols showing, the team received a point. At this point  in the game, we asked the children if this was a "Thinking Game" or a "Game of Luck"?  They all answered a " Game of Luck"!  We kept points for teams by using linking cubes.  
 The game teaches the children several math concepts. Throughout the game they count and use one to one correspondence by linking the cubes to each stick with a symbol.  After each child's turn we use math vocabulary such as how many now,  how many more,  how many to make the cubes equal.  Once everyone has had a turn we count again and determine a winner.  The winning team does a silent cheer and the losing team says, "Gee Willikers."  Happily, everyone has shown good sportsmanship as both winners and losers.
Playing this game not only allows us to incorporate math skills in a meaningful way, but also makes a connection to history.  It shows how Native American children used simple things from nature to play and have fun!