The third day of wonderful weather here in the North Bay of California. It rained some Monday night but, with the exception of a light early morning showers, we’ve had several days of glorious sunshine.
This afternoon is 2nd grade tutoring and after last week, when I struggled so hard to keep a hyperactive 8-year-old sitting in a chair to read for 20 minutes, I am bringing along my book of string figures so the kids I work with can take turns reading and experimenting with string.
String games such as Cat's Cradle have been played around the world for thousands (if not millions) of years. It does not appear that this game has a particular origin; rather, it was developed independently by many cultures around the same time. Anthropologists began studying string games between 1880 and 1900. During the 1890s, two anthropologists -- Dr. Alfred C. Haddon and Dr. W.H. Rivers -- invented a language to use when describing string games which made collecting and documenting string games easier. Other anthropologists continue to use this language in their travels. Historical Folk Toys
Cup and Saucer
Step 1: Start with the string behind your thumbs and pinkies, running across both palms.
Step 2: With your right hand, reach across to the left hand and hook the string that runs across the left palm.
Step 3: Pull your hands apart.
Step 4: Do the same with the other hand.
Step 5: Pull your hands apart again.
Step 6: With your thumbs, reach over the first pointer finger string and under the second pointer finger string. Pull your thumbs back towards your body - there will be two loops on each thumb.
Step 7: Using your teeth (easiest) or pinkie fingers (if you’re feeling dexterous), pull the bottom string off your thumbs and pass it over the top string.
Step 8: Drop the loops off both pinkie fingers and pull your hands apart.
Step 9: Tilt your thumbs up and you have a cup and saucer.
Now you have mastered the cup and saucer, you can create an Eiffel Tower or star string figure.
Witches Broom
Step 1: Start with the string behind your thumb and pinkies, running across both palms.
Step 2: With your right hand, reach across to the left hand and hook your pointer finger under the string that runs across the palm.
Step 3: Pull the string out just a few centimetres and twirl the loop two times – it helps to squeeze the fingers on your left hand to keep the string in place while twirling the string.
Step 4: Once the double twist has been made, pull your hands apart.
Step 5: With your left hand, reach across to the right hand and catch the string that runs across the palm, through the double twisted loop.
Step 6: Pull your hands apart.
Step 7: Drop the loops from the thumb and pinkie of your right hand and pull your hands apart to make the strings tight.
I’ve been totally absorbed for the past six weeks in stories and books for my lit class and I’m on the lookout for something I can read for sheer enjoyment, rather than with an eye towards analysis and literary insight.
Jacob’s Ladder
Did you play string games as a child? Which ones were your favorites?
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