Jacks From Around The World

Jacks is a game that is played all over the world. Click on the country name below to see how it is played in Brazil, the United States (Hawaii), and in Israel. Check out the 'Taste' of the country after the 'How to Play' section and learn some interesting facts about that country.

Brazil

United States (Hawaii)

Israel

Brazil

A 'Taste' of Brazil
  • The color of the Brazilian flag is green, yellow, blue, and white.
  • Brazil is the largest country in South America and is the fifth largest country in the world.
  • Brazil is so large that it shares a border with all South American countries except Chile and Equador.
  • The native language in Brazil is Portuguese.
  • The people of Brazil are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, Indians, and Asians.
  • The second longest river is the 4,000 mile long Amazon River which is in Brazil.
Cinco Marias (Five Marias)

Number of Players
2, 3, or 4 players

Equipment
5 stones. Children in Brazil collect flat smooth stones from the roadside or parks.

How to play

  1. Throw five stones on the ground.
  2. Pick one of the stones up.
  3. Toss the stone in the air and pick up one of the stones on the ground. Continue until you have all the stones in your hand.
  4. Repeat steps 1 through 4 only this time pick up two stones at one time. Repeat this picking up 3 stones at a time and then 4 stones.
  5. First person with all four stones is the winner.

SOURCE: Lankford, Mary D. "Jacks Around the World" Morrow Junior Books, New York 1996 p. 10

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United States (Hawaii)

A 'Taste' of Hawaii
  • Hawaii is part of the United States of America.
  • Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean and is made up of a group of volcanic islands.
  • Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state.
  • Anthropologists think that Hawaii was probably settled by Polynesians.
  • Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii.
  • The word, Kimo, means 'To bob'.
Kimo

Number of Players
Usually 2 players

Equipment
100 'ili'ili which are small rounded pebbles collected on the beach. The pile of stones is called 'ai'.

How to Play

  1. Choose one slightly larger pebble. This pebble is called the Kimo.
  2. Toss the kimo into the air and pick up one of the pebbles from the pile of 'ai'. You need to pick up the pebble and catch the Kimo before the Kimo falls on the ground.
  3. Place the pebble to the side that you just earned.
  4. Pick up one pebble at a time. Failure to catch the kimo ends your turn.
  5. Count the number of pebbles that each player has after all the pebbles have been picked up from the 'ai'. The player with the most 'ai' wins the game.

SOURCE: Lankford, Mary D. "Jacks Around the World" Morrow Junior Books, New York 1996 p. 32

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  Israel

A 'Taste' of Israel
  • The color of the Israeli flag is blue and white and it is symbolic of a Hebrew shawl.
  • The native language is Hebrew.
  • Israel became a Jewish state in 1948.
  • A person born in Israel is called a 'Sabra' named after a cactus fruit which is prickly on the outside and sweet on the inside.
  • Most of the land in Israel is desert.
  • Countries that border Israel are Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Hamesh Avanim (Five Stones)

Number of Players
2 or more players

Equipment
Five gold-colored square stones. Use 5 pebbles if these are not available.

How to Play

  1. Toss the five stones on the ground.
  2. Select one stone for tossing.
  3. Toss the stone in the air, pick up one stone with your other hand and catch the tossed stone on the back of your hand. Continue until you have picked up all stones.
  4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 only this time pick up two stones at a time. Repeat this picking up 3 and then 4 stones at one time.

SOURCE: Lankford, Mary D. "Jacks Around the World" Morrow Junior Books, New York 1996 p. 12

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