Easy mancala game for your kids to make out of an egg carton. You'll need:

• Egg carton top and bottom, separated
• glue
• 48 buttons, beads or beans
• 4 pieces of construction paper; two different colors
• Two rubber bands

1. Cut the egg carton top in half to produce two trays. Cover the inside of the tray with construction paper; one half a different color than the other.
2. Cut 6 circles out of each color of construction paper. Glue them to the bottom of the cups. One color for each side of the egg carton bottom.
3. To play: you will need to put the egg carton top halves upside down, so the color construction paper shows, placing half under each end, to form a tray at each end. To store: place the tops over the egg carton cups and secure with a rubber band.

Mancala is an African game that is played much like cards are played in the US. There are many variations to the game of mancala. Here are the directions to a basic game:

• Fill each cup with 4 pieces(beans, buttons, beads).
• The goal is to clear your side of the board while having the most pieces in your tray.
• Pick up all of the pieces in one cup and, moving counter clockwise, deposit one piece in each cup.
• If you pass your tray, deposit one but not in your opponent's tray.
• If the last seed goes into your tray, you get another turn.
• If the last seed goes into an empty cup on your side of the board, you get you opponent's seeds.
• When a player clears their side of the board, count your pieces in your tray. The one with the most, wins.

Back to all Arts and Crafts Projects.