How to Make a Jack Straws Game

Jack Straws was a game that children played in the early days of this country. Early pioneers made jack straws from real straw, but later thin pieces of wood were used instead. It's a game that hones the logic and hand eye coordination of the child. You can bring back old traditions by making a jack straw game for your children. No batteries are necessary. Read on to learn how to make a Jack Straws game.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Kabob skewers (bamboo sticks)
• Red paint
• Green paint
• Blue paint
• Black paint
• Tubular container, like a stackable potato chip tube
• Paper
• Computer
• Clear contact paper
• Paintbrush (optional)

1. Buy 50 wooden kabob skewers. They are 10-inch long bamboo sticks with pointed ends. You can find these easily at grocery stores or variety stores.

2. Gather several colors of paint. Red paint, green, blue and black are all necessary.

3. Divide the sticks into four piles. Set aside 20 sticks to paint green, 15 sticks to paint red, 14 sticks to paint blue and one stick to paint the cherished black.

4. Dip each end of the stick into paint 2 inches from each end, or paint it by hand. You now have a stick that's plain in the middle with a color on both ends. Arrange something to set the sticks on as they dries.

5. Finish creating the game by getting a container to hold the sticks. A stackable potato chip tube is ideal. Clean it thoroughly before putting the sticks in the tube.

6. Create the directions for play on the computer and paste the paper around the outside of the container. Cover with clear plastic contact paper for permanency.

[grapes]

on 5/8/2008 We call this game Pick-up sticks and it is made either from wood or plastic sticks. My grandson loves this game.