HOMEMADE TOYS & GAMES FOR

KIDS UNDER 12
DAPP ZAMBIA
Manual for teachers, preschool teachers
and parents
Edited by Brigitta Lunczer, Plamen Dimitrov, Ondrej Brany, Marton Jancso
Children!s Town, Chibombo
2012
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FOREWORD
We are pleased to share with people caring for young children this manual entitled
HOMEMADE TOYS & GAMES FOR KIDS UNDER 12. It is our sincere hope that the
manual will be widely used by teachers, preschool teachers and parents as a guide to and
inspiration in providing children a better and more appropriate environment in the essential
childhood years.
This manual focuses on what exactly teachers and parents can do to help young children
develop their skills in a funnier, more adventurous way. All the toys and games
demonstrated above can be made out of locally available, very cheap or natural materials.
We kindly encourage teachers and preschool teachers to try some of the techniques
shown together with the kids. Let them make their own toy with their own hands. We also
encourage users of the manual to combine their own experiences with the information
given here, to improve the ideas, to experiment with the materials and techniques and to
share the knowledge.
Enjoy playing with the children as much as we enjoyed making this manual for you and
don!t forget that they are the next generation building our future!
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CONTENTS
TASK TOPIC PAGE
Foreword
3
Toys made of fabric
1 Footbag 7
2 Beanbag 9
3 Teddy bear 11
Toys made of WOOD
4 Ship 14
5 Truck 16
Toys made of PLASTIC
6 Car 18
7 Airplane 20
8 Dolls 22
Toys made of PAPER
9 Professor X and Android x2001232 robot 24
10 Puppet gures 27
11 Paper gures 29
12 Paper frog 30
13 Paper boat 33
Games made of WOOD
14 Catapult 37
15 Jenga 39
16 Domino 41
17 Puzzle 43
18 Mikado 44
Games made of PLASTIC
19 Bask-it 47
20 Twirl 49
4
TASK TOPIC PAGE
Games made of PAPER
21 Memory game 52
22 Board game 54
23 Build your own village 56
In addition
24 Natural glue 58
25 Plasticine 59
5
Toys made of FABRIC
6
TASK 1
Footbag
Step 1.: cut two circle shapes ( diam. ~ 5cm) and a strap (approx. 10-12 cm)

Step 2. : adjust strap size to circle size and start sewing

Step 3. : x both circles all around to the strap

7
TASK 1
Step 4.: turn the ball shape through the hole between the strap ends inside
out

Step 5.: Fill up the ball (approx. 80%) and close the last open side

Step 6.: PLAY! Only rule: the ball cannot hit the ground!
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Can be
lled with any
kind of grain
TASK 2
Beanbag
Step 1.: cut a rectangular shape ( approx. 20 cm x 12 cm)

Step 2. : fold the piece in half and sew it all around leaving a hole at the end
Step 3. : turn the bag shape through the hole inside out

9
TASK 2
Step 4.: Fill up the bag (approx. 80%) and close the last open part

Step 5.: PLAY!
Note: can be used for different exercises and tasks during the lesson.
Improves balancing skills.
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Can be
lled with any
kind of grain
TASK 3
Teddy bear
Step 1.: draw a pattern of the parts of the body and cut the fabric using the
patterns

Step 2.: use the same method of sewing as seen in TASK 1 and TASK 2
(turning the sewn fabric inside out through the hole left)

Step 3.: before closing "that! hole, ll the parts of the body up with cotton

11
lling
can be any kind
of soft, natural
material, like grass,
wood chips etc.
TASK 3
Step 4.: sew eyes, nose and mouth on the head

Step 5.: connect the lled limbs to the empty body, ll up the body and
connect the head

Step 6.: PLAY!
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make
dolls, animals, cartoon
characters, etc. using
this technique
Toys made of WOOD
13
TASK 4
Ship
Step 1.: get a piece of plank or branch, mark and cut the shape
Step 2. : make the surface smooth with sandpaper
Step 3.: use and x a thin stick or branch as a mast
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TASK 4
Step 4.: cut and x a piece of fabric or paper as a sail
15
C
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b
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im
p
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v
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d
in

m
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w
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TASK 5
Truck
Step 1.: cut and x the base of the vehicle

Step 2.: x the trailer with hammer
Step 3.: x the axis to the base, color it and PLAY!

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Toys made of PLASTIC
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TASK 6
Car
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: mark and make holes for the axis
Step 3.: cut 4 wheels from a cob and make a hole in each
18
TASK 6
Step 4.: assemble the parts and x the string to the cap

Step 5.: use a piece of paper as a windscreen and PLAY!
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TASK 7
Airplane
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: draw and cut the wings and the propeller
Step 3.: make holes on the bottle and the cap for the wings and the propeller

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TASK 7
Step 4.: assemble the parts and PLAY!
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TASK 8
Dolls
Step 1.: get a sack and some string or straps of the sack

Step 2.: cut the sack into half and ...use your imagination!


Step 3.: PLAY!
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male
doll is lled and
made without a
frame, female doll is
non-lled and made
with a frame
Toys made of PAPER
23
TASK 9
Professor X and Android x2001232 robot
Step 1.: get these materials ready

Step 2.: make all the necessary holes

Step 3.: assemble and x the legs and arms with string and sticks

24
TASK 9
Step 4.: cover the can with paper and color it as you like

Step 5.: draw a face on a paper and glue it in a roll

Step 6.: use the same method to create a mask with a transparent tape as a
shield

25
TASK 9
Step 7.: Assemble the parts and PLAY!

26
Use
your imagination
about materials, colors
and characters
C
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b
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im
p
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m
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TASK 10
Puppet gures
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: draw characters and cut them

Step 3.: glue the two sides with the stick in between and color the character

27
fold
the paper into
half so that you cut
back and front at
the same time
TASK 10
Step 4.: make a puppet-show with the ready products
28
TASK 11
Paper gures
Step 1.: make frames of the gures out of branches, corn cob, etc. and x
them

Step 2.: dip straps of paper into natural glue

1

then wrap them around the
frames

Step 3.: color the gures as you like and PLAY!
29
1
see TASK 24 - Natural glue
wrap straps
until you reach
the nal shape
wanted
TASK 12
Paper frog
All you need is a piece of paper and patience. Try to follow the steps shown
on the pictures.



30
TASK 12



31
TASK 12


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TASK 13
Paper boat
All you need is a piece of paper and patience. Try to follow the steps shown
on the pictures.



33
TASK 13




34
TASK 13



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Games made of WOOD
36
TASK 14
Catapult
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: cut the plastic bottle and x it to the plank as a "basket!

Step 3.: x the clip to the plank with glue and/ or string

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the range
of the shot depends
on the strength of the
clip used
TASK 14
Step 4.: x the "shooting basket! to the clip with a narrow string

Step 5.: put a piece of grain in the "shooting basket!, aim and SHOOT!
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TASK 15
Jenga
Step 1.: chip small equal blocks of wood

Step 2.: make the surfaces smooth and even
Step 3.: make a paper case for the tower
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TASK 15
Rules and Instructions:
Once the tower is in place, the game begins with the player who built it. The
player is supposed to take out one block from any of the lower levels. Once a
block is touched, it has to be removed. This has to be done very carefully.
Care must be taken not to remove it roughly, or else the whole tower might
collapse. Having removed a block successfully, the player must then replace
it on the top. Failure to do so will result in the players losing out to their rivals.
Rules state that the game ends if the tower collapses./www.jengarules.co.uk/

40
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ly

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d
TASK 16
Domino
Step 1.: chip 28 small equal blocks of wood

Step 2.: draw the dots and the line on one side of each block

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dots
are supposed to
be in that order
TASK 16
Rules and Instructions:
Drawing Tiles
Once the players begin drawing tiles, they are typically placed on-edge
before the players, so that each player can see his own tiles, but none can
see the value of other players tiles.
Placing The First Tile
Once all the players have drawn their dominoes, the rst player places the
rst tile on the table. Typically, this is the double-six. If no one holds the
double-six, then the double-ve is played, and so on.
Playing Subsequent Tiles
Only the "open" ends of a layout are open for play. An end is open when it
has no other tile connected to it. Often, a double is placed cross-ways in the
layout.
Drawing Tiles
As the turn passes from player to player, if someone cannot make a move,
they're going to draw a tile from the boneyard and keep on drawing until he
can make a move or the boneyard is empty.
Ending A Game
A game ends when a player /the winner/ plays all his tiles and the boneyard is
empty /www.domino-games.com/
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the place where all tiles
to be drawn lie
TASK 17
Puzzle
Step 1.: get these things ready
Step 2.: draw a pattern you like
Step 3.: saw the blocks
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Once
ready, try to put
the different blocks
back into the original
rectangular shape or
just simply build a
tower
TASK 18
Mikado
Step 1.: collect 20 long spikes and PLAY!
Rules and Instructions:
Starting a Game
Begin the game by mixing up the sticks and holding them in a bunch over the
table. The person who is holding them releases the sticks so they fall upon
the playing surface, forming a pile.

44
TASK 18
Picking Up Sticks
Starting with the player to the left of the person who dropped the sticks, play
begins with each player trying to remove a stick from the pile without
disturbing any others. The rst player to play will be able to choose any stick
in the pile, giving this person the advantage of selecting easily acquired
sticks. As soon as the player selects a stick to attempt to pick up, he cannot
release the stick and go for another. If the player can remove a stick without
disturbing the other sticks, he can draw another stick from the pile. If a stick
moves, the player must drop the stick and his turn ends.
Fingers or one successfully removed stick must be used to draw the sticks
from the table. The winner is the player with more sticks drawn./www.ehow.com/
45
Games made of PLASTIC
46
TASK 19
Bask-it
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: cut the bottom of the bottle and make a hole on the cap

Step 3.: x the ends of the string (30-40 cm) to the cap and the "ball!

47
TASK 19
Step 4.: PLAY!
48
TASK 20
Twirl
Step 1.: get these materials ready
Step 2.: cut the bottom then the side of two bottles

Step 3.: wrap a small stone in plastic and x it well so that it!s not dangerous
49
TASK 20
Step 4.: PLAY!

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Games made of PAPER
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TASK 21
Memory game
Step 1.: draw equal squares on a paper then draw different shapes in the
squares

Step 2.: color the shapes so that you have a pair of each then cut them

52
TASK 21
Rules and Instructions:
Memory is a card game designed for two people. Cards are laid out in a grid
face down, and players take turns ipping pairs of cards over. On each turn,
the player will rst turn one card over, then a second. If the two cards match,
the player scores one point, the two cards are removed from the game, and
the player gets another turn. If they do not match, the cards are turned back
over.
The object is to match more pairs of cards than the opposing player. (One
point is scored for each matched pair, and the player with the highest score
after all cards have been matched wins.) When cards are turned over, it is
important to remember where they are for when the matching card is turned
up later in the game./www.rinkworks.com/

53
improves memory
and cognitive skills
play it
with as many cards
as you like, draw
symbols, numbers or
letters on the cards
TASK 22
Board game
Step 1.: get these things ready

Step 2.: tape two papers so that the size is 28 cm x 28 cm


Step 3.: draw and color all the elds on the board like this

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TASK 22
Step 4.: chip 16 wood gures and a dice color the gures
Rules and Instructions:
To get one of your pieces into play, you have to roll 6 with the dice. If all your
pieces are in the game already and you roll 6, you can roll one more time.The
objective is to move your pieces around the board until you get them all
home.
Your opponent can bump you if he is supposed to move on a grid where your
piece is.

55
TASK 23
Build your own village
Step 1.: get these things ready
Step 2.: draw and cut any kind of things you like with a narrow blank base
left. Glue this base to an A4 paper and fold it so your objects are standing
straight.
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you
can copy
everything you
see around in
your village
you
can assemble a
whole village in the
classroom if each kid
makes a household
like this
In addition
+
57
TASK 24
Natural glue
Step 1.: add 3 tablespoons of our to 0.2 l of water
Step 2.: cook it until you get a creamy consistency
Step 3. : use it as glue as long as it!s liquid
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TASK 25
Plasticine
Step 1.: mix salt and wheat our in 1:1 ratio ( same amount of each), add 2-3
tablespoon of cooking oil and a small amount of water, mix it and let it stay for
10 minutes

Step 2.: start making whatever shapes you like

Step 3.: let the ready products dry on the sun
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Thank you for reading and using this manual!
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