Blackfoot Games/Activities
This page will be filled with a variety of Blackfoot games/activities that can be done in a physical education setting. Not only will explain a variety of games/activities but each of these games has a story behind them and why they were played and why these games were important to the Blackfoot people and their culture.
Make the Stick Jump
Make the Stick Jump was a favorite game of Blackfoot boys, this game was supposed to improve throwing accuracy of boys who went out to skills small birds or rabbits. They would carve a 6-8 inch stick and would decorate it with feathers. They would use multiple sticks and distance them from a variety of distances. The farther the sticks, the more points they are worth. The boys would then all be standing at a starting line, they would try and throw rocks at the sticks. If a rock hits a stick then the person that throws it will get that many points.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment
- Bean Bags
- Pool noodles
- Cones
Description:
- Split students into 4 teams, each team will have 4 pool noodles. Spread out each pool noodle, first pool noodle should be 5 feet away from the group, 2nd pool noodle should 5 feet away from the 1st pool noodle, etc. Each group will have 2 bean bags which they will use to try and hit the pool noodles.
- First pool noodle is worth 5 points, 2nd farthest pool noodle is worth 10, 3rd farthest is 15 and the farthest pool noodle is worth 20 points. The 4 groups will have 2 minutes to try and hit the pool noodles as many times as they can with their bean bags. If they hit a pool noodle then they can get as many points as that pool noodle is worth.
- Once the first person in the line goes then they go grab their bean bag and bring it to the next person in line. Each person in line keeps going until the time is up. Remind students to keep track of their score. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the round wins.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment
- Bean Bags
- Pool noodles
- Cones
Description:
- Split students into 4 teams, each team will have 4 pool noodles. Spread out each pool noodle, first pool noodle should be 5 feet away from the group, 2nd pool noodle should 5 feet away from the 1st pool noodle, etc. Each group will have 2 bean bags which they will use to try and hit the pool noodles.
- First pool noodle is worth 5 points, 2nd farthest pool noodle is worth 10, 3rd farthest is 15 and the farthest pool noodle is worth 20 points. The 4 groups will have 2 minutes to try and hit the pool noodles as many times as they can with their bean bags. If they hit a pool noodle then they can get as many points as that pool noodle is worth.
- Once the first person in the line goes then they go grab their bean bag and bring it to the next person in line. Each person in line keeps going until the time is up. Remind students to keep track of their score. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the round wins.
Line Tag
Line Tag was a game that was supposed to help focus on cooperation and encouragement. While also working on the strength of the chasers in order to keep the line together.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment
- none
Description:
Can be either done as one large group or split into 2 groups and have each group stay on one half of the gym. All players should be holding hands/locking arms. The purpose of this game is for the first person in line to try and tag the last person in line. Everyone in the line is trying to help the first person.
- If the line breaks then the last person goes to the front and turns into the tagger. Every time the last person is tagged then they become the tagger. The last person wants to try and avoid being tagged the longest.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment
- none
Description:
Can be either done as one large group or split into 2 groups and have each group stay on one half of the gym. All players should be holding hands/locking arms. The purpose of this game is for the first person in line to try and tag the last person in line. Everyone in the line is trying to help the first person.
- If the line breaks then the last person goes to the front and turns into the tagger. Every time the last person is tagged then they become the tagger. The last person wants to try and avoid being tagged the longest.
Sticks
Sticks is all about protecting your own territory. Blackfoot people were used to having protect their own territory and also expanding their own territory. Throughout the 18th and 19th century, Blackfoot people were at war with the Cree, Assiniboine, Crow and other nations for the rights to hunting land.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- Pool noodles or hula hoops- these are the sticks.
- Pinnies
Description:
- Split class up into 2 teams, have the middle line of the gym be the divider between the 2 territories.
- Each team places 4 sticks (pool noodles) into their territory (their side of the gym). Once the sticks have been placed they can only be touched by players on the opposite team. The objective is to try and capture all of the other teams sticks.
- Players can try and sneak onto the other teams side to try and get their sticks. If you are tagged while trying to get the other teams sticks then you must sit and wait to be rescued/tagged by one of your teammates. If you are tagged by a teammate then both of you get a free walk back to your territory.
- If you get tagged while holding one of the teams sticks then you must put it back. Once you place a captured stick in your territory it cannot be removed from anybody on the other team.
- Whichever team has the opponents sticks on their side wins.
- Game is very similar to capture the flag.
How to use in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- Pool noodles or hula hoops- these are the sticks.
- Pinnies
Description:
- Split class up into 2 teams, have the middle line of the gym be the divider between the 2 territories.
- Each team places 4 sticks (pool noodles) into their territory (their side of the gym). Once the sticks have been placed they can only be touched by players on the opposite team. The objective is to try and capture all of the other teams sticks.
- Players can try and sneak onto the other teams side to try and get their sticks. If you are tagged while trying to get the other teams sticks then you must sit and wait to be rescued/tagged by one of your teammates. If you are tagged by a teammate then both of you get a free walk back to your territory.
- If you get tagged while holding one of the teams sticks then you must put it back. Once you place a captured stick in your territory it cannot be removed from anybody on the other team.
- Whichever team has the opponents sticks on their side wins.
- Game is very similar to capture the flag.
Run and Scream
Run and Scream was traditionally played by girls too old for dolls and too young for adult games, but can be played by all ages of children. Originally this game was played to help children build strength, endurance, and also lung capacity.
How to play in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- Bean bags (instead of sharp sticks)
Description
**This game would best to be played outside because of all the screaming**
- Split students up into 2 groups, group 1 will be the first group to go and the group 2 will go after group one is finished. The objective of this game is to be the person who can run the furthest on one long breath while maintaining a scream. Each group will go one at a time, the people that are going first will be holding a bean bag and run and scream as fast as they can in a straight line. Once out of breath, the student must put down their marker wherever they stopped screaming.
- Group 2 will now begin and start screaming and running. Once out of breath, students will place their bean bag wherever they stopped screaming.
- This could be done by 1 group at a time, or one student at a time. It is based on how much time you want to spend on this activity.
- The persons bean bag that is the farthest away wins.
How to play in Phys Ed
Equipment:
- Bean bags (instead of sharp sticks)
Description
**This game would best to be played outside because of all the screaming**
- Split students up into 2 groups, group 1 will be the first group to go and the group 2 will go after group one is finished. The objective of this game is to be the person who can run the furthest on one long breath while maintaining a scream. Each group will go one at a time, the people that are going first will be holding a bean bag and run and scream as fast as they can in a straight line. Once out of breath, the student must put down their marker wherever they stopped screaming.
- Group 2 will now begin and start screaming and running. Once out of breath, students will place their bean bag wherever they stopped screaming.
- This could be done by 1 group at a time, or one student at a time. It is based on how much time you want to spend on this activity.
- The persons bean bag that is the farthest away wins.
Double Ball
A game of Double Ball was usually started by a woman whose husband was not treating her very well. These women would come together for these rigorous games of Double Ball to show the mean their strength and power. The other men would tease the man whose wife called the game. After one of these games, the men would usually treat their wives better.
Below is a button that will take you to a PDF for the game of Double Ball. It discusses the history of the game, equipment for the game, objective of the game, required skills, how to play, and much more.
Below is a button that will take you to a PDF for the game of Double Ball. It discusses the history of the game, equipment for the game, objective of the game, required skills, how to play, and much more.
Ring the Stick
Ring the Stick is known as a great activity for the indoors and outdoors. It helps work on hand-eye coordination, and also has been used to help resolve conflicts in the past. Such as a tie game. Attached below is a description of Ring the Stick, which includes the equipment, how to create the equipment, and the fundamental movement skills that are involved with this game.