What game is this?

Topic: The past in the present
Student activity

This is the student activity 1 of 3 of the Games children play learning activity.

Task No. 1

Why do games change over time?

Children have always played games, but these games are always changing.  The games played by your parents and grandparents might be similar or different to the ones you play at school.

Games can change because children invent new rules.  Sometimes children from other countries introduce new games that are fun for everyone to play.  Sometimes new toys are invented, like hula hoops, yo-yos or X-Box and Playstation. 

There are also things that help keep games the same.  Some games have written rules, like football, cricket or tennis. Some games have traditional rules that older parents, brothers and sisters teach to younger kids.

Discuss:

  • What sort of games do you play at school?
  • Are they old-fashioned games or new games?
  • Who taught you how to play your favourite game?
Task No. 2

What game is this?

Ruby Gostelow (6 yrs old) playing "Barbie" computer game
Children playing quoits at the Katoomba Coffee Palace
Pinning the tail on the donkey at Australian Paper Mills picnic at Clifton Gardens
Wallsend South School
Schoolboys playing cricket
Holidays: children in the park
File 14: Collaroy Minnie or play house for hospital children, March 1953 / photographed by Max Dupain
Bycroft children playing with hoop, tyre and wheel; the little boy was a neighbour of the Bycrofts - Taree, NSW
Maypole dancing at the Continental Fete - Port Macquarie, NSW

Look carefully at the photos of the games and activities the children are playing. Talk to other students about each game.

Answer these questions:

  • What is this game?
  • Have you ever played this game? 
  • What are the rules?
  • Do you like the game?
Task No. 3

Are these games still played now?

Look at the photos in Task 2 and see if you can figure out which games are still played now.

Using the downloadable resource, decide when children played these games: in the past, in the present or both.

Write a list of games played in the past. You can write the name of the game or draw a picture of the game. 

Discuss whether the games have changed or remained the same over time.