“ Games are the most elevated form of investigation.” (Aristo) “ Games are the work of children. “ (Einstein) Comenius Project “MOVE TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY AND MIND”

In Turkey, the most important aspect of local games is vocal or verbal expression. Four main categories of verbal expression may be distinguished in Turkish local games: songs and chants, rhymes, tongue twisters, and riddles. UNFORTUNATELY, the intrusion of both indoor and outdoor games such as computer games and football has taken away much of the popularity that local games and sports once enjoyed.

OPEN THE DOOR HEAD MERCHANT AÇ KAPIYI BEZIRGAN BASI

Material needed : A piece of rope How to play :Two of the children hold their hands together like a bridge, and the others go under in a line. During the game, they sing this song: - Open the gate, head merchant. - I’ll open it, but what will you give me? - Take the scoundrel behind me. - One rat, two rats, three rats. Whoever is under the bridge when they come to the end of the rhyme is caught by the children making the bridge.

The doormen who are holding the bridge asks which of the doormen he wants. The rat, the child caught by the doormen, says the name of one of the doormen whose team he wants to be in and queues behind him. When all the players caught by, a line is drawn on the ground. The teams facing eachother pull a rope and tries to pull the other team out of the line. The team which can’t stand behind the line loses the game.

GRAB THE HANDKERCHIEF MENDIL KAPMACA

Material needed: An handkerchief How to play: The children divide into two equal teams.Each player has a number. The “judge,” sitting in the middle of a circle holding a handkecrcief, calls the players by numbers. One of the most common bluffs used in the game is to make as if one will grab the handkerchief, and allow the opponent to catch the handkerchief and catch him. Whichever team succeeds in grabbing the handkerchief the most times, wins the game. The losing team is “punished” by being made to carry the other children on their backs, sing a song, or forced to do some ridiculous act. Sometimes the winning team gets a prize put in the center.

I SELL BUTTER YAG SATARIM

Material Needed: An handkerchief How To Play: First someone is chosen to be “it.” Then the players sit in a circle on the floor facing each other. The player who is “it” takes a handkerchief, ties a knot in one corner, and sings the song that gives the game its name: I sell butter, I sell honey My master has died, and I sell it My master’s fir is yellow If I sell it, it’s 15 liras Zam-bak Zum-bak Turn and take a good look behind you.

As the child who is “it” walks around, he/she places the handkerchief behind one of the players without him seeing it. As soon as the player notices the handkerchief, he grabs it and starts chasing the “it.” If the “it” manages to sit in his place without being caught, the one who got the handkerchief then becomes “it.” If he is not caught then he continues as “it.” In another version, the player who chases the “it” hits him with the knotted end of the handkerchief until he manages to sit in his place. Then the child with the handkerchief continues as “it” in the next round.

BURNING BALL YAKAR TOP

Material needed: A ball How To Play: The players divide into two equal teams, which stand facing each other a certain distance apart. The area where the teams are is called the kale (fortress). The teams each send two people, called “ambassadors,” to the opposite team. One of the teams throws a ball into the air towards the opposite team. As soon as they do, one of the “ambassadors” on the opposite team runs quickly towards the team that throws the ball. One player on the opposite team then catches the ball and throws it at the fleeing “ambassador.” If he hits him, the ambassador “dies” and is out of the game. Then the second team throws the ball and the other team throws it at their ambassador. The game continues with new ambassadors. The team that loses all its ambassadors loses the game.

Arif Nihat Asya Primary School Umraniye-Istanbul / TURKEY