2. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Objectives
The participants learn to do Crow’s Feet, Cat’s Cradle, or …. The students learn the following geometric figures: angle, circle, line, rhomb, rectangle, parallel lines, triangle, and square.
The players learn to count reliably up to 20 items.
This game for two players is extremely easy, but in order to win the game the players need abilities, intelligence, patience, concentration and calmness.
Playing this game the players socialize, develop their abilities of space orientation, learn to distinguish among geometrical figures, improve their knowledge of geography and general culture (e.g. the Tour Eiffel variant).

3. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Tools, Materials and Organisation
This game can be played outdoors, indoors, at school, during the break;
It can also be played by the adults who want to teach their children a new game.
It is played strings in hands.

4. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Description of the Lesson
First part of the lesson (5 minutes):
Explain the game (the participants already know the rules of the game “The Crow’s Feet” or the “Little String” (Are there any other names for this game? Maybe “The little string”, “The little thread”, “The cat’s ladder”)

5. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Second part of the lesson (20 minutes):
Build up groups of 2 persons (3-4 groups)
Stage 1: They take a 70 cm long piece of string and tie its ends (in case there are 3-4 teams each team takes a string of a different colour: red, blue, green, etc.)
Stage 2: The 1st player coils it round 2 fingers.
Stage 3: The second player takes over the string with his fingers using certain precise movements.
Stage 4: The 1st player recovers the string with his own fingers.
Stage n: The stages are repeated until the end when the string must unwind.
End of the game: It is played in the initial circle form.

6. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Third part of the lesson (15 minutes):
Hand out the worksheets (one to each person).
Follow the instructions on the worksheet.
Mathematical exercises using tables with definitions and geometrical figures
The last part of the lesson (5 minutes)
Each team or participant hands out its/his/her achievement and presents it to the others.
The winner, team or person is appointed.

7. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Useful Hints
Be a playful teacher, the participants appreciate the teachers who take part in their game;
It is very important, that the teacher should be aware of the students’ abilities;
Unveil certain tricks of this game which you have already practised with other players in other lessons;
Use a game lexis appealing to your childhood memory: „Outch! Don’t pull, I’ve caught my fingers!’’

8. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Useful Hints
This game involves both players and spectators; they all want to learn how to count, to visualize geometrical figures and how to get acquainted with something new.
The game enhances their interest in being creative, in discovering things from simple to complex levels, in orientation and coordination.
The game creates an atmosphere of joy, friendship and social involvement connecting different generations.

9. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Examples, References and Links     

10. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures) Math elements of the Crows Feet:
Read and memorize the definitions of the geometrical figures used in the game.
1. A simple and continuous touch of a pen, chalk or pencil (in the shape of a thread) drawn on a surface.
2. (Mathematics) A trajectory described by a material point in a continuous movement or by the intersection of two surfaces.
Straight Line

11. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Question 1
What geometrical figures are presented in the Crow’s feet game?
Triangle
Spiral (curved) line
Rectangle
Correct answer: _____________
Question 2
Which geometrical figure is associated with the end of the game?
Angle
Circle
Line
Correct answer: _________
Question 3
Draw a geometrical figure that you have discovered in this game using a coloured pencil.
Question 4
How many fingers do the players use in this game? 2 10 20
Correct answer: ______

12. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures) Math elements of the Crows feet:
Angle
A configuration of two line segments meeting at a point.

13. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
Solution to the questions:
Question 1: Triangle and Rectangle
Question 2: Circle
Question 3: see right
Question 4: 20

14. 8.1 Crows Feet - Cat's Cradle (String Figures)
The end...
Thank you!