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Games of shuttlecock were played in Asia over 2000 years ago.  The original game of badminton needed only a homemade shuttlecock and a circle of players ready to try their skills at running, twisting and jumping.  You could purchase shuttlecocks, but having your group make their own can be lots of fun.  You will need for each child: a pocketknife, a pin, a cork from a wine bottle (these can be purchased), and 10 to 16 small feathers, about the same length.  Craft stores sell colorful feathers.

With adult supervision, have the children sharpen the tip of each feather shaft with the pocketknife.  Be sure to review knife safety and remind the children to cut away from their body and legs.

With the pin, prick 16 evenly spaced holes around the outside edge of the thinner end of the cork.  Insert the sharpened end of eath feather shaft into a hole and push until the feather sticks.  Twist the feathers so that their edges overlap to form a ring.  When tossed in the air, your shuttlecock should spiral down and then land on its featherless end.

Many African tribes make shuttlecocks from corn cobs.  Corn has long been an important part of meals, and during harvests there are many ears available for children's play.

To make an African shuttlecock you will need a cob of corn (dried corn is better)  Use a piece of string to tie a bunch of leaves securely to one end of the corncob.  A more modern (and permanent version) would be to tie some silk leaves onto the corn cob.

Posted by: wee wifey at 10:43 PM | Comments (29) | Add Comment
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