Knucklebones

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/knucklebones

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the game type?A traditional game of manual dexterity and skill with ancient origins
2. What is the ancient greek term?Astragaloi, derived from the ankle bone of sheep
3. What are knucklebones and why are they called that?Knucklebones is a game where you toss and catch small pieces, like little bones or jacks. The name comes from the Greek word for the ankle bone of a sheep.
4. Where did knucklebones first come from?The game started in ancient Lydia, a region in what is now Turkey, and spread across the Mediterranean. It was mentioned by Herodotus and Plato.

Astragalus: The ankle bone of a sheep or other ungulate, historically used as a game piece.
Dexterity: Skill in performing tasks, especially those requiring the use of the hands.
Fivestones: A common name for knucklebones, often referring to games played with five objects.