Marble Games for a Group

Basic

• For a basic game of marbles, draw a circle with a two-foot diameter on a hard surface, such as concrete with sidewalk chalk. Each player gets four marbles, which are randomly placed inside the circle. The first player will take a "shooter" marble (an extra marble) and place it anywhere around the outside of the circle. The object is to try to knock another marble out of the circle, but keeping the shooter marble inside the circle. If a player knocks a marble outside of the circle, he keeps that marble and takes another turn. A player's turn is over when he knocks the shooter marble out of the circle or if he does not hit a marble out of the circle. The game ends when all the marbles are knocked out of the circle. The player with the most marbles wins the game.

Do Not Drop

• Dig a hole about one foot wide and two inches deep on hard dirt. Mark a line 15 feet from the hole. Each player gets two marbles to roll from the line. Players must try to roll their marbles as close as they can to the hole without making them fall in the hole. Players can use marbles to knock other players out of their way or in the hole. The player with the marble closest to the hole wins the game.

Paper Towels

• Dampen a paper towel with water and use a rubber band to stretch it across the top of a pail or bucket. The paper towel should be covering the top of the bucket or pail completely. Give each player a bowl of marbles and place the bucket in the middle of a table. One at a time, each player must add a marble to the paper towel. When the paper towels breaks, the player who placed the last marble is out of the game. Reset the paper towel and keep playing until only one player remains, who is the winner. You can also keep playing for fun and not eliminate a player each time.

Marble Flick

• Have players practice flicking a marble with their thumbs. Tell each player to curl her index finger (knuckle facing down) and rest the marble in the crook of her finger. She must place the end of her thumb behind the marble on the crook of the index finger. Using a flicking motion, she can flick the marble off her finger. Once all the players understand, have them line up side-by-side on a lawn or other safe, open area. Tell them to flick the marble as far as they can. The player who flicks the marble the farthest distance wins the game.