A CHRISTMAS BOARD GAME: MANCALA

DIFFICULTY RATING

According to Wikipedia, Mancala is a generic name for a family of two-player, turn-based, strategy board games that are played with small stones in rows of holes (or pits) with a store at each end. Make yours in time for Christmas to play with family or friends, for hours of fun.

If you don’t know how to play Mancala, you can download a set of simple instructions for a basic version of the game from our website at: claycraft.co.uk/how-to/mancala-rules

You will need:

■ Stiff paper to make a template, ruler, pencil

■ Clay of choice – earthenware or stoneware

■ Rolling pin, roller guides (5mm), plastic sheet

■ General tools and ribs for construction

■ Small foam block

■ Pestle or other solid, round-ended item

■ Small round cookie cutters

■ Glaze to decorate

Working on a cutting mat (if you have one), begin by making your template.

Cut out a sheet of paper 38 x 18cm, then grid the template to space 12, 3cm-diameter circles along the length in two rows of six, as shown. They should