Jacob’s Ladder – a toy made of wooden blocks attached together with ribbons; when held at one end, the blocks appeared to cascade down the ribbons.

Tavern puzzles (Old Shackles and Iron Heart) – Iron puzzles traditionally forged by blacksmiths and found at inns and taverns; the puzzle was solved when one piece was removed, but only mastered when the piece was returned as well. If you need help, see the solution pages.

Tops – spinning toys. There were at least five types of tops in 16th century England, and North American Indian tribes also played top games. Suggestion – “battling tops” – several people start their top at the same time to see which one lasts the longest.

Cup and Ball – a colonial toy, consisting of a wooden ball attached by a string to a cup with a handle, with the object being to toss the ball in the air and catch it in the cup.

Source: “Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Guide Training Manual” (2009)

Our games are reproductions of real games.

GAMESTip: Hold the first block at the sides by using your thumb and first finger. Move your hand palm up, palm down, palm up, palm down…

Pick-up SticksPick-up-sticks, also called jackstraws, or spillikins , pick-up-sticks [Credit: Martin Sommerfeld] game of skill, played by both children and adults, with thin wooden sticks or with straws or matches. In the early 18th century sticks were made of ivory or bone; later they were made of wood or plastic.To begin the game, 20 to 50 sticks are bunched in one hand and set vertically on a table or other smooth, flat surface then released suddenly so that they fall in a jumble. Each player in turn attempts to remove a single stick without disturbing any other. If he succeeds he may try again, but if another stick moves the player loses his turn.The player with the most sticks when the pile is totally reduced wins. Sometimes the game is played with a retriever hook, either made as part of the set or improvised with a bent paper clip or a bent straight pin stuck in a match. Some sets have sticks shaped like saws, hoes, rakes, ladders, and other implements, thus making the game more difficult. The game is supposedly of great antiquity, perhaps having originated in China.

Source:Pick-up-sticks. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298920/pick-up-sticks

Objective is to collect the most sticks. Use the black stick to remove a stick from the pile without disturbing another stick. If you can remove a stick successfully, you get another turn. If you disturb a stick while trying to remove one, you lose your turn.

Our games are reproductions of real games.

GAMES

Pennsylvania Dutch LanguageNumbers

One – eensTwo – zweeThree – dreiFour – vierFive – finfSix – sechsSeven – siwweEight – achtNine – neinTen – zeheTwenty – zwansichThirty – dreissichForty – fattzichFifty – fuffzichSixty – sechzichSeventy – siwwezichEighty – achtzichNinety – neinzichOne hundred – en hunnert

Days of the week

Sunday – SunndaagMonday – MuundaagTuesday – DinschdaagWednesday – MitwochThursday – DunnerschdaagFriday – FreidaagSaturday – Samschdaag

Everyday ExpressionsHow are you? – Wie bischt?Oh, pretty good. – Oh, zimmlich gutNot so good. – Net so gutVery well – Ganz gut

Good morning – Gude MariyeGood evening – Gut noowed

I can speak Dutch – Ich kann Deitsch schwetze.Come and eat – Kumm esseCome in – Kumm rei

What is your name? - Was is dei naame? My name is ___ - Mei naame is ________.

Thank you – DankiHow old are you? - Wie alt bischt du?

Pennsylvania Dutch Language

Dickery-Dickery-DockDickeri-dickeri-dockGebambel un Gegnack,Es schpringt die MausIn’s Uhrehaus;Un schlaggt die Uhr,Do schpringt sie raus,Dickeri-dickeri-dock!

Pease Porridge HotMosch un Millich heessMosch un Millich kalt,Mosch un Millich imme Haffe,Nein Daag alt. Deel gleiche’n heess,Deel gleiche’n kalt,Deel gleiche’n imme Haffe,Nein Daag alt.

The Rose is Red (Roses are Red, Violets are Blue)Die Ros iss Rot, es Veilche Blo,Du bischt so lieb, ich gleich dich so.

Nursery Rhymes

Pennsylvania Dutch Language

Achey belly (stomach ache) They drink milk for an achey belly.Brutzed (pouted). He brutzed because he didn’t get the toy.Doppick (clumsy). She is doppick.

Fernhoodled. (confused, purplexed or puzzled) He speaks fernhoodled English that one does.Gookamoedoe (look at that)

Hurrieder (to do something faster) Tell them to work hurrieder.Nix nutz – (naughty) He is a nix nutz.Rutch (to squirm) He is rutchy.Schnickelfritz (mischevious child)

It’s gonna make down wet. (rain is imminent)Lock the door open (unlock the door)Outen the lights (turn off the lights)The candy is all (there is no more candy)

Kannst du micka funga? (Can you catch flies?) Ja, wenn de hocka bleiben. (Yes, when they sit still.)

Pennsylvania Dutch Words You Might Hear Around Here

Sources: Lynch., Larry. The Pennsylvania Dutch Language: An Interesting and Different English. (2013) Retrieved from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/studying-a-language/54938-the-pennsylvania-dutch-language/ Stine, Eugene. (1990) . Pennsylvania German to English Dictionary. Lehighton, Pennsylvania: East Stroudsburg University.

Pennsylvania Dutch LanguageStudent handout of Pennsylvania Dutch Words and Phrases

Students, Ask or tell your partner these questions or phrases.

1. How are you? – Wie bischt?Oh, pretty good. – Oh, zimmlich gutNot so good. – Net so gutVery well – Ganz gut

2. Good morning – Gude MariyeGood evening – Gut noowed

3. I can speak Dutch – Ich kann Deitsch schwetze.

4. What is your name? - Was is dei naame? My name is ___ - Mei naame is ________.

5. How old are you? - Wie alt bischt du? Respond with your age number.

NumbersOne – eensTwo – zweeThree – dreiFour – vierFive – finfSix – sechsSeven – siwweEight – achtNine – neinTen – zehe