The document summarizes the Italian card game of Scopa, which is believed to have originated from 15th century games and a Spanish card game. Scopa is played with 40 Neapolitan cards across 4 suits and involves players taking cards from the table that match cards in their hand in value. The goal is to collect points by taking tricks and specific card combinations. The document also describes a project where children made their own deck of Scopa cards to play with their grandparents, bridging generations through traditional games.

1. Bridging three generations: Timeless games and toys: France 9
- 13 May 2016

3. History: The game of “scopa” is thought to have been derived from a spanish card game
“escoba”, in which the rules aren’t so different from the italian game.
However, some fans and experts of the game believe that it dates back to the 15 th
century games “scarabucion” and “primiera”.
Actually the first news we get about the Italian game “Scopa” are linked to the fish
market at the harbour of Naples in the 1400s.
The prizes for winners were goods things stolen from the homes and ships of rich and
noble families. Nowadays this game is played in elderly centre by old people.
Scopa

4. » Scopa is played with 40 neapolitan cards. It can be played in 2-3 or 4 people.
There are 4 suits: Swords, Clubs, Cups, Coins.
» They are valued from 1 to 10: the servant is valued 8, the horse is 9 and the king
is 10.
» The cards are distributed in turn: the dealer gives 3 cards to each player and
leaves 4 showing on the table.
» You play one card each turn.
» The goal of the game is to get the maximum amount of points possible by taking
from the table the most cards with highest value.
» When you play a card you can take from the table a card with equal value; if it’s
not possible you may take two or more cards the sum of which corresponds to
the one played
» For example, If you have a ten in your hand and on the table there are the 2 five
you can take them, only if there isn’t a ten on the table.
» When the cards in your hand are finished the dealer gives you another three
cards.
» During the game you make “scopa” if the value of your card corresponds to the
last cards on the table.(one or more)
» The player who wins the last trick has the right to take all the remains cards but
he can’t make “scopa” at the last turn.

5. Points of the deck
You obtain a point for each of the following goals :
1. “Settebello”=if you have the 7 of coins
2. “Ori”=if you have 6 or more cards with the coins
3. “Cards”=the player who has managed to take at least 21 cards, gets the point
4. “Primiera”= is made by 4 cards. The best primiera is made by 4 seven even though you can
obtain it also with 3 seven with a six, two seven and two six , or in order with 6s, ace, 5s, or
even 4s, but is possible only if you have the four suits. In any case primiera is impossible if
you are missing one of the suits in the 4 cards
5. Each scopa made is worth one point
A Scopa is when a player takes the last cards on the table. It’s worth a point the last hand
however is not scopa.
The winner is who arrives at 11 points first, also in two or three games
Points:

6. Necessary:
Paper – Scissors - Ruler - Cutter – Crayons – Feltips - Compass - Glue -
Laminator

7. The children made copies from a deck of
cards drawing each of them. The work was
meticulous and detailed, so that all the
cards and suits could have the same shape
and colour of the original ones.
After drawing all the 40 cards, we photocopied
sheets.
How to make cards

8. We coloured cards,
observing on the electronic
blackboard the original
enlarged drawings.
We stuck on the back of the
cards the Erasmus Logo.

9. As gift to our partners, we
decorated a box where put the deck
of cards.
Next, we coated with
plastic the sheets with
the coloured drawings
and cut each card.

10. Finally, with the cards realized, the children had fun playing with their
grandparents. In the most of the matches, grandchildren overcame
grandparents, showing to have learned traditional games from them.