There are many historical anecdotes and lessons that are relevant to the game of Mancala that can be shared with students. Here are a few to consider incorporating into the lesson plan:

The Origins of Mancala: 
1. The precise origins of Mancala are unknown. However, some of the oldest mancala boards have been found in Ain-Ghazal, Jordan, dating back to 5870 ± 240 BC.
2. The word “mancala” is derived from the Arabic word “naqala” which means “to move” and is generally used to describe a family of board games that represents sowing and harvesting. 
3. In the agora of Izmir, a Mancala board was found which proofs that the Romans and ancient Greeks also played the game. This was likely a result of the spread of the game through the means of trade.

The Cultural Significance of Mancala: 
1. In many African cultures, Mancala is more than just a game – it is a symbol of community and togetherness. 
2. The number of pieces used to play is very symbolic.  Typically, 48 pieces are used, which in a large majority of West African societies is a traditionally a sacred number.
3. The Alladian and Baule peoples of Ivory Coast also used this game at night and behind closed doors to determine who would be the next chief. The idea being that the spirits of their ancestor would influence their preferred candidate to win, therefore giving the final seal of approval to the new chief. 

The Mathematical Aspects of Mancala: 
1. Mancala is an excellent tool for developing numeracy skills. It also requires players to think strategically and make decisions based on their calculations, making it an excellent tool for developing strategic thinking skills. 
2. Mancala has been of great interest to many Mathematicians and Computer scientists. A close variant of the game, called Nim, has very close applications to computer science, and in the New York World's Fair of 1940, a machine that could play a the perfect game of Nim was displayed, it was called the Nimatron.

I hope that by incorporating these anecdotes into the lesson plan, the students will be more engaged, and will have a deeper understanding of the significance of Mandala in history. Furthermore, if the students would like to play at home there are many online resources to play with others online. There are also tutorials on the internet on how to make your own mancala board out of egg cartons!
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