Beanbags Over the River

A rope tied between two chairs at waist height is the river; on the other side are three colored fabric pieces that are islands. Children toss beanbags over the rope in an arc so they land on the island they choose. It works arched throwing and matching force to distance.

How to play

1. Explain: the rope is the river and we toss over it, never under (2 min).
2. Everyone tosses over the rope at once, without aiming for an island (2 min).
3. Choose an island and say it before tossing: near, middle or far (3 min).
4. Cross the bridge (walk around the chair) to collect the beanbags and come back (3 min).
5. Raise the rope a little and try tossing higher (3 min).
6. Count how many beanbags reached each island (2 min).

Rules

• I toss over the rope.
• Nobody crosses the river until the teacher says "Collect!"
• I collect and come back over the bridge.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: toss from sitting with a lower rope and the closest island.
• Visual impairment: a classmate claps from the island to guide the toss.
• Autism: give them their own island and their own pile of beanbags so they don't have to wait.

Learning goals

• Throw over an obstacle.
• Adjust force to the chosen distance.
• Respect the signal before collecting.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 25
• rope: 1
• colored fabric pieces: 3
• chairs: 2

Teacher tip

Tie the rope with an easy-release knot and space the chairs well apart so it gives way if a child trips. The "nobody crosses until the signal" rule is what keeps this safe.

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