Cowpokes Lassoing Cones With Rope Rings

Each cowpoke has a ring made from a short rope tied in a loop and tosses it underhand to "lasso" the cone calves grazing nearby; then they trot over like horses to collect them. Kids practice aiming and throwing while playing pretend.

How to play

1. The teacher shows the lasso (rope tied in a loop) and how to throw it: underhand, letting go with an open hand, like scattering seeds (2 min).
2. From their tape line, each child tosses the lasso toward a very close cone (3 min).
3. We trot like horses to collect our lasso and come back to the line (3 min).
4. We step back a little and try cones farther away (3 min).
5. We all lasso the cones in the middle at once and lead the lassoed calves to the corral (3 min).

Rules

• I toss the lasso underhand toward the cone, never toward friends.
• Lassos are for cones: I never put one around anyone's neck.
• I wait until everyone has thrown before collecting.
• If I miss, I try again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child throws from the wheelchair with closer cones and a classmate returns the lasso.
• Visual impairment: put a bell on the cone or have a classmate clap next to it.
• Less skilled: use plastic rings instead of rope lassos; they fly straighter.

Learning goals

• Throw underhand toward a target.
• Adjust force to distance.
• Respect turns for throwing and collecting.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Short ropes: 25
• Cones: 12
• Masking tape: 1

Teacher tip

Tie the lassos with a double knot and make them big (about 20 in across) so they fit over the cones. Mark the throwing line clearly and don't let anyone collect until everyone has thrown.

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