Five Stones Jacks with Beanbags

The traditional five stones game played with small beanbags: toss one in the air and, before catching it, scoop up one, two or more from the floor. It works hand-eye coordination, quick reactions and knowledge of a classic folk game, much like jacks.

How to play

1. Each student gets a bag of 5 small beanbags; they sit on the floor in circles of 4 with space between groups (1 min).
2. Demo (2 min): scatter 4 beanbags on the floor, toss the fifth to eye level, pick up one from the floor and catch the tossed one with the same hand.
3. Onesies (4 min): pick up the 4 beanbags one at a time. After a miss, the turn passes to the right, and you resume where you left off.
4. Twosies and threesies (4 min): pick up the beanbags two at a time, then one and three.
5. Foursies (3 min): grab all four at once before catching the toss. Completing a level earns a point.
6. Final challenge (6 min): group games; whoever finishes every level starts over, and the group totals the levels everyone completed.

Rules

• Toss and catch with the same hand.
• Touch only the beanbags you are picking up; moving another is a miss.
• Safety: toss straight up and never higher than your head.
• While one player goes, the others watch and count successes.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: play on a desktop with the beanbags scattered on it.
• Visual impairment: use bright beanbags on a dark cloth and keep tosses low.
• Skill level: each player chooses to start at a level they can do.

Learning goals

• Coordinate tossing, picking up and catching with one hand.
• Learn and play a traditional skill game.
• Take turns and follow the game's rules.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 125
• cloth bags: 25

Teacher tip

Beanbags should be small, about 2 inches, so several fit in one hand. Ask students how family members played with stones or jacks at home to connect with family traditions.

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