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Knock Down the Standing Pine Cones

Pine cones stand upright like forest bowling pins, and children knock them down by rolling a soft ball, then set them back up together. It builds aim, control of force, and patience.

PhaseMain activitie

Duration16 min

Ages3–6

SpaceOutdoor yard

EquipmentLarge pine cones, foam balls, Chalk

IntensityModerate

How to play

Together, stand the pine cones up in little bowling groups around the yard (2 min).
The teacher shows how to roll the ball: crouch low, hand down, eyes on the pine cones (2 min).
In groups, each child rolls from the chalk line; when a cone falls, everyone shouts "Boom, down!" (4 min).
Each group stands the pine cones up together and tries from a line a bit farther back (3 min).
Roll with the other hand or push the ball gently with a foot (3 min).
Clean up by bear-walking each pine cone to the basket (2 min).

Rules

I roll the ball along the ground.
I wait until all the pins are standing.
We cheer every cone that falls, mine and everyone else's.
Only one person rolls at a time in my group.

Variations

Easier

For 3-year-olds, three or four pine cones close together and the line very near.

Standard

For 4-year-olds, more pine cones and two distances.

Harder

For 5-year-olds, set the cones up in a triangle and have each child guess how many they'll knock down first.

Adaptations

Limited mobility: roll the ball from the wheelchair down a ramp made from a board or large piece of bark.
Visual impairment: a buddy taps the middle pine cone before each roll so the child can aim by sound.
Autism: give each group pins marked with one color so it's clear which ones are theirs.