School Tángana: Knock Down the Chito and Win the Tokens

Tángana, also called chito or tanga depending on the region of Spain, is about throwing flat discs to knock over a cylinder with coins on top; if it falls, you win the coins that land closer to your disc than to the cylinder. We adapt it with bottles, caps and beanbags to work on aim and judging distance.

How to play

1. Explain the traditional game: the cylinder (tángana or chito), the coins on top and the metal throwing discs. Groups of four on six lanes (3 min).
2. Setup: a plastic bottle with some water in the middle, three caps on top and a cone throwing line 6-8 meters away (3 min).
3. Accuracy round: each player throws two beanbags per turn trying to knock the bottle over; keep track of who does (6 min).
4. Official-rules round: when the bottle falls, every cap that lies closer to a beanbag than to the bottle goes to whoever threw that beanbag (8 min).
5. Lane rotation and wrap-up: groups move to another distance and compare results (5 min).

Rules

• Throw only from the line and only when your lane group says go.
• Nobody picks up beanbags until everyone has thrown and measured.
• Distances are measured in steps or with a rope; if in doubt, the group decides.
• Underhand throws only, with the hand below the waist.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: throw from the wheelchair from a closer line or using a cardboard ramp.
• Visual impairment: a partner taps the bottle with a stick so the student can locate the sound before throwing.
• Injured throwing arm: throw with the other hand from 2 meters closer.

Learning goals

• Adjust throwing force and direction.
• Measure and compare distances fairly.
• Learn a traditional Spanish throwing game.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plastic bottles: 6
• bottle caps: 18
• beanbags: 24
• cones: 12

Teacher tip

Traditional discs are metal and slide; beanbags are safer and don't roll. Fill the bottles a third of the way so the wind doesn't knock them over.

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