The Rainbow Hoop Target
In small groups, children toss beanbags at a target made of three colored hoops nested on the ground and call out the color of the hoop where it landed. It works on underhand tossing toward a target and adjusting force.
How to play
- Set up four targets: a big hoop, a medium one inside it and a small one in the middle; mark a throwing line with chalk (2 min).
- Each group lines up facing its target; the first child tosses underhand and names the color where the beanbag landed (3 min).
- Try tossing very softly so it lands in the outer hoop, and harder to reach the middle (3 min).
- The teacher calls a color and everyone tries to land their beanbag in that hoop (3 min).
- Collect the beanbags and count together how many landed in each color (2 min).
Rules
- Toss from the chalk line.
- Wait for your friend to pick up before you toss.
- Every color counts: trying is what matters.
- We collect when the teacher says so.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, toss from very close; landing in any hoop is a success.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, try to hit the color the teacher calls.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, toss with the non-dominant hand and move the line one step back.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child tosses from their chair with the target closer; a classmate returns the beanbags.
- Visual impairment: a classmate claps from the center of the target to guide the toss and says where it landed.
- Less dexterity: use bigger, floppier beanbags that don't roll away.
Learning goals
- Toss underhand toward a target on the ground.
- Adjust throwing force to distance.
- Recognize and name colors through play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- colored hoops: 12
- beanbags: 25
- chalk: 1
Teacher tip
Make groups of five or six so lines stay short. Don't keep individual scores: count what the whole group achieved together.
PatioLab has "The Rainbow Hoop Target" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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