Toss, Hold, Fetch: Trios Trade Jobs

In trios, one child tosses beanbags, one holds a hoop upright as the target and the third fetches and returns them; on the signal they switch jobs. It builds throwing, teamwork and accepting that roles rotate.

How to play

1. Make trios and give each one a hoop and three beanbags. The teacher demonstrates the three jobs with a sample trio: tosser, holder and fetcher (2 min).
2. Round one: the tosser throws three beanbags through the hoop, the holder keeps it still and the fetcher picks them up and hands them back (3 min).
3. On the drum, everyone rotates: tosser becomes holder, holder becomes fetcher, fetcher becomes tosser (3 min).
4. Round three, so everyone has done all three jobs (3 min).
5. Free round: lay the hoop on the floor a bit farther away and rotate through the jobs again (3 min).
6. Each trio says thank you and puts its equipment away together (1 min).

Rules

• I toss only when the holder is ready and says 'Go!'
• The holder keeps the hoop beside their body, not in front of their face.
• When the drum sounds, I switch jobs even if I like mine.
• We hand the beanbags back.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: they make a great holder or seated tosser; the fetcher brings beanbags to their lap.
• Autism: a card with the three job pictures and an arrow shows which job comes next.
• Visual impairment: the holder taps the hoop or says 'Here!' before each toss.

Learning goals

• Toss accurately at a target.
• Take on different roles in the same game.
• Accept switching roles even when preferring another.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hoops: 9
• Beanbags: 27
• Hand drum: 1

Teacher tip

Make clear where the fetcher moves (always to the side, never in front of the hoop) to avoid bumps. The usual issue is a tosser who won't give up the job: give advance notice with 'Two more tosses, then we rotate.'

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