Which Basket Has More?

Children toss beanbags into two baskets, with no teams or points, and then take them out and line them up to see which basket has more and which has less. It builds underhand throwing, counting and comparing amounts.

How to play

1. The teacher places two baskets a short distance from a chalk line; each child has one or two beanbags (1 min).
2. We toss underhand, like scattering feed for the chickens, trying to get the beanbag into either basket, then fetch it if it lands outside (4 min).
3. We stop and empty both baskets: we lay each basket's beanbags in a row, side by side, and compare which row is longer (3 min).
4. We count each row together and say, "This one has more, this one has less"; if they match, they're the same! (3 min).
5. New round: the teacher says, "I want this basket to have more," and everyone aims for that one (2 min).
6. We collect all the beanbags into one basket, counting until it's full (2 min).

Rules

• Throw only from the line, underhand.
• Fetch beanbags when the teacher says "Pick up!"
• All the baskets belong to everyone: nobody wins here.

Variations

Adaptations

• Child with limited mobility: throws sitting down or from their wheelchair, with the basket closer.
• Blind or low-vision child: the basket jingles (with a bell tied on) or a buddy taps it before the throw.
• Children needing more support: toss with both hands or drop the beanbag in from close up.

Learning goals

• Compare amounts: more, less, the same.
• Count objects by lining them up.
• Throw underhand with accuracy.

Equipment for a class of 25

• saquitos: 30
• cestas: 4
• tizas: 2

Teacher tip

Lining up the beanbags is the key: they can see which group is bigger before they can count it. Stress that there are no teams, so no one gets upset if their basket has fewer.

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