The team with the FEWEST balls in their buckets WIN the round.Place cones equally apart from each other at one end of the gymnasium to designate seven starting lines.

Balls in the large bucket equal one point while balls in the smaller bucket equal two points. Any ball thrown after the signal is added to the bucket of the team who threw the ball. At the end of a round, I stop the music and yell, “STOP and DROP!” On this signal all students must immediately sit without throwing another ball. If a player catches a ball thrown from another team, he may deliver it to any one of the opposing team’s bucket. Any ball that lands in a bucket MUST stay in the bucket until the end of the round. Each team can defend their buckets by blocking balls thrown by the opposing teams. The goal of the game is to toss balls (yarn balls, foam tennis balls, small stuffed animals) into ANY of the opposing team’s buckets. Each team reports to a different quadrant. In the video you’ll see that I place a plastic tub inside a larger swimming pool. Place a smaller bucket inside a larger bucket in the back corner of each quadrant. Each crew then rotates clockwise to the next ship, and the next round begins.ĭivide the playing area into quadrants. The ship with the most remaining smokestacks wins the round. As soon as one of the four ships loses all of its smokestacks, the round is over. If a pirate catches a cannonball shot by another ship, she can stand up one of her fallen smokestacks. The plank can be dropped into the water anywhere around the ship. The crew can also use their plank to retrieve cannonballs. This player’s only duty is to retrieve cannonballs that are floating in the ocean and return them to their ship. One crew member is designated to use the rowboat. If a crew member falls into the water, he swims (runs) one lap around the perimeter. Each ship’s crew uses the scoops to fire cannonballs (foam and yarn balls) at the other ships. The goal of the game is to knock out each of the opposing teams’ smokestacks in order to sink their ship. The above picture shows the initial set-up. With larger groups, we play games of two versus two.įour ships are set up in each of the four corners of your space with the following equipment: 4 smokestacks (foam cylinders), cannon (scoops) for each pirate, rowboat (scooter), and a plank (foam beam). Players use the scoop to measure the distance. One point is awarded for a ball that stops less than a scoop length away from the hoop. If the ball stops inside the hoop, the player is awarded two points. I encourage students to use the underhand throwing motion. Each player takes turns tossing a yarn ball into the opposing hoop. Opposing players stand behind their hoop.

Place two hula hoops at least ten feet apart. Scoop Shoes is based on the backyard game horseshoes. I hope you too are able to look beyond the basketballs and hula hoops in your equipment room, pull the scoops off of your shelves, and give them a chance to play! Here are a few of the games we’ve enjoyed the last couple of weeks. Inspired by this post, I decided to brainstorm, tweak, and implement some group activities using this underutilized manipulative. Many of the teachers commented that they too were searching for scoop lessons, while others shared creative ideas and challenges. Recently, I was scrolling through social media and stumbled across a post requesting ideas for scoops. Soon after, I place them back on the shelf with a little guilt, (think Toy Story) and move on to the next unit. Occasionally, I will take them out, blow the dust off of them, and practice some basic throwing and catching challenges.

They sit in our equipment closet year after year waiting patiently for their turn, their shot at a lesson plan titled: SCOOP SKILLS! Yet, there they remain with very limited use.

Underhand throw lesson plan