Bean bag golf

Age

3-5 years

Child Development

Counting; drawing; vocabulary (e.g. days of the week, sea creatures); pretending; predicting

Equipment

1 throwing object (such as bean bag or tennis ball) per child

2 or more start markers (tees)

2 or more hoops or old tea towels (holes)

Physical Activity

Participating with the children; developing movement skills (eye-hand coordination); playing actively

How to Play

Set out a golf course with the start markers (tees) about three to four metres away from the hoops (hole). Make as many golf holes as you wish.
Start at the first tee and throw the object overarm or underarm towards the first hoop.
Continue to throw the object and count how many throws until it lands inside the hoops.
Move to next tee.
With multiple players, the child whose object is furthest from the ‘hole’ throws first each time. Others wait behind this thrower before moving to the next closest bean bag.

Change it up / Alternatives / Additional Options

Vary distances between the tees and hoops. Have the children predict how many throws it will take to get the bean bag into each hoop. Throw to see if the prediction is confirmed.
Have the children draw pictures of sea creatures they might see in an aquarium. Ask them to put the pictures they have drawn into each hoop. Add pretend by inviting the children to imagine they are feeding the fish and mammals at the aquarium. The task is to make sure the food (bean bag) reaches the sea creatures. Some creatures may need more food than others, so throw lots of objects.
Set out a scarf or sheet for a hazard/trap, If the bean bag lands in the hazard, it can only be picked up while standing on one foot.
Have seven tees and holes, one labeled with a card for each day of the week, but not arranged in order. The task is to play the holes in sequence from Monday to Sunday.
Encourage the children to design their own golf course.

Excerpt from the HOP Early Learning Practitioners Resource (Decoda Literacy Solutions)

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