Make the Stick Jump
Skills:
Physical: accuracy, hand-eye coordination, upper limb coordination
Cognitive: selective attention, visual processing
Social: turn taking
Number of participants:
2 or more
Equipment:
- 15-20cm stick, rocks or balls
- optional: feathers, paint
Description:
- children are given sticks, which they can decorate (optional)
- sticks are placed upright in the ground at varying distances
- children throw rocks/ball at the sticks to make them “jump”
- sticks that are further away earn more points
History:
Make the Stick Jump is a game played by Blackfoot boys to improve their accuracy in throwing to prepare for hunting small game.
Modifications to make the activity easier:
Change the environment: place the sticks closer to the child to decrease physical demand
Change the equipment: use a bigger ball to decrease physical demand
Modifications to make the activity harder:
Change the task: challenge the child to try and hit each stick (so they have to adjust the force with which they throw the ball/rock) to increase physical demand
Goal examples:
- the child will be able to accurately throw the rock/ball to make the stick “jump” for 3 out of 5 throws
- I can throw the rock/ball to make the stick “jump”
