Love to Learn - Toss Games

Toss games are a fun way to improve hand-eye coordination and concentration, learn and review content, and practice social skills such as taking turns and following directions. They are very versatile and can be as simple or fancy as you desire. They can be played alone or with others and tend to entice people of all ages.

Use buckets, boxes, baskets, bowls, or anything else you can find (you can even draw circles in chalk or use paper “targets”) and toss rings, bean bags, balls, or even rolled up socks to create a custom toss game. Line up the targets either in a line or random pattern and label them with point values, actions, etc....A toss then either happens as a result of answering a question correctly or causes something to happen (like gaining points or winning a prize).



Here are some examples:

1.  Read a sight word or answer a question, and get a turn to toss.
2.  Label the targets with story characters and aim for the one that is asked about.
3.  Match a number symbol with its written form. Label the targets with words and the item to       be tossed with the number symbol or vice versa. This also works with upper and lower case         letters.

4.  Match math facts with answers.  This is a good way to limit the number of problems worked       on at a time.  Any question-answer combination would work.
5.  Higher level questions might include vocabulary, amendment numbers, and geography.
6.  Without questions,  make a toss game that fits with a specific theme.

*Note:  For your convenience, I have included Amazon links, however, it has been my experience that many of these things are available at Dollar Tree or can be substituted with items already in your home.

Incorporate teamwork with this human ring 
toss which makes use of inflatable pool rings.

This game uses paper plates
and coordinating bean bags.

Reuse your plastic bottles with pipe cleaner rings.

Each team tries to get their ball in the other
team's buckets.  This could be used with 
only one bucket or even more.  

Sight words are written and circled
in chalk.  The cards indicate which
sight word to throw the bean bag at.

In this version, sight words are written
on different color water balloons.

 

This themed toss game,
uses cotton balls or fake
snowballs to fill a pop-up
hamper decorated like a
snowman. So cute!

Bean bags and dollar store dog
bowls are sure to make this puppy
themed toss game a hit!

I love the idea of using Duplos as targets and 

pipe cleaners as rings! 

**Word of caution: The Lego towers fall easily 

and could become quite frustrating. **

Decorate individual cones 
(buckets, bowls, etc..) to fit 
with your theme.  
I've done this before 
for birthday parties.

Simple paper plate rings and
paper towel roll targets make 
this an easy, cheap, and
disposable game.

Brightly colored buckets are 
each labeled with increasing 
point values.