No.96
Catch the Falling Sticks
Japanese name: 棒は倒さんぞ
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Diagram key
- A
- Circles show stick positions.
- B
- Everyone moves in the same direction.
- C
- Catch the stick before it falls.
Materials
- Three lightweight sticks about 1 m long with soft ends
- A measuring tape (optional)
How to play
- Three players form a triangle, each supporting a vertical stick on the floor with one hand. Start one step away from the neighboring stick.
- Agree which direction to move and point to the stick each person will catch.
- On “Ready, go!”, release together and catch the next stick before it falls. Do not leap or slide.
- Catching all sticks is success. If one falls, wait until it stops before retrieving, shorten the distance and retry.
- After success, widen the triangle slightly. Try about three times, record the distance, then change direction or caller to finish.
Ways to adapt
Younger primary school children: close spacing. Older primary school children: discuss distance and timing.