No.257
Paper-Ball Chopstick Transfer
Japanese name: 紙玉の箸移し
Materials
- 2 plates per person
- 10 paper balls of equal size per person
- Children’s chopsticks or tongs
- A timer
How to play
- Put ten paper balls, about 3–4 cm in diameter, on one plate and place an empty plate beside it. Sit at the table. Use paper balls, not food or small acorns.
- Practise picking up one ball with the tool and moving it to the other plate. Do not steady the ball with your other hand; you may reposition the plate.
- At the signal, transfer all ten balls one at a time. Before starting, agree whether a dropped ball goes back to the first plate or may be picked up where it fell.
- Stop when all the balls have been transferred and check your result without rushing. If comparing times, use the same tools and balls.
- Swap the plates’ roles and try once more. Count and collect the balls, then put away the equipment.
Ways to adapt
Preschool: five balls with tongs. Younger primary: practise with chopsticks. Older primary: record results under matching conditions.