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BeanBag Adapted Activity Guide

Written By John Drzewiecki And Janine Hradsky

Introduction

Everybody loves a BeanBag! Great for grasping, holding, tagging, releasing, catching, tossing, throwing, sliding, balancing and juggling, the BeanBag is a student's "best friend." Now more irresistible than ever, BeanBags come in a multitude of colors, textures, sizes and shapes. From the traditional square BeanBags, to the pyramid-shaped and the BeanBagZoo™ BeanBags, these all-time favorites can add new twists to old games and can certainly inspire new ones, too. With letters, numbers, bilingual words, and sign language, BeanBags launch students into a multi-dimensional level of learning. This guide is designed to help you and your students get the most from your BeanBags in an adapted environment.

Use: Generally for students in early childhood through the upper elementary level.

Safety Suggestions: For student's own safety, have them place BeanBags far enough away from them when listening to instructions so they don't miss any information. A BeanBagGorilla™ can be much more engaging than the teacher giving directions!

Games And Activities

Hide The Frog

Grade levels: Kindergarten through grade 1.
Objectives: To increase agility, color recognition and visual memory.
Set Up: Spread out Dome Multimarkers™ and hide different colored BeanBags and/or BeanBagZoo™ Animals under the domes. This can be done randomly or in relay formation as a team challenge.
The Game: Students move around the domes or take their turn while trying to find the red frog, yellow #1, letter A, etc. Students can skip, gallop, etc. or they can walk on top of the domes. This can also be done on scooters and RollerRacers®.
Adaptations: For students with visual impairments, place a DuraBeep™ Ball under the dome, and turn it on when it is their turn to go.

BeanBag Bowling

Grade Levels: Grades 1 through 4.
Objectives: To develop underhand-rolling skills and to increase accuracy.
Set Up: Spread out 4 to 6 bowling pins on each side of the gym. Divide the class into 2 teams, one on each side. Provide plenty of BeanBags that can slide.
The Game: On the signal to begin, students slide one BeanBag at a time to knock down the pins on the other side. They may not cross the center line. They must stay up on both feet and may not block pins from being hit. No throwing BeanBags overhand. If students make a mistake with the rules, they are invited to watch for 2 minutes to help them remember.

BeanBag Rock Around The Clock

Grade Levels: Middle to upper elementary.
Objectives: To increase eye-hand coordination and speed of response.
Set Up: Give each student a BeanBag. Place an even number of students in 4 or more circles and have them count off "1, 2, 3," to the last person in their group. Have each student place their BeanBag in front of player number 1.
The Challenge: On the signal to begin, the first person picks up one BeanBag and passes it to the player on the left. The player receiving the BeanBag passes it on around the circle until it gets to the last player, who sets it down on the ground. Player number 1 passes the next BeanBag around, etc. When the last player has all the BeanBags, that player starts passing the BeanBag back around to player #1, who passes them back to the 2nd to the last player in the group, etc. When all circles have their BeanBags back to the first person, the challenge is complete.
Variations: Change the size of the circles or the way the BeanBags are passed. For example, underhand, overhead or behind the knee.

Weigh Me Down
Grade Levels: Any
Objectives: To increase proprioceptive input into the joints.
Activity: Although this is not a game, BeanBags can be added to either side of the vest to provide weight during other activities. The added weight can be a stabilizing effect on children with neurodevelopmental challenges.