Chicken Close-Up

Skill: Throw
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Ensure there are no safety hazards or obstacles in the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of where they are throwing the chicken and balls, and be sure it is not near another team.
Equipment: 1 rubber chicken per every 2 teams.
6 balls (tennis, ball hockey, soccer, footballs etc...) for each team.
Objective:
For participant's balls to the be the closest to the rubber chicken.
Other Skills:
Underhand Roll
Set up:
Have participants get into groups of 2 or 3.
Give each group 6 balls (tennis, ball hockey, or whichever balls are being used).
Step by Step:
1. Have groups find another group to play against, or have the leader determine who will be playing who (if there are more than 2 teams).
2. There will be one rubber chicken used per game.
3. Have one participant from each team play rock, paper, scissors against one another to see who will go first.
4. The team to go first will choose a participant to start by throwing the rubber chicken.
5. They will decide upon a starting line or spot.
6. The participant will throw the rubber chicken anywhere from their starting point.
7. That participant will then throw or roll one of their balls and try to get it as close to the chicken as possible.
8. A participant from the other team will then throw or roll one of their balls and try to get it as close to the chicken as possible.
9. Whichever team's ball is further away from the chicken, will throw or roll their ball next.
10. It will go on that way until all the balls have been thrown.
11. Then, the team who has the closest ball to the chicken will automatically score 1 point, if they have another ball that is closer than any of the other team's balls, they will get 2 points and so on. If the next closest ball is the other team's ball, then they will only score 1 point.
12. Start a new round.
13. Have the other team start by throwing the chicken and the first ball.
14. Continue this until one team has a total of 5 points.
Variations:
Could use any kind of balls for this activity.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have one of the group members stand beside the rubber chicken, once thrown, so that participants who are blind or visually impaired can know where to aim when throwing their ball.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network