- 5 - 15 mins
- Active, fine motor, numeracy concepts
- Minimal mess
- Easy
Here’s a super simple game that can be whipped in in minimal time and keep those active children busy, entertained and engaged.
Made from basic recycled materials, you can create this great adaptable game that children both young and old will enjoy. Keep it simple and aim to hit the balls, or incorporate some basic maths skills and make it a numeracy game with adding and subtracting principles. Either way, grab a box, some paper tubes, some ball pit balls and your favourite Nerf gun and get ready, aim, and score! You’ll thank me later!
What you will need
- Medium size carboard box
- Cardboard tubes
- Masking tape
- Ball pit balls
- Coloured paper
- Coloured markers
- Scissors
- Nerf gun & darts!
Activity steps
Setup
- Take your paper tubes and arrange them on the top surface of your box. Make sure to have the paper tubes vertical so that you are able to balance your balls on top.
- Use the masking tape to secure the paper tubes to the box.
- Now use the scissors to cut out some circles on the coloured paper. Make enough circles so that you have one each for your paper tubes.
- Use your markers to label the circles with numbers. One number for each circle and then attach them to the paper tubes using tape.
- Gather your ball pit balls and carefully balance one ball on top of each paper tube and your target is ready for action!
How to play
Place your target in a clear and open area. Stand a little distance away, load your nerf gun with the nerf darts and ready, aim, fire! Can you knock off each ball? Which number did you get?
Extension ideas
Use the target as a way of incorporating mathematical skills and principles. You could…
-Encourage number recognition by asking your child to tell you which number the got.
-Try adding the numbers as you go. For example, you shot the number 4 and then the 2. What is 4+2=?
-Encourage maths equations by asking your child to write the equations as they play. What’s the total number of points they got?
-Play against siblings or peers. Who had the highest score? Who had the lowest score?
Learning Opportunities
- Fine motor- Your children will engage their fine motor development to cut, stick, draw and put together the nerf target, as well as manipulate the nerf trigger and thread the darts into the nerf gun to play.
- Mathematical concepts- Opportunities for number recognition, number patterns, number formation and writing, basic math equations and algorithms.
- Hand eye coordination- Your child will practice hand eye coordination when aiming and shooting their nerf gun towards the target.
Reference sites
We would like to acknowledge these amazing sites that have inspired us to create this activity. Thank you!