Pop Up Pirate

Pop-Up Pirate is a barrel of fun

Pop-Up Pirate has fun pirate-popping action with a big bonus - no batteries! Push the swords into the openings in the barrel but avoid the one slot that will make the pirate pop up and out of the barrel. That spot is always random, so there is no way to predict which slot will trigger the Pop-Up Pirate to be released and fly into air.

All pieces are plastic and lightweight. The barrel, base, and pirate are a hard plastic and the swords are a little more flexible, but not meant to bend. The sword colors are red, blue, green, yellow. The swords take a little extra push at the end to make them click, so it takes 2 hands, one to stabilize the barrel and one to push in the swords. When the pirate flies out it is a little noisy as there is a loud clunk. He will fly into the air a couple of feet. It is not necessary to use the base and I usually leave it in the box. 

Jumping Jack Rabbit is a similar game. 

Object:
Catch the pirate when he flies out of the barrel.

Set up:
Place the pirate in the hole at the top of the barrel and push down on it. The slot that will activate the pop-up is randomly set each time the pirate is pushed down, so you never know which slot it will be. Scatter the colored swords nearby. 

Play:
Taking turns, the players will choose one sword and insert it into an opening in the barrel. The color sword you use does not matter. When a sword is inserted into the hole that triggers the pirate to fly out, he shoots up and out of the barrel. Catch the pirate. If the pirate flies out on your turn and you catch him, you stay in the game. If you don't catch him, you are out of the game. Play until there is only one player left, the winner.

Try this:

• Mix the swords in a pile on the table and call out the color of each sword to use on each turn.
• Put the swords in yourself to show the individual what to expect when the pirate is activated - the noise he will make, the distance he will fly.
• Sort the swords by color into piles. Then put the swords in by color, such as all blue, then all red, etc.
• Give a sequence of colors for the player to insert, such as red, blue, green. Can they remember the sequence and insert them correctly?
• Work on visual discrimination, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, separation of two sides of the hand, coordinated use of both hands, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure participation

In the box: Plastic barrel, base, pirate, 6 swords each in 4 colors (24 total)

If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below to go to Amazon.com