Boochie

Boochie - A whole new ball game

Many, but not all of the games in the toy department are table top. Boochie will get you up and moving, motor planning and using those big muscles.

Boochie is played over a number of rounds. You will be throwing your bean ball and ring, trying to be the closest to the boochie ball. You will also receive bonus points if you reach the objective printed on the boochie ball. Keep score on your wrist tracker.

The game can be played by four and there are four colors. Each player will choose a color and get a bean ball, ring and tracker of that color. The bean balls in the image above are round, where mine are a little more football shaped and about 2 3/4" wide at the widest point. They are solid and not floppy like you might think about bean bags. The plastic rings are 9.5" in diameter. The 12-sided orange boochie ball is hard foam. There is something different printed on each side. Examples:

• +1 players with balls closest together
• +2 ball furthest away
• +3 third closest object
• instant win if your hoop lands around this ball

The wrist tracker are plastic and have a velcro loop that you have to put your hand through it get it on. I got mine through, but someone with big hands might not make it. But you can just carry it or probably put it in your pocket. There is a dial on the tracker that goes from 0 to 11. Each number has a different throwing challenge written on it. Examples:

• hook shot
• make sound effect
• toss both at once
• kick objects
• sit backwards
• head touching the ground

Object:
Be the first player to reach 11 points.

Set up:
Let each player choose a color and take the ball, ring and tracker of that color. Throw the boochie ball about 12 feet away (longer distance for better players). You may not approach the boochie ball until the round is over.

Play:
Players take turns. Establish a throwing line near from where the ball had been thrown. Each player steps up and throws one of the items, trying to make it land as close to the boochie ball as possible. Now each player steps up again and throws their second item, trying to get it as close as possible to the boochie ball. The round is over. Players approach the boochie ball, but don't touch or move anything yet. The player who got an item closest to the boochie ball gets two points. The second closest player gets one point. Now read what is printed on top of the boochie ball. Award points for the winner(s) who met the challenge. Advance your tracker one number for each point you scored. The person with the most points will throw out the next ball. Each person that comes up to the line to throw must look at their tracker and throw with whatever challenge is showing, for instance make a sound effect as your throw or throw both objects at once. Keep playing rounds until someone scores 11 points.

Try this:

• Skip the game. Place the four rings on the ground and throw each ball into the same colored ring. As you are successful, push the ring back a few inches and try again.
• Use a hula hoop. Place it 10 or twelve feet away. Practice throwing your objects into the hoop using the throwing challenges on the wrist tracker.
• Place the four balls on the ground. Try to throw the colored rings around them.
• Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations, gross motor skills, aim, socialization skills,process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation 

In the box: 4 rings, 4 bean balls, 4 wrist trackers, 1 boochie ball

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

 

Race Across the USA

Race Across the USA

Learn important facts about each state as you Race Across the USA. Included are two sets of question cards: one set for 3rd and 4th grade level, and one set for 5th and up. 

The game board is rectangular, brightly colored and measures about 20" x 10". There are six different colors for the states and each state on the board shows the state name and something associated with that state. For instance New Mexico is pictured with a chili pepper and Wisconsin with cheese. Several major rivers and bodies of water are labeled.

The state cards measure about 2.25" square. Each card pictures the state, capital name and the nickname for the state on one side and a fact and matching illustration about the state on the other. There are 50 cards, one for each state, so two players will never be going for the same state.

The question cards measure 3 3/8" x 2 1/4".  Each card has a question on each side and most of the answers are multiple choice. The questions and answers are printed in black ink except for the correct answer, which is printed in blue ink. Someone else must read the question to the player so they don't see the answer. Questions are divided into two different age (grade) groups. Here are examples:

• 3th and 4th grade
• Which of these states shares the longest border with Canada? (Alaska)
• St. Augustine was the first permanent European settlement in the US and is now a city south of Jacksonville. In which state is it located? Florida)
• 5th and up
• Which are farther west: the Central Plains of the Great Plains? (Great Plains)
• What city was largely destroyed by the Great Fire of 1871? (Chicago)

The score cards are all the same and each has six blocks of color where the six state cards will be placed as you reach each one (see image above). They measure 5.5" x 8.5".

The pawns are plastic airplanes and included is a typical 6-sided die.

Object:
Be the first player to collect 6 state cards and return to your home state.

Setup:
Place the board between the players. Give each player a score card. Decide which question cards you will be using, shuffle those cards and put them near the board. Divide the states into piles by color (6) and deal one state card of each color to each player. Players look at their state cards and the game board, plotting the quickest route to reach all six. Each player chooses a pawn and puts it on their home state on the game board.

Play:
Players take turns. Throw the die and move that number of states in a direction that will help you reach one of your states. If you do not land on a state that you have a state card for, your turn is over. If you do land on a state you have a state card for, pick the top card off the question pile and give it to the person on your left to read. If you answer the question correctly, put that state card on your score card and your turn is over. If you do not answer correctly your turn is over. On your next turn you may stay put, without throwing the die, and try answering another question. Play until someone has moved all of their six state cards to their score card and returns to their home state, winning the game.


In the box: Game board, 4 airplane pawns, 110 question cards for 3rd and 4th grades, 110 question cards for 5th grade and up, 50 state cards, 4 score cards, 1 die

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.