Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6

    Lesson Four: The Hoop and Pole Game

Teacher Information:

Many years ago Aboriginal children did not have as much free time to play games as children today do. They had many responsibilities. Boys would be learning how to hunt and trap while girls would be learning how to prepare meet, set up and move tipis, among other chores. They did, however, play some games as recreation. Some games were only for boys and men, others for girls and women, and some were for both.

Games were not only fun but they served a practical purpose as well.  Many of the games taught the children to be quick and to have good hand-eye co-ordination. Boys played most of the outdoor activities like running, wrestling, archery, and hoop, and stick. Girls would play shinny or dice games. Indoor games such as juggling, cats cradle, and others were played by young and old.

On the plains a popular game amongst plains Aboriginal children was the Hoop and Pole/Dart Game. While many variations existed on this game the general gist of the game was that a hoop was rolled and the opponent would try and throw or shoot arrows through the hoop while it was in motion. The hoop could also be hung from a tree and be in motion and the opponent would have to get an arrow through it while moving.  This game was also enjoyed by the elder Aboriginal community members.

You will need one or two tires with spokes off of a bicycle to play this game.  This wheel will serve a modified version of the “hoop.”  It would be ideal to use sticks that are eighty centimeters in length, however, it may not be possible.  Therefore you will have to find a similar object that is available (this will depend on your school resources).  The sticks will serve as the “darts.”

Main Lesson:

Begin this lesson by asking students to identify their favorite game. Older students may write this down and create a list of WHY they like this game. Next, ask students what this game TEACHES them other than how to have fun! Older students may write their responses.  Follow up the discussion by transitioning to Aboriginal culture. Inform the students that Aboriginal children played games as well and while they were “recreation” they were also teaching them skills to become better hunters, etc.  Share with them the information from the Teacher Information section. Ask the students if they have ever heard of the Hoop and Pole/Dart game, perhaps some of your students have even played it. Explain how the game was played. Download the following image into reformat into a transparency so the students can visually see what the hoop looked like.

Image adapted from "Games of the North American Indian," Culin: 1975.
http://www.nativetech.org/games/hoop&pole.html

If you have more than one bicycle wheel you may break students into smaller groups.  Each group can be broken up into two teams and should take opposite positions approximately fifty yards apart from one another.  One student will role the wheel pass the opponents. The opponents will then shoot their darts at the wheel.  Points are collected for each dart that hits either the spokes or centre of the wheel. No points are awarded for hitting the tire rubber.  If the opposing team does not earn any points then the opposing team will roll the wheel.  If the opposing team successfully earns points another student may role the wheel again for them to collect more points.

You may decide to have students aim to reach a maximum number of points in order to be declared the winner or you could set a time limit and declare a winner based on who has the most points.