Components
- 10 jacks (5 jacks in 2 different colors)
- 2 bouncing balls
- rules
Object of the Game
Toss the ball in the air, scoop up the jacks, and catch the ball again after it bounces once. Pick up all the jacks first to win!
Setup
Set out the jacks on the table. Each player chooses a ball. The player whose birthday is coming up next goes first.
Game Play
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The first player starts the game with onesies:
Toss the ball in the air, pick up one jack with the same hand, and catch the ball again with the same hand after the ball bounces once. Continue until you pick up all the jacks or miss one.
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The next player tries for onesies, continuing until all the jacks are picked up or a miss occurs.
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It's the first player's turn again. If the first player completed onesies on the previous turn, it's time to move on to twosies (picking up two jacks at a time).
If the first player did not complete onesies, they must repeat it.
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Continue playing onesies, twosies, threesies, and so on. Do a clean sweep to finish each round by bouncing the ball and picking up any jacks that are left over.
End of the Game
The first player to complete fivesies wins!
Now try this - Variations
Play using your opposite hand.
Spin a jack like a top on the lid of the can.
Add this twist: Between tossing the ball and picking up the jacks, clap your hands!
Play without letting the ball bounce.
Play by yourself, and see if you can go higher than fivesies.
Drop a ball from each hand and catch both. Now try with two in each hand!
How high can you bounce the balls? Do any of the balls bounce higher than the others?
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