Activities: Hoop Dreams

Play a traditional Native American game on Turkey Day!

Submitted by
Sonam Adinolf

This twist on a traditional Native American game is a fun Thanksgiving activity for the whole family. Make a traditional Native American "hoop" out of yarn and a wooden embroidery hoop and toss "javelins" at it. Young Indian warriors-in-training played this game before they were old enough to handle a bow and arrow. (And as far as you're concerned, yours will always be too young for that, so consider this the next best thing!)

Young warriors:
Your kids
Old chiefs:
You and your partner
A large wooden embroidery hoop:
Like this one from JoAnn. You'll find them at your local craft or sewing shop.
Darts or javelins:
Corncobs (Safety first!)
A 20-inch piece of yarn:
Red yarn is a good choice since it's easy to see.

First, have the kids make the target. Help them weave the yarn across, through and around the wooden embroidery hoop to create a web. It should look sort of like a traditional dream catcher.
Knot the end of the yarn to secure.
Get the kids to gobble down several ears of corn and set aside the cobs.(Save some time—and corn eating—by picking up Indian corn and using it instead!)
Have the kids help you clean the cobs off and break them in half so they're about 3 inches long. These will be your javelins.
Game time! Every tribe played the game a little differently, but the basic idea is to throw the "javelin" into the target. Younger children can place the target on the ground. Older kids and adults should hang it from a tree to make it more challenging. For the biggest challenge, young American Indians used to try to hit the target while it was moving.
Your kid gets a point every time he hits the target.(And you get a moment of peace every time he tries!)