Kōruru Knuckle bones

Tagged with:

Physical activity
Movement concepts and motor skills
Hauora
Years 1–4
Years 5–8
Years 9–10

Play kōruru (knuckle bones).

Exploring te ao kori — Activity collections

This resource is part of a series within the Exploring te ao kori activity collections called Ngā mahi a te rēhia | Games and pastimes.

Read background information View Ngā mahi a te rēhia | Games and pastimes activities View te ao kori collections

Two girls standing together and smiling.

Intended outcomes

Ākonga participate in a wide range of ngā mahi a te rēhia (games and pastimes) activities and identify what made the experience enjoyable.

Suggested approach

The game is played by ākonga working in pairs or groups with five small stones, but first ākonga will need to practice to gain confidence.

Starting with one or two stones, practise throwing and catching, for example, throw and catch on the back of the hand, throw and pick up one from the ground and catch the thrown one before it hits the ground. The game is increased to playing with three stones, then four, and finally with five.

Actions for kōruru

Hold all five stones in one hand, throw them up in the air and catch all five stones on the back of the hand.
Ruru tahi (pick up ones) – Hold all five stones in one hand. Throw them up in the air to catch them. Put the caught stones (ruru) aside. Use one of the ruru to throw up in the air and sweep up one stone at a time of the fallen stones, putting each one in the ruru pile as it is successfully caught. Repeat this until all stones are in the ruru pile.
Ruru rua (pick up twos) – Pick up two stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.
Ruru toru (pick up threes) – Pick up three stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.
Ruru whā (pick up fours) – Pick up four stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.

A young man demonstrating how to play kōruru

Transcript

A young man is sitting outside playing kōruru (knucklebones). He throws the five kōruru into the air, catches four on the back of his hand, then throws them up off the back of his hand and catches them. He then throws a kōruru into the air, quickly picks one up, and catches the kōruru again. He throws a kōruru up, sweeps the other three kōruru together, then catches the first. He then throws a kōruru up while he picks up another one and catches the first. He does this three times. A voice says, “Ruru tahi”.

He holds all five kōruru in one hand, throws them up in the air and catches two on the back of his hand, and catches them. He throws a kōruru up, picks one up, and catches the first, before throwing a kōruru up, picking up the other two.

He says, “toru” and a voice says, “āe”.

He throws a kōruru, sweeps three together, and catches the first one.

He throws the five kōruru into the air, catches one on the back of his hand, and catches it.

He throws a kōruru into the air, sweeps the other four together, and catches it. He does this a few times before throwing the kōruru into the air, picking up the other four, and catching the first.