Cup Stacking Activities

One on One

• In a one-on-one match, players compete in a tournament setting. The tournament is a single elimination, meaning a player is eliminated when she loses a round. Draw names to determine the first set of matches. Two players at a time compete, and the winning player from each match will move on to the next round. After all the matches in the first round are completed, draw names of the remaining players to create the matches for the second round. Continue with the rounds until only two players remain. They compete in the final match, with the winner being the first player to stack and unstack her cups.

Girls vs. Boys

• Girls vs. Boys is a cup-stacking game between two teams, one for the boys and one for the girls. Time the players individually as they stack their cups. At the end of the event, add up the times for each team and divide by the number of team players to determine the team's average time. The winning team is the one with the shortest average time.

Relay Race

• Cup-stacking relay races are popular in schools. The relay races get the children moving, because they have to run from one place to another. Divide the class into multiple teams and set up a starting line and a cup-stacking line. Place the cups at the cup line and the teams behind the starting line. At the sound of a whistle, the first member from each team must run to the cup line, stack the cups in the appropriate way, and unstack them. The player races back to the starting line and taps the next player, who races back to stack the cups. The winning team is the first to have all players stack the cups and get back to the starting line.