First, you need a collection of various balls to throw, toss, catch, roll, etc. The Dollar Tree usually has a good selection of foam and plastic balls. For some games, you can use bean bags that you may already have in your classroom. Also, keep an eye out for kid's meal toys that fit the bill. Pictured above are velcro toss and catch games, blow up beach and soccer balls, and foam footballs.
The Dollar Tree also has the velcro games seasonally. You can make you own velcro catching game with regular mittens and a wiffle ball covered with several round velcro dots.
The Dollar Tree also has the velcro games seasonally. You can make you own velcro catching game with regular mittens and a wiffle ball covered with several round velcro dots.
So, how do you keep these from being a free-for-all in your classroom? Give them a target. It's as simple as that. I use milk crates from the lunchroom, laundry baskets, whatever I have available. For frisbee and football, I place a target on the table for that given center, and the goal is to get it in. These Dollar General/Family Dollar basketball goals are great to set up easily. Or, you can get the small laundry basket lookalikes from Dollar Tree, cut out the bottom, an hang it over a door with an over-the-door towel hanger or large Command hook. Instant basketball game!
Great tossing and catching game! Cut the bottom off of a milk jug, cover the edges with duct tape, and add small ball. The kids can work in small groups tossing the ball back and forth or around a circle/square and catching it in the jug. The single alternative is perfect for someone who just wants to play alone. This one was purchased at the Dollar Tree, but you can make it with a half gallon jug. Just tie the string to the handle, thread it up through the lid into the jug, then tie to the ball. For added difficulty, you can use a laundry Detergent measuring cap and a ping pong ball.
Ring Toss:
Here is one that the kids can even make for you! Let them color a paper plate, glue on a bathroom cup (upside down) and have them paint a paper towel roll or 2 toilet paper rolls (tape together). Set the paper rolls on the cup when dry. The kids can also color or paint several paper plates and cut the middle out for the rings. The great thing about this is that once you slide of the paper rolls, it is easy to store for later.
Here is one that the kids can even make for you! Let them color a paper plate, glue on a bathroom cup (upside down) and have them paint a paper towel roll or 2 toilet paper rolls (tape together). Set the paper rolls on the cup when dry. The kids can also color or paint several paper plates and cut the middle out for the rings. The great thing about this is that once you slide of the paper rolls, it is easy to store for later.
Hopscotch:
I have seen several ideas on making floor games like these (shower curtains, towels), but my concern was them being slippery when the kids were jumping on them. So I used grippy shelf liners (Dollar Tree!) and cut them into squares. Then, I arranged them and duct taped them together. These will stay tight to the floor, even when being walked and hopped on.
You can program the squares with letters, numbers, or just use the colors (whatever you need to review), and have them play.
Provide a dry erase board and markers for them to keep score as they play.
I have seen several ideas on making floor games like these (shower curtains, towels), but my concern was them being slippery when the kids were jumping on them. So I used grippy shelf liners (Dollar Tree!) and cut them into squares. Then, I arranged them and duct taped them together. These will stay tight to the floor, even when being walked and hopped on.
You can program the squares with letters, numbers, or just use the colors (whatever you need to review), and have them play.
Provide a dry erase board and markers for them to keep score as they play.
Same principle as above, but this time I made a Twister board. Again, you can use the colors, or program the squares with letters, shapes, etc for review of other things.
You can make your own spinners with paper plates and brads.
You can make your own spinners with paper plates and brads.
The best part- they fold up to nothing for easy storage!
Chinese Jump Rope:
It does not get any easier than this one. I bought a roll of elastic from Wal-Mart, cut it into smaller pieces, and tied them together at the end. Lots of jumping, hopping, and balancing skills.
It does not get any easier than this one. I bought a roll of elastic from Wal-Mart, cut it into smaller pieces, and tied them together at the end. Lots of jumping, hopping, and balancing skills.
I always have a bit of fine motor built into everything. I found these on a dollar aisle at Wal-Mart, and couldn't resist them. For a gross motor element, I have the kids pick them up from a pie tin in one place, and drop them into another pie tin elsewhere. If there are 2 children playing, it becomes a race. More then 2, a relay race.
Roll-a-Cise:
This printable can be found here.
The kids can use number or shape dice to play, and the cards have those great picture clues!
You can see how well-used this one has been!
This printable can be found here.
The kids can use number or shape dice to play, and the cards have those great picture clues!
You can see how well-used this one has been!
Another printable I found that is simply awesome is this one . With the picture clues, the kids need little help playing it. Plus, they get that letter review!
A different set of body movement cards can be found here. This set features body shapes that the kids can copy.
A different set of body movement cards can be found here. This set features body shapes that the kids can copy.
Bowling:
I also tweaked this one form other ideas I had seen. There are lots of ways to make bowling pins from bottles, but most are NOISY. SO I took Gatorade bottles and wrapped them in pool noodles. I set them up on a table and give the kids a ball to roll at them. When they hit the floor, the noodles make them almost silent! I also cut another pool noodle in half lengthwise to serve as bumpers on the table. You can program the bottles with numbers and let them keep score, or simply let them count the bottles knocked over for the score. A dry erase board is great, or (for a little added fine motor) they can use beans to keep up with the number knocked over.
I also tweaked this one form other ideas I had seen. There are lots of ways to make bowling pins from bottles, but most are NOISY. SO I took Gatorade bottles and wrapped them in pool noodles. I set them up on a table and give the kids a ball to roll at them. When they hit the floor, the noodles make them almost silent! I also cut another pool noodle in half lengthwise to serve as bumpers on the table. You can program the bottles with numbers and let them keep score, or simply let them count the bottles knocked over for the score. A dry erase board is great, or (for a little added fine motor) they can use beans to keep up with the number knocked over.
Another spin on the bowling idea- tossing game with a ball or bean bags and school toilet paper rolls from the large dispensers.
Or, you can use the school paper rolls to make a skee-ball type game with ping pong balls.
Another option is using cups glued to a piece of cardboard to make a bowling pin formation. That would work great with the pom-pom shooters found here.
Another option is using cups glued to a piece of cardboard to make a bowling pin formation. That would work great with the pom-pom shooters found here.