Ball Factory Assembly Line
The whole class becomes an assembly line that must move 100 balls from the warehouse to the truck through five stations, each with a different way of carrying. Students practice controlling objects with equipment, teamwork and group organization.
How to play
- Put a warehouse bucket with 100 tennis balls at one end and a truck bucket 40 yards away, with five stations about 8 yards apart in between.
- Stations: carry the ball on a racket, dribble it with a hockey stick, launch it with a towel held by two, carry it on a flat disc cone and toss it into the truck from 2 yards.
- Put 5 students at each station; each one carries only on their stretch and hands off to the next station (2 min to explain).
- Round one (6 min): count the balls that reach the truck; dropped balls go back to the start of that stretch.
- Factory meeting (2 min): the class suggests organizational improvements and stations rotate.
- Rounds two and three (8 min): try to beat the last total and reach 100 balls.
Rules
- Each student carries only on their own stretch.
- Hockey sticks stay below the waist.
- Walk to pick up dropped balls.
- The factory wins or loses together: no blaming.
Variations
Easier
Carry by hand at the hardest station and shorten the stretches.
Standard
Five stations and three rounds to reach 100 balls.
Harder
Add a racket bouncing station or use ping-pong balls.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: takes the tossing station or the towel station with a partner, without traveling.
- Visual impairment: a hand-off station with a verbal cue and a ball with a bell.
- Lower skill: choose the easiest station in round one.
Learning goals
- Control objects with different equipment.
- Organize as a group to improve a result.
- Suggest and apply improvements cooperatively.
Equipment for a class of 25
- tennis balls: 100
- rackets: 5
- hockey sticks: 5
- towels: 3
- flat disc cones: 5
- buckets: 2
Teacher tip
The meeting between rounds is the heart of the activity: let students spot the station that slows the line. Keep a spare bucket of balls nearby.
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