Balloon Fly Swatters
Each child has a paddle made from a paper plate and a stick and keeps their balloon "fly" from landing on the floor. They practice striking with a tool and controlling force and direction.
How to play
- Meet the paddle: hold it by the handle and swing it in the air (2 min).
- Balloon in hand: let go and hit it upward with the paddle (3 min).
- The fly takes off: keep hitting the balloon around the room so it never touches the floor (3 min).
- While the music plays, hit the balloon; when it stops, catch it with your hand (3 min).
- Hit the balloon as high as you can and let it land on your paddle like a sleepy fly (3 min).
Rules
- Everyone has their own balloon and paddle.
- The paddle hits the balloon, never a friend.
- If my balloon falls, I pick it up and keep going.
- If a balloon pops, I step back and tell the teacher.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, big, well-inflated balloons; hitting with a hand is fine if the paddle is hard.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, count five hits in a row with the paddle.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, alternate hitting with the front and the back of the plate.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: tie the balloon to the wheelchair with a string so it stays close.
- Visual impairment: a brightly colored balloon with a few grains of rice inside so it can be heard.
- Less coordination: a bigger paddle (cardboard tray) or hitting with the hand.
Learning goals
- Strike a balloon with a paddle.
- Adjust force when hitting upward.
- Track a moving object with the eyes.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Paper-plate paddles: 25
- Balloons: 25
- Music
Teacher tip
Make the paddles ahead of time: a paper plate stapled or taped to a jumbo craft stick or cardboard tube, no sharp edges. Pick up popped balloon pieces right away so they never end up in a mouth.
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