Big Ball, Little Ball: My Body Changes
The teacher holds up a giant ball or a small ball, and children make their bodies big or small as they move. They practice telling sizes apart by sight and connecting them to their own bodies.
How to play
- In a circle, the teacher shows both balls and we compare them: "Which one is big? Which one is teeny?" (1 min).
- When the teacher raises the giant ball, we get huge: arms wide, on tiptoe, giant steps (1 min).
- When the teacher raises the small one, we curl up small and walk crouched with tiny steps (1 min).
- The teacher switches balls faster and faster, and children transform as soon as they see it (2 min).
- To finish, the teacher slowly bounces the big ball and we all bounce gently along with it until we stop (1 min).
Rules
- Watch which ball the teacher holds up.
- Big means huge; small means tiny.
- Giant steps, no bumping.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, switch slowly and the teacher does the moves too.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the teacher only shows the ball, no gestures.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, add a medium ball: half crouched with normal steps.
Adaptations
- Child who uses a wheelchair: big means stretching arms up and pushing hard; small means curling in and rolling slowly.
- Child with low vision: use balls in very different colors and let them touch both before starting.
- Impulsive child: holds the small ball for a while and raises it when the teacher signals.
Learning goals
- Tell big from small by sight.
- Show sizes with the body.
- Warm up with different kinds of steps.
Equipment for a class of 25
- pelota gigante: 1
- pelota pequeña: 1
Teacher tip
No giant ball? A yoga ball next to a tennis ball works. When they get big they tend to run: remind them giants are slow.
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