Bowler, Fetcher and Setter

In teams of three, each child has a job at the bowling lane: one rolls the ball, one fetches it and one sets the pins back up; after every roll, everyone rotates jobs. It works on aiming a rolled ball, taking turns and owning a role.

How to play

1. Each team sets up its bowling lane: three bottles on the chalk mark and a throwing line (3 min).
2. The teacher shows the three jobs and how to rotate: "bowl, fetch, set", moving around like clock hands (2 min).
3. Play: the bowler rolls the ball, the fetcher brings it back and the setter stands the pins up; switch! (5 min).
4. The team decides how to make its lane harder: more pins or the line farther back (2 min).
5. Clean up: each job puts away its own things (pins, ball, and rubbing out the mark with a foot) (2 min).

Rules

• Only the bowler rolls.
• After every roll, we switch jobs.
• The ball rolls on the ground, not through the air.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bowl from the wheelchair with a cardboard ramp or tube to aim the ball.
• Visual impairment: a buddy claps behind the pins to help aim.
• Autism: three pictures on the floor (hand, ball, pin) show which job is next and where to stand.

Learning goals

• Roll a ball with direction and force.
• Respect turns and roles.
• Take on a job within a team.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plastic bottles with a little sand: 24
• medium balls: 8
• chalk

Teacher tip

Put a little sand in the bottles so they don't go flying. Rotating jobs is the tricky part: with three pictures taped to the floor, kids move from picture to picture and don't get mixed up.

More main activities for Elementary