Every Ball Has Its Own Throw

Four stations hold balls of different sizes, and children discover how to throw each one: the giant ball is pushed, the beach ball is tossed overhead with two hands, the medium ball from the chest and the small ball with one hand. It builds adapting the throw to the ball's size and weight.

How to play

1. Show the four balls and ask, “How would you throw this?”; children try ideas and the teacher models one throw for each (2 min).
2. Giant station: three children push the exercise ball with both hands so it rolls to the wall (3 min).
3. Beach station: toss the beach ball up overhead with two hands and catch it (3 min).
4. Medium station: chest pass into a hoop on the ground two steps away (3 min).
5. Small station: throw the tennis ball overhand with one hand into a big box (3 min).
6. Circle time: which ball do you throw with one hand, and which needs the whole team? (2 min).

Rules

• Throw only at the wall, the hoop or the box, never at a friend.
• Get your ball after everyone has thrown.
• When the teacher signals, move to the next station.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, throw the small and medium balls and push the giant ball down a ramp or off the lap.
• Autism: post a picture card of the throw at each station and keep the stations in the same order.
• Visual impairment: use targets that make sound (a box with bells) and a classmate clapping from the target.

Learning goals

• Match the type of throw to the size of the ball.
• Throw with one and two hands toward a target.
• Explore the weight and size of different balls.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Giant exercise ball: 1
• Beach balls: 8
• Medium soft balls: 8
• Tennis balls: 8
• Hoops: 8
• Cardboard boxes: 2

Teacher tip

Keep stations well apart and have everyone throw in the same direction, for example toward a wall. Model each throw calmly with few words; they copy it right away.

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