I'm the Ball the Teacher Bounces
The teacher bounces a real ball and children become balls that bounce the same way: high, low, fast, slow, rolling or going flat. It works on jumping and matching movement to what they see.
How to play
- The teacher shows the ball and bounces it slowly; children, standing spread out, do little hops at the same pace (1 min).
- The ball bounces hard and high: big jumps with arms up; it bounces softly: little tiptoe hops (1 min).
- The ball rolls on the ground: children crouch and roll like logs in their spot, then bounce again (1 min).
- The ball bounces away across the playground: children bounce around the space, and when the teacher catches the ball, they freeze (1 min).
- The ball gets a hole: "Pssssss," children slowly go flat to the ground (1 min).
Rules
- I bounce just like the teacher's ball.
- When the teacher catches the ball, I freeze.
- I jump with feet together and land softly.
- I bounce around without bumping other balls.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only high bounces, low bounces and going flat, with the teacher close to the group.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add rolling and bouncing around the space.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the teacher switches without warning, and a child can bounce the ball for the others.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child "bounces" by bending and straightening the arms or trunk from the chair and goes flat by lowering the arms.
- Visual impairment: the teacher calls "high," "low" or "roll" while bouncing, using a ball with a bell inside.
- Less coordination: the child can bounce without leaving the floor, just bending and straightening the knees.
Learning goals
- Jump with both feet and land softly.
- Adjust jump intensity to a visual cue.
- Warm up with energetic movement.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Ball: 1
Teacher tip
Stand where everyone can see the ball clearly, ideally in front of a plain wall. Remind them to land with bent knees: "Balls don't make noise when they land."
PatioLab has "I'm the Ball the Teacher Bounces" and 8714 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for Elementary
«Ahora que Vamos Despacio»: The Silly-Fibs Stroll
We stroll very slowly singing the traditional Spanish song «Ahora que vamos despacio» («Now that we're going slowly, let's tell some fibs»), and on each «tralará» we…
«El Cocherito Leré»: The Hopping Carriage
We're carriages trotting around the yard, and on every «leré» in the traditional Spanish song «El cocherito leré» («the little coachman») we jump with feet together.
«Sal de Ahí, Chivita»: The Get-Out-Little-Goat Chain
The little goat won't leave the field, so in this traditional Spanish cumulative song we call the wolf, the dog, the stick, the fire, the water and the ox.
A Bandage Where I'm Tagged
A few children tag holding a scarf; anyone tagged puts on a “bandage” by placing a hand exactly where they were touched and keeps running that way, and after a second…
A Walk Through the Pole Forest
We stand plastic poles upright in cones with holes and the playground becomes a forest of tall trees.
Achoo, Into Your Elbow!
Children move around like animals and when the teacher goes “Ah… ah… achoo!”, they stop and hide their face in their elbow as if sneezing or coughing.