Kick-the-Bottles Bowling

In small groups, children kick a ball along the ground to knock down bowling pins made of bottles, then stand them back up together. They practice low, aimed kicks and waiting their turn.

How to play

1. Set up six alleys of five bottles, each with a tape line to kick from (2 min).
2. Groups of four: each child kicks once and goes back to the line (4 min).
3. After each kick, the kicker stands the fallen bottles back up with help (3 min).
4. Switch alleys to try a different distance (4 min).
5. Count together all the bottles that fell and clean up (2 min).

Rules

• I kick from the line without stepping on it.
• I wait in line until the pins are standing.
• Whoever kicked sets the pins back up.
• If none fall, that's fine too: we cheer anyway.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: push the ball with a pool noodle or roll it with a hand.
• Visual impairment: a classmate claps behind the pins and bottles have bells inside.
• Less coordination: a bigger ball and pins closer.

Learning goals

• Kick the ball along the ground toward a target.
• Take turns.
• Work together to reset the equipment.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Plastic bottles with a little sand: 30
• Soft balls: 6
• Masking tape: 1

Teacher tip

Put a finger's depth of sand in each bottle and screw the cap on tight so they don't blow over. Keep groups small so lines are short and nobody waits more than a minute.

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