My Cup Tower and My Rolling Ball

Each child stacks their own three-cup tower, goes back to their line, and knocks it down by rolling a ball; then they rebuild it and try again. They practice aiming while rolling, patience to rebuild, and the satisfaction of a personal goal.

How to play

1. Everyone takes three cups and a ball and finds their chalk lane (1 min).
2. We build the tower: two cups on the bottom and one on top, carefully so it doesn't fall (2 min).
3. We go back to the line, crouch down, and roll the ball with both hands to knock it over (4 min).
4. If it falls, we build it again; if not, we get the ball and try again (4 min).
5. We put all the cups together into one big class castle and knock it down, everyone rolling at once (2 min).
6. We put cups and balls away in the boxes by color (1 min).

Rules

• I roll, I don't throw it in the air.
• I only knock down my own tower.
• If it falls, I build it again without getting upset.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: rolls the ball down a cardboard ramp leaning on their chair.
• Visual impairment: set the cups in front of a high-contrast wall and use a ball with a bell.
• Autism: mark the lane with colored tape, and the child can play with no neighbors on either side.

Learning goals

• Roll a ball with direction.
• Build a simple tower calmly.
• Accept a miss and try again.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plastic cups: 75
• medium balls: 25
• chalk: 1

Teacher tip

Space the lanes well apart so balls don't cross. Sturdy reusable cups hold up better. At first everyone wants to throw in the air; keep saying "The ball rides on the floor, like a little car."

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