Partner Ball Squeeze Carry

In pairs, students carry a foam ball squeezed between two body parts the teacher calls, like forehead to forehead or shoulder to shoulder, without using hands. They practice locating body segments and adjusting their movement to a partner.

How to play

1. Pair up students and give each pair a foam ball. Use cones to mark a 30-foot out-and-back course for each pair (2 min).
2. Practice standing still: the teacher calls a pair of body parts, back to back, and each pair holds the ball between them without hands for 5 seconds (3 min).
3. First trip: carry the ball forehead to forehead or belly to belly to the cone and back. If it drops, pick it up and keep going from that spot (4 min).
4. Second trip: shoulder to shoulder and then hip to hip, moving sideways (4 min).
5. Third trip: each pair picks its own combination, like elbow to knee, announces it out loud and shows the class when they arrive (3 min).
6. Final class challenge: count how many complete trips the whole class can make in 2 minutes without dropping the ball (2 min).

Rules

• The ball may not be touched with hands while carrying it.
• Walk, don't run, to avoid bumping into your partner or other pairs.
• Don't squeeze so hard that anyone gets hurt; stop if your partner asks.
• No head to head and no faces.

Variations

Adaptations

• For a student in a wheelchair, hold the ball between the student's arm and the shoulder of a partner walking alongside.
• For students with autism or who avoid contact, allow the ball to be held between one hand each or use a longer pool noodle.
• For more skilled students, form trios carrying two balls at once between three different body parts.

Learning goals

• Identify body parts and use them to hold an object.
• Match movement pace with a partner.
• Communicate with a partner to solve a no-hands challenge.

Equipment for a class of 25

• foam balls: 13
• cones: 26

Teacher tip

Pair students of similar height so body parts line up; kids usually go too fast, so reward drop-free trips over speed.

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