Roll It Near, Roll It Far

Each child rolls a soft ball so it stops near, next to a cone, or far, all the way to the wall. Then they do it in pairs and with their own bodies. Kids practice near and far and control how hard they roll.

How to play

1. Before class, lay a rope on the floor as the starting line and place a cone one step in front of each spot. The far wall is “far.”
2. Everyone kneels behind the rope with a ball. Show them: “Near: I roll softly and it stops by the cone. Far: I roll hard and it reaches the wall” (2 min).
3. Call “Near!” or “Far!” Kids roll, walk to get their ball and come back to the rope. Repeat lots of times (3 min).
4. In pairs, sitting face to face with legs open, they roll the ball back and forth. Say: “You're near.” Then: “Each take a step back, now you're far.” Let them feel the difference in force (3 min).
5. Now the ball stays still on the floor and the body moves: “Get really near your ball,” “go far from your ball,” “come back near” (2 min).
6. To finish, sit in a circle with a ball in the middle. Each child says whether they're near or far from a classmate you name (2 min).

Rules

• Roll on the floor, never throw in the air.
• Walk to get your ball and don't cross in front of someone who is rolling.
• Roll someone else's ball back gently.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: roll from the wheelchair down a ramp made from a tilted bench, or push with a foot.
• Visual: use a brightly colored ball or one with a bell, and a big cone that contrasts with the floor.
• Skill level: skilled kids roll with one hand or their less-used hand; kids who need help push with both hands.

Learning goals

• Tell near and far apart in relation to an object and to their own body.
• Adjust force when rolling a ball to match the distance.
• Respect classmates' space and timing when getting the ball.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soft balls: 20
• cones: 20
• ropes: 2

Teacher tip

Exaggerate when you demonstrate: near with almost no push, far with the whole arm. Count out the balls and have them ready before kids come in.

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