Roll It Through My Partner's Tunnel
In pairs, one child stands with legs apart as a tunnel and the other rolls a ball through it. The tunnel turns, runs after the ball, and they switch. Kids work on rolling a ball, aiming, and cooperation.
How to play
- Pairs get one soft ball and one flat disc cone. The tunnel stands with legs wide apart; the roller stands on the disc, about two big steps away.
- Demonstrate: sitting or squatting, use both hands to roll the ball along the floor to the tunnel. If it goes through, the tunnel says "Choo-choo!", turns, runs to get the ball, and brings it back (2 minutes).
- After getting the ball, they switch roles. They count together how many times it goes through (2 minutes).
- On a clap, the tunnel changes shape. "Bridge!": hands and feet on the floor, tummy facing down. "Low tunnel!": kneeling with knees apart (3 minutes).
- New challenges: roll with one hand, move the disc back a step, or roll backward between your own legs (2 minutes).
- Finish with the whole class standing in a long line with legs apart as one giant tunnel while you roll a ball under everyone (1 minute).
Rules
- Roll the ball on the floor; do not throw it in the air.
- Wait until the tunnel is ready and says "Ready!"
- Go get the ball only once it is through the tunnel or has stopped.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use a big ball, one step away, and a very wide tunnel.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, use a medium ball, two steps, and a standing or kneeling tunnel.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, use a small ball, three steps, and a bridge tunnel.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the tunnel is two cones, and the child rolls from the wheelchair, using a cardboard ramp if needed.
- Visual impairment: use a bell ball, and the tunnel claps to guide.
- More skilled kids aim at a slowly moving tunnel; less skilled kids roll a big ball from close up.
Learning goals
- Roll a ball toward a target.
- Hold different body shapes to form a tunnel.
- Cooperate with a partner, taking turns.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft balls: 10
- flat disc cones: 10
Teacher tip
Set out the discs before class so pairs do not cross paths. Counting successes together motivates kids without competing against other pairs.
PatioLab has "Roll It Through My Partner's Tunnel" and 4199 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
1-on-1 Mini Volleyball Up and Down the River
One-on-one mini volleyball duels on 3 x 3 m courts under a rope 2 m high, using a receive, self-set and send rule.
1-on-1 Side-Step Square Duels
In pairs, inside 5 x 5 m squares, an attacker holding a football tries to get from the starting side to the far side without the defender pulling a flag.
1v1 Four-Gate Soccer Duels
In a square with a gate on each side, two players go head to head and score by dribbling through any of the four gates.
2-on-2 Mini Volleyball with a Neutral Setter
Two-on-two mini volleyball with a neutral setter under the rope who always plays for the team with the ball.
2v1 Attack Waves to Mini Goals
Two attackers take on one defender and try to score on a small goal in under 10 seconds.
2v2 Alley Mini-Volleyball
A 2v2 mini-volleyball game on a very long, narrow court, about 33×10 feet, where the only way to win a point is by playing for depth: short near the net or deep to the…