Snowball Earth Ball Relay

On each lap of the relay one more student joins in pushing the earth ball around a cone, like a snowball that keeps growing, until the whole team is pushing together. Students work on cooperation, matching the pace of a growing group, and endurance.

How to play

1. Make four teams of six in lines behind a starting line; two teams use an earth ball and two use a large ball, then swap halfway through (2 min).
2. Place a cone in front of each team about 30 feet away; explain that the ball is pushed rolling along the floor with the hands (1 min).
3. First lap: one student pushes the ball around the cone and back; when they return, the second student joins and the two go out together (3 min).
4. Add one student each lap until all six go out together on the sixth lap; when a team finishes, it sits down in line (3 min).
5. Second race in reverse: all six start, and on each lap one student stays at the line, until the last one pushes alone (3 min).
6. Swap balls between teams and repeat the first race to compare times (3 min).

Rules

• Push the ball rolling, never throw or kick it.
• Walk fast or jog, no sprinting, and go around the outside of the cone.
• When the group is large, each person takes a different side of the ball to avoid bumping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students who use wheelchairs: push the ball from the chair with one hand, or be the student who waits at the line and sends the group off.
• Students with visual impairments: always hold a partner's arm while pushing.
• Students with lower fitness: join in the later laps, when the group is big and the effort is shared.

Learning goals

• Cooperate to move a large object with a changing number of people.
• Match your pace to the group without slowing it down or pushing too hard.
• Keep working through several laps in a row.

Equipment for a class of 25

• earth balls: 2
• large balls: 2
• cones: 4

Teacher tip

The first student does all six laps, so let the team choose the order wisely. If you only have one earth ball, use large foam balls for every team.

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