The Ball in the Hanging Sock

Balls tucked into old tights hang from a strung rope, and children hit them with one hand and then the other, watching them swing back like a pendulum. They practice hitting a moving object and telling left from right.

How to play

1. Watch how the hanging ball swings when the teacher pushes it (2 min).
2. In groups of four per ball, one child hits it with an open palm and lets it swing away and back (3 min).
3. Hit with the hand the teacher calls: the one with the bracelet or the other one (3 min).
4. Hit the ball as it swings back, without stopping it with your hand (4 min).
5. Stop the ball with both hands and give it a hug before switching groups (2 min).

Rules

• I hit with an open hand.
• I stand beside the ball, never under it.
• I hit three times, then it's my friend's turn.
• If the ball comes my way, I hit it or step aside.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: hang the ball at wheelchair height.
• Visual impairment: a ball with a bell that jingles as it swings.
• Autism: signal each hand switch ahead of time with a colored bracelet.

Learning goals

• Strike a moving ball.
• Tell the right hand from the left.
• Anticipate the swing-back path.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Old tights: 6
• Foam balls: 6
• Rope: 1

Teacher tip

Tie the tights firmly to the rope and hang the ball at the children's chest height. Put a bracelet or sticker on the right hand so they don't have to remember the word.

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