The Sun and Its Rays

In small circles, the teacher or another adult is the sun in the center and the children are its rays: the sun tosses the ball to each ray, who catches it with both hands and tosses it back. It works on catching from very controlled adult throws.

How to play

1. Form circles of five or six children with an adult in the middle (if there's only one adult, a 5-year-old can be the sun in the other circles) (2 min).
2. The sun calls a ray's name, shows the ball and tosses it gently; the ray catches it with arms like a basket (3 min).
3. The ray tosses the ball back to the sun underhand with both hands, and the sun keeps going around the circle (4 min).
4. The sun tosses a bit higher or with a bounce, and when the ray catches it, everyone says "Shine bright!" and opens their arms (3 min).
5. Each ray takes a turn being the sun for a classmate, with the teacher's help (2 min).

Rules

• Wait to hear your name.
• Hands ready before the ball arrives.
• Toss the ball back gently to the sun.
• If it falls, pick it up; that's okay.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: the sun says "One, two, here it comes!" and uses a sound ball; it can be rolled instead of tossed.
• Limited mobility: the sun rolls the ball to the wheelchair or tosses it straight into the child's lap.
• Less dexterity: use a beach ball or a fabric ball that falls more slowly.

Learning goals

• Catch a ball tossed by an adult with both hands.
• Wait for a turn and respond to one's name.
• Toss the ball back with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• large soft ball: 4

Teacher tip

Always toss at chest height, never at the face, and say the name first. If you have another adult, each one runs a circle and waiting time drops a lot.

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