Throw-and-Catch Circuit for Grades 1-2

In groups, students design a throwing and catching station for 6- and 7-year-olds with three difficulty levels. The class tests the full circuit and checks that every station offers challenge, frequent success and lots of practice time.

How to play

1. Explain the criteria for a good early-grade station: success on 7 out of 10 tries, little waiting and three visible levels (3 min).
2. Five groups set up one station each: throw into hoops, toss and catch to self, pass to a partner, roll at cones and catch after a bounce (7 min).
3. Each group explains its station in 30 seconds and the class tests it, rotating every 3 minutes; in each rotation, one tester records tries and successes per level on the card (15 min).
4. Review: each group reads its data and adjusts distances or target sizes for the real day (5 min).

Rules

• No one throws while someone is collecting equipment in the target area.
• Each station has no more than two people waiting.
• Levels are marked with colored cones: green, yellow and red.
• Only soft equipment is thrown: beanbags and rubber balls.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visual impairment: use sound balls or balls with bells and targets that make noise when hit.
• Limited mobility: stations are also tested seated to make sure they are accessible.
• Coordination difficulties: always starts at the green level and chooses when to move up.

Learning goals

• Design fundamental motor skill tasks suited to the age group.
• Use success data to adjust the difficulty of a task.
• Prepare carefully for teaching at an elementary school.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 10
• cones: 30
• rubber balls: 10
• beanbags: 15
• cards: 5

Teacher tip

The 7-out-of-10 rule is a guideline, but it keeps students from designing tasks that are too hard. Take a photo of each station for the final project sheet.

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