Wall Ball Rhyme

With a made-up rhyme, each line tells how to toss the ball at the wall and catch it: with both hands, with a clap, with a spin. Kids practice tossing and catching to a rhythm in a wall game they can later play alone at recess.

How to play

1. The teacher chalks a line two steps from the wall for each child, with room in between (1 min).
2. Learn the rhyme with gestures, no ball yet: “Bouncy ball against the wall, two hands, toss it, that is all; clap your hands and catch it too; spin around, now you're through; toss it back, I'll play with you!” (2 min).
3. First line: toss with two hands at the wall and catch it after one bounce (3 min).
4. Second line: toss, clap, then catch after the bounce (3 min).
5. Third line: toss, spin around on the spot and catch when it stops or after as many bounces as needed (3 min).
6. Say the whole rhyme straight through, each child at their own pace; if the ball gets away, restart that line (2 min).

Rules

• Everyone plays at their own line and stays out of the neighbor's.
• If the ball rolls far, walk to get it and look both ways.
• If you miss, just repeat the line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: toss from the wheelchair and catch after several bounces, or have a buddy stop the ball and pass it back.
• Lower skill: use a bigger, softer ball like a beach ball and a line closer to the wall.
• Visual impairment: use a brightly colored ball with a bell inside, and mark the line with raised tape.

Learning goals

• Toss at the wall and catch after a bounce.
• Move to the rhythm of a rhyme.
• Play independently with a ball.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Soft balls: 25
• Sidewalk chalk: 10

Teacher tip

Space the lines generously: two kids per three yards of wall. Throwing too hard is the usual problem, so remind them “Gently, don't wake the wall.”

More main activities for Elementary