Bring discipline and teamwork into the classroom by teaching with sports. Browse sports-themed lesson plans and activities in math, physics, literature, and history.
Materials
- small, medium-sized, and large rubber balls
- chart paper and marker
- tunnel
- plastic cone
- chalk
- red paper
Objective
Children will engage in a variety of kickball games designed to increase their coordination skills and motor development.
In Advance
Collect a variety of rubber balls. Then read Ball! by Ros Asquith to the children during circle time. Ask them what they like to do with balls and record their responses on chart paper. Explain that they are going to play some special outdoor kicking games with balls.
Activities
Kickball
Help the children farm a line. While one teacher assists the children, another can roll the ball, giving each child a turn at kicking it back. Introduce the game by using a large rubber ball. After each child has had a turn, play the game with a medium-sized ball, then a small ball.
Kick It Through
Invite each child to take a turn kicking a ball through a tunnel or cardboard box (open at both ends). Let the children experiment with kicking different-sized balls.
Kickball Relay
Draw a line with chalk on the ground and ask the children to line up behind it. Place a plastic cone several feet away from that line. Explain that they'll each have a chance to move the ball with their feet to the cone and back again. When they return to the line, help them pass the ball to the next child.
Target Ball
Tape a large sheet of red paper to a fence or wall. Ask the children to stand behind a chalk line close to the wall and invite them to try to kick the ball and hit the paper target. After all the children have had a turn, make a new fine that is a little farther away from the target. Keep moving the line back as the children complete their turns.
Remember: Some children may not want to engage in these kickball games, preferring instead to take turns rolling the ball to the child who will be kicking. Other children may enjoy cheering on their friends. Games can be adapted for small groups. Variations of these games can be played by bouncing or throwing the ball.
Curriculum Connection
Math: Sock Matching
Ask parents to send in pairs of old socks. Invite the children to match the socks. Discuss their differences and similarities with the children, using words that describe colors, patterns, textures, and sizes to increase their descriptive vocabulary. Ask the children to count how many individual socks they have and how many pairs. Children can also make balls with the socks to toss into a box or plastic container or use with a beanbag target.
