Ball Attack

Subjects

• Physical Education
• PE Games

Grades

• 3-5
• 6-8

Brief Description

Students use balls to attack a moving target.

Objectives

Students

• follow directions.
• play as a member of a team, using team strategies to accomplish a goal.
• improve ball-throwing skills.
• get an excellent workout.

Keywords

phys ed, game, physical education, throw, ball, cageball, team, teamwork

Materials Needed

• small rubber balls (or other balls)
• large cageball or an empty plastic barrel. (If your are playing this game indoors on a smooth tile floor, you might substitute a plastic crate for the cageball or barrel.)

The Lesson

This game can be played indoors or outdoors. Set up a goal at each end of the playing area. When playing with older students, the goal might be the size of a hockey goal net; for young students, the "goal line" might serve as the goal.

Arrange students into two teams. Place teams at opposite ends of the playing area; each team faces their goal at the opposite end of the playing area.

Place the cageball or barrel in the center of the playing area. Provide each player with a ball. On the command to "attack," players throw or roll their balls at the cageball/barrel. The idea is for students to use the force of the thrown balls to move the cageball into their goal (or over their goal-line). Once a ball is thrown, all players may go anywhere to retrieve another ball that has been thrown; it need not be the ball the child first threw. A point is scored each time a team gets the cageball/barrel into their goal area.

Notes/Additional Rules

• This game is unlike dodgeball. If a student hits another player with a ball, the opposing team earns a point.
• Student strategy: Stay out of the path of thrown balls; do not get too close to the cageball/barrel. If you get in the path of thrown balls and are hit, the opposing team earns a point.
• The cageball/barrell cannot be touched or touch any player. If it does, a point is awarded to the other team.
• Stress that players should hustle after balls to throw again. That will help their team. Standing around watching teammates or the rolling of the cageball/barrel will not help their team.

Assessment

Observation: Did all students participate by throwing or retrieving balls? Were all students fully engaged in the activity?
In addition, you might ask students to talk about what their team might have done to be more successful.

Submitted By

Charles Milliren, Owen-Withee Elementary School in Owen, Wisconsin

Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World