This circle game helps children explore ways they can make a ball roll and stop. Children also compare giving the ball a big push versus a little push.
Use a LITTLE force to roll the ball to a person close by.
To roll the ball to someone farther away, use a BIG force.
Materials
- Medium or large ball
Directions: Lesson 1
Circle Time: Introduction
- Sit in a circle on the rug. Explain to children that they are going to play a rolling game. Everyone will keep the ball moving by rolling it to someone else in the circle until they hear the words, “Now make it STOP!” If they want to roll the ball to a person next to them or close by, they will use a little force. If they want to roll the ball to someone on the opposite side of the circle, they will use a big force. Demonstrate this as you narrate what you are thinking and doing. Chant or sing the words as you start the ball rolling: Keep the ball rolling, rolling, rolling. Keep the ball rolling. . . . Now make it STOP!
- Pause the game to discuss what children did to keep the ball moving and what they did to make it stop. Possible discussion ideas:
- How did the ball start rolling? What did you observe?
- How did we keep the ball moving? How did we stop it?
- If I want to roll the ball to a person very close to me, should I use a big force or a little force?
- Who agrees with that answer? Why do you think that? How far do you think the ball will go when you push it with just a little force?
- Have a few children demonstrate rolling the ball to a person next to them in the circle and describe the amount of force they used—a big force or a little force. If you wanted to roll the ball farther to reach a friend across the circle, would you use a big force or a little force?
- Have a few children demonstrate rolling the ball to a person on the opposite side of the circle and report on the amount of force they used. Ask children to describe and compare the way the ball moves when rolled with a big force versus a little force. Encourage them to build on each other’s ideas.
