Outdoor Prop Box

Ages of Children Participating     4-5years       

Activity Name

Balancing Act

Goal

To develop large and small motor skills.

Objectives (Learner Outcomes)

 The students will be able to demonstrate balancing skills and movement control when using the outdoor balancing prop box.

Domains (highlight all addressed)

Cognitive :  Increased thought processing, determining how to hold items to keep them steady.

Social : The children can work in teams to help each other.

Emotional: The children will experience a variety of emotions as they try different aspects of balance.

Physical : This is a physical activity 

Creative: The children will be creative in how to balance items.

Content Areas (highlight all addressed)

Science : Balance

Math : talk about length, distance

Language/literacy : New words around balancing used

Physical : A physical activity

Social-emotional :  The children will engage in activity with others or alone.

Materials Needed

Plastic bin or box to hold the materials

12 pieces of ¾-inch and 1-inch PVC pipe for sprinklers, cut it into 8-inch to 12-inch pieces (smooth the edges with sandpaper or an emery board).

10 -15 large wooden or plastic blocks to make a balance walk-way

Marbles

Procedure                                                                                                                     Have children hold the tube in both hands without covering the open ends. Place a marble in the tube.  Encourage the children to keep the tube balanced so the marble doesn't roll out!  When that task is accomplished successfully, encourage them to walk without letting the marble roll out. As they get better, they can also race or see who can walk the farthest.

Now have the children balance their bodies. Have children build a straight block walk- way. Balance on top, hands out. They can then curve the walk way and balance. As their balancing skills increase they can try holding the marble in the tube and walking on the”balancing beam”. 

Differentiation

You can adapt this activity to meet all children’s needs by using larger tubing and items that do not roll as well as a marble like a small rubber ball. You could also make lines with string or tape to balance on instead of the blocks.

           

Evaluation

Observation is the best way to see if the children a