This is a series of activities designed to help students work on their balance. Each activity can be set up as its own station, with students rotating through the stations. The skills worked on within this activity are directly related to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education National Standards, the Perkins School for the Blind Adapted Physical Education Curriculum and components of the Expanded Core Curriculum.
Materials
- Balls: playground balls, soccer balls, small tennis-ball-size balls
- Cones (small)
- Small platform: can be aerobic step or other sturdy platform
- Balance beams: can be hard foam
- Net or bowling pins (to kick balls at)
Soccer Kick
- Set up three cones, one in front and one to each side of a raised platform. Choose a distance that works for the size and ability of the student.
- Place a playground-sized ball atop each cone.
- Place a net, or three pins, in front of and just beyond the front cone.
- The student stands on the platform with both feet. Using the right foot for the ball to the right, the left foot for the ball to the left, and either foot for the front ball, the student kicks each ball toward the net or pin, bringing the foot back to rest on the platform between kicks.
- For more advanced students, place cones all around the platform, equidistant from the platform, and have the student practice kicking back and to the side as well as front and to the side.
Balance Beam Soccer Kick
- Place two balance beams (each about six inches wide) side by side, and one balance beam end-to-end with them.
- Place cones on each side of the beams, with a playground ball on top.
- Have the student start out on the double beams, kicking out to the side with alternating feet, to knock the balls off the cones.
- Proceed to the single beam and kick at those balls while balancing on one beam.
- For advanced students, place the cones at varying distances from the beams, thereby requiring varying amounts of force to dislodge the balls.
Balance Beam Ball Bounce
- Place two or three beams at an angle to each other: two beams across from each other, or three in a triangle shape.
- Have one student stand on each beam, and take turns bouncing the ball to another student.
- For more of a challenge, place a volleyball net low between the two beams, and have the students bounce the ball in front of the net and over, to the other player. Raise the net to increase the challenge.
- For just one student, have them stand on the beam and bounce the ball off the wall.
Balance Beam Tug of War
- Set up one balance beam.
- Have two students stand sideways on the beam, one at each end.
- Using a stretchy band or jump rope, have the students grab each end and pull against each other.
See individual games above for ways to challenge more advanced students. These games can be set up in any size room or gymnasium, and adapted for any ability.
By MLaCortiglia
