Have some fun learning this summer for only a dollar. The dollar stores have out all of their summer fun treats; like, BEACH BALLS! Go grab a few beach balls and start some fun summer learning. Here are just a few ideas you can use with your beach balls.
1. Write out the numbers on the top and bottom sections. Throw the ball gently to a child and they have to add the numbers where there thumbs are. For the younger child, they would just read you the numbers their thumbs are on.
2. Another game is to sit in a circle and count to a specific number. Whoever says that number has to go to the center of the circle. Keep going till there are two left. Similarly, you can do this with counting by 2′s, 5′s, 10′s, days of the week, months, etc. Easy and quick and the kiddos like it so much that they don’t even realize they are learning!
3. See how many times you and your child can throw it to each other without dropping it. Set a timer for one minute to see how many times you can pass the ball without dropping it.
4. Like musical chairs, but with a beach ball. Pass the ball around the circle, when the music stops the person holding the ball is out!
5. Write your child’s site words on the ball. Throw the ball to your child; whatever their right hand is on is the word they need to read.
6. Masking tape one Princess Polly Pocket for each child all around a beach ball. Turn on your child’s favorite music and pass the beach ball around. When the music turns off, whoever has the ball gets to rip off a Princess and keep it! Then that child can sit down and the rest can continue playing until all the Princesses are gone. Great for parties — or for anytime special occasions.
7. Check out a beach ball book from your local library and let the reading fun begin. Some of my favorites include; The Beach Ball by D.J. Steinberg and Liz Conrad, Clifford The Big Red Dog: The Missing Beach Ball by Sonali Fry, and Bernie the Beach Ball Bounces Back by Lois Bernzott Boccio.
Hopefully these seven ideas will help you see your beach ball in a new light!
Colleen Gallagher – Teaching Heart
www.teachingheart.net
