If I told you that this game was the most asked for game in my room, would you believe me? It totally is…and it cost one whole dollar!
This is my oldest and best trick in the book. I took one Dollar Store beach ball and a sharpie. I wrote questions and stimulus items all over it and put a circle around them. I included things like naming items in a category, describing objects, and WH questions.
Here is how we play…I have the kids stand in a circle. I make VERY clear rules. Students must say the name of the person they are throwing to and they must throw gently & underhand. If they violate these rules, they are out of the game…I don't mess around with this. Everyone has to get the same amount of turns and most of the time, they are good about spreading the love. If not, I tell them who to throw to by intercepting the ball. They like this 🙂 When they catch the ball, they answer the question that their right thumb is touching (or pinkie or pointer or whatever I feel like). We work on sentence structure, vocab, artic carryover, fluency, and any other goals! It is also good for getting the kids up and moving…we can even take this one outside, which I love to do. Great opportunities for social language also with all the interaction and turn taking. With some of those groups, I have had them ask the question to another student that their finger touches.
I have literally had this ball since my first year of therapy. I have not found one single kid who doesn't enjoy playing with this and I get so much speech and language practice out of it, everyone wins! I can even bargain to get 25 minutes of straight drill just to play this game for 5 minutes. It's incredible! I also feel like the possibilities are endless with what you can target!
What do you think? Do you have any fun beach ball games?
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Just let my speech students look at this post and they are very interested in doing this! We are brainstorming ideas for next year.
Thanks so much Jenn!
Saundraslp and her students
That is awesome!!! I hope they enjoy it 🙂
I love any therapy idea that is easily transportable to school or home. An uninflated ball is perfect and easily blown up at my destination.
Hi this is awesome. Could you post a list of some of the types of questions you wrote on there. I am a new teacher. Could use the help. I really want to use this. If you have the time I sure thank you
Hi Monika! I don’t have a list, but I just did mostly WH questions or naming items to a category (Tell me 5 insects, describe your bike, what was your favorite vacation). Anything goes!
I am a kids yoga teacher and draw picture or write the name of a yoga pose. We toss the way you describe then do the pose for at least 3 breathes. Great for burning energy and calming down for better focus and concentration.
Hey Jenn..my lecture asked me to do activity which meet the domain social interaction, so I think to use this activity. .what do you think ?!and I want you to tell me how this game works because I didn’t understand it so well..
It’s great for social interaction. They just pass the ball to each other and answer the questions…super easy!
Whoever catches the ball answers the question under her thumb and then passes the ball to the next person.