Exploring different objects

• I can try different objects
• I can say which is easier to catch
• I can share and swap

• Physical Development: develop ball skills including throwing, catching, kicking, passing, batting and aiming
• Physical Development: develop confidence, competence, precision and accuracy when engaging in activities that involve a ball
• Gross Motor Skills ELG: demonstrate strength, balance and coordination when playing

1. Walk around; teacher calls a colour; touch a piece of equipment that colour.
2. Jog back to a space.

Hold up a scarf, balloon, beanbag and ball. Ask: which will fall fastest? Drop them together and watch.

Organisation: 6 minutes. Fifteen pairs spread across the space, with one scarf per pair and clear gaps between pairs. Both partners practise movements throughout; nobody queues. Teacher demonstrates centrally, then moves between pairs; any additional adult supports from the opposite side.

1. Show a scarf floating down: ‘Watch our floating cloud!’ Put children in pairs, with one scarf per pair and space between pairs.
2. Demonstrate a small upward toss and a two-handed catch. One child tosses and catches; their partner follows the floating scarf with their eyes and makes the same catching action with empty hands.
3. Say ‘Swap cloud!’ after two attempts. Children pass the scarf to their partner and exchange roles. Continue with frequent swaps.
4. Show catching with one hand, then letting the scarf land on a forearm. Children choose one way to try while their partner copies the movement.
5. Offer ‘Toss, clap, catch’ to ready pairs. Finish with both partners holding a corner, gently lifting and releasing their cloud, then each catching a corner.

Organisation: 6 minutes. Fifteen pairs, one balloon per pair, in widely spaced patches away from storage hoops. Partners stand beside rather than directly beneath one another's balloon. Teacher moves around the perimeter with a clear view; any additional adult supports pairs on the opposite side. Use a scarf for any pair requiring the planned balloon alternative.

1. Give each pair a balloon and say ‘Keep your bubble floating!’ Demonstrate a gentle upward tap with an open hand.
2. One child taps while their partner mirrors each tap with empty hands and counts aloud. Swap roles after a short attempt, whether or not the balloon lands.
3. Ask children to try three gentle taps, then catch and hold. Partners repeat, taking turns frequently.
4. Invite pairs to count their taps again: ‘Can soft taps help your bubble stay close?’ The counting partner also points towards where the balloon is floating.
5. Show alternating hands. Children choose ordinary taps or alternate-hand taps, then finish by catching and holding their balloon.

Organisation: 8 minutes: one-minute introduction, four 90-second rounds including changes, and a one-minute review. Four groups of seven or eight use four corner storage hoops containing eight scarves, eight balloons, eight large soft balls or eight beanbags. Each child has one object. Exploration patches sit inward from each corner, separated by clear walking routes. Teacher stands centrally for prompts and then circulates; any additional adult supports the changeovers.

1. Gather attention for a one-minute demonstration: ‘Roll along the ground, toss a little, balance, then drop and watch.’ Show each action briefly and assign groups to the four object corners.
2. Children collect one object each and spread into their group's exploration area. Say ‘Try a roll!’ Children roll a short distance, retrieve their object and notice whether it travels straight, wobbles or stops.
3. Prompt ‘Try a tiny toss, then a balance.’ Children toss and catch or retrieve, then balance the object on an open palm. Invite a low drop: ‘Does it bounce, flop or float?’
4. Every 90 seconds, ask children to return objects to their hoop and move together to the next corner. Repeat the exploration prompts across four rounds so everyone explores each object.
5. Use the final minute for children to show one movement with their last object and tell a partner what happened. Invite ready children at the beanbag corner to demonstrate a small hand-to-hand toss.

1. Children lie down; teacher floats a scarf over them.
2. Breathe slowly while watching it.

• Toss gently upwards, not at others
• Balloons are for children without latex allergies — check records; use scarves instead if needed
• Stop and hold equipment still on the drum
• Before Balloon tap, inflate and tie balloons out of children's reach; remove any burst balloon and all fragments immediately, keeping uninflated balloons away from children.
• During Object swap, keep storage hoops outside movement routes and ask children to place objects inside rather than stepping into hoops.
• For rolling explorations, retrieve only within your own patch. If an object enters another group's space, pause and ask an adult to help rather than chasing across moving children.