Learning Outcome

Today we are going to practice the skills of throwing or tossing a balloon straight up into the air and then catch.

Activity Description

In order to throw the balloon straight into the air children should follow these simple directions:
Hold the balloon out in front of you with one hand on each side of the balloon.
Lower the balloon below your waist so that the balloon almost touches your knees.
raise both hands into the air and let go of the balloon as it passes your nose.

Timing the release of the balloon is important. If the balloon is released too soon it may travel far out in front of the child where it is hard to catch. If the balloon is released too late it will travel behind the child and be impossible to catch. Initially, the teacher should encourage children to throw the balloon only a few feet into the air.

In order for young children to catch the balloon, they must learn to focus their eyes on the object as it travels through the air. It is difficult to catch an object if you are not looking at it. Children should focus on looking at the balloon and then wrapping their hands around the balloon when it comes back down close to their body.

Required Material

4 Bonunday cone, balloon