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Name of Activity: ABC Jacks
Academic content: spelling/vocabulary
Purpose of Activity: To practice tossing and catching skills while reinforcing spelling and vocabulary skills.
Prerequisites: Teacher should review catching/tossing technique before beginning activity.
Suggested Grade Level: 3-5
Materials Needed: Playground balls (or any other balls that bounce well) for each student, 6-8 sets of index cards (white ones for consonants, colored for vowels), dry erase board or chalk board (for spelling words).
Physical activity: tossing/catching skills, hand-eye coordination
Description of Idea The activity is played like JACKS. Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students each with boundaries set up for each group. Each group has a set of index cards that are spread around the gym floor near the group. Students begin outside their boundaries. Prior to class the teacher has selected a sentence with the number of words that corresponds to the number of groups in the class (6 groups=6 words in the sentence). The teacher assigns each group a word from the sentence that they will try to create. On teacher's signal, students will search for a letter in the spelling/vocabulary word written on the board. When found, the student will toss the ball in the air, reach down and pick up the letter, then try to catch the ball before it bounces the second time. If they drop it, or fail to get the letter, they go to the outside of the boundaries and practice the task before returning either after a few practices or at the next turn. Just make sure they practice during the time they are on the outside. If they are successful, they take the letter to the boundaries and put it on the floor in the correct order to spell the word. Students can pick up multiple letters, if quick enough. The group that collects all the letters and spells it correctly on the floor yells "JACKPOT" and sits down until all groups have completed the task. At the end of the activity, the teacher takes all of the words and puts them together into a sentence. The teacher can then discuss context, grammar, comprehension or other academic aspects of the sentence.
Variations: To make it easier allow students to let the ball bounce twice before they have to catch it. To make it harder for some students must catch the ball before it bounces at all or use smaller balls.
Assessment Ideas: Are the students displaying correct catching/tossing technique? Are they finishing with the correct spellings of the words?
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