Homemade Equipment Ideas

Equipment Name: Plastic Bottle Targets

Materials Needed: 1, 2, or 3 liter plastic bottles with tops. Any of the following: Puff paints, jingle bells, beans, contact paper, stickers, ribbon, or anything to decorate the bottles.

Estimated Cost: $1 per set

Rationale: Young children enjoy and need instant positive feedback. As soon as the child hits the target (plastic bottle) it will gingle, rattle, fall, etc. The bottles are decorated either by the children or the teacher to enhance their looks and excite the children. Holiday themes, letters, numbers, characters, and shapes may be used to reinforce concepts.

Directions For Making:

Ask children to bring in (washed) plastic bottles with their lids. Remove the labels and decorate the bottles with any of the above mentioned supplies. Use as targets when throwing, kicking, rolling, etc. in place of bowling pins or other targets. Be sure to place plenty of bottles as targets to ensure successful attempts. Bottles can also be used in dodging activites where children would attempt to avoid knocking the bottles over.

Submitted by Darren Robert at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willamantic, CT. Thanks for contributing to PE Central! Posted on PEC: 12/20/00.

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