After students have had ample practice in underhand throwing to themselves, to targets, to a partner, etc. explain you will be telling them a really cool story. Explain that there is a "magic word" in this story, and they will have to listen closely to hear it. Demonstrate and lead the activity as follows.

First, 4-5 students make a circle. All circles should be close enough to the instructor to easily hear the story. Explain that each group will be given an object to toss. As the story is read, whenever the word "toss" is said, the person with the ball must toss it to another person in the circle, remembering the correct way to toss and catch which they previously learned. Everyone should get a chance to catch and toss the ball. They shouldn't worry about tossing fast, but tossing well.

Here is the story!:

Mr. Toss, The Amazing Fireman

Mr. Toss was one of the best firemen. He and his fire-fighting dog, Spot, were the quickest team around. It was late during the quiet night at the station when suddenly Mr. Toss sprang up in his bed to the sound of the alarm that went,"Beep, Beep, Beep!" He immediately realized that someone was in danger and tossed his blankets onto the floor and popped out of bed. The only problem was that Mr. Toss had been particularly messy that week and he was tossing dirty socks and shirts around in piles in an attempt to find his fire-suit. After tossing and tossing clothes and trash into new and bigger piles of junk, he saw the sparkling yellow color of his favorite fire-suit, which he slipped on. He then, snatched his red hard-hat of his terribly cluttered dresser and tossed it on his head. Oh no! Where was his fire-dog, Spot?

In a panic, he realized that he had probably covered Spot under a pile of junk that he had carelessly tossed just seconds earlier. He knew his dog had a tendency to sleep through the alarm and so he, again, started tossing and tossing. He was in such a hurry at this time that he was tossing handfuls of banana peels and socks high into the air hoping to uncover Spot. Sure enough, Spot was sound asleep in pile of unmatched socks. Mr. Toss grabbed his dog, his boots that he would toss in the truck, and slid down the fireman pole which tossed him and his dog right into the driver's seat of the huge shiny red fire-engine.

Mr. Toss and Spot were surprised at how bumby the ride was up to the fire. They tossed and tossed in their seats as they went over huge rocks through the mountains. The fire-engine came to a screeching halt at the top of a mountain when they saw the bright red crackling fire. Flames were being tossed about a huge dark mansion on the seventh floor. Mr. Toss immediately saw a little girl, trapped in a window of flames, who was tossing her favorite toys out the window so they wouldn't melt. "Little girl, please stop tossing your toys because it isn't safe!" Mr. Toss exclaimed. The little girl wouldn't listen thought. She just kept tossing her toys into a fluffy bush down below.

Mr. Toss decided that he would have to rescue the girl. Mr. Toss tossed his fire-dog the huge hose and told him to spray out the flames so he could save the little girl. Mr. Toss leaped into the flames, but he was running so fast that the sparking flames tossing about the stairs couldn't catch him. Mr. Toss tossed aside burning chairs and tables until he wa able to snatch the scared little girl along with an armful of her toys. Mr. Toss took off his jacket and tossed it over the nervous little girl so she wouldn't breathe any of the thick black smoke. Mr. Toss tossed furniture out of the way as they went over shelves, through potted plants, and under tables. The girl and her toys tossed and tossed in Mr. Toss's arms as he ran down the six flights of stairs. When they came to the front door, they both took a gasp of fresh air with a great relief. Mr. Toss saw that his dog, Spot, had done a wonderful job, as usual, at tossing water all over the flames and putting them out.

The fire-engine tossed Mr. Toss, Spot, and the little girl all the way to town. They took the girl back to her home and all was well. Mr. Toss and his fire-dog fullfilled their mission for the day.

Observe students to see that they are following the correct throwing technique. If not, the story may be stopped in the middle to ask students to demonstrate how to correctly toss the ball. At this time, demonstrate the skill and reinforces the cues as necessary.