What’s up friends!
In this post I wanted to tell you about another PE CLASSIC…
Monster Ball!
This is a great throwing activity that will get your students moving, thinking and give them plenty of opportunities to practice those throwing skills in a game environment.
It’s also my most popular Youtube video that I’ve ever posted, so I figured it needed it’s own special blog post.
Normally when I teach this game, I give my students a quick Instant Activity and then have them go to Home Base Spots so I can take attendance.
For an example of a fun instant activity you could try out check out the video below (if that seems too complicated, here’s a more simplified one you could try):
After the instant activity and stretch we get right into the game.
Check out the video below to see of how I explain the game to my students:
Don’t have time to check out the video?
No worries, I’ve listed the game details below
Equipment/Setup::
- One large Exercise Ball, Kin-ball or Cageball
- A bunch of gatorskin balls or any soft balls safe for throwing
- Divide students up into 2 teams and have students sit on their team’s side of the large square or circle in the middle of the gym facing toward the other team
Description:
On the command students will attempt to throw the small ball at the Monster Ball in order to make it move. Their goal is to try and get the Monster ball to cross the line on the opposing team’s side of the square/circle/line. If the Monster Ball rolls outside of the designated area – the opposing team’s side will receive one point. Play to a specific number of points or for most points within a time limit.
If you do not have a center circle or center square in your gym or playing space, you can create an area with poly spots, cones, long jump ropes or floor tape.
Dump out all the small balls and have students pick up 2 balls and line up on their lines before the giving the signal for the game to begin.
Game Rules:
- You may go ANYWHERE to get a ball
- You must be OUTSIDE of the square (or middle area) to throw the ball
- If you throw from inside the square, sit out for that round or suffer a penalty
- Examples of Penalties: Hop on one foot 50 times, count 60 seconds on the wall, Throw left handed for the rest of the game
- If you throw from inside the square, sit out for that round or suffer a penalty
- Not Allowed:
- Blocking balls with your body (standing in front of the Monster Ball)
- Touching the Monster Ball – 1 point for opposing team if anybody touches the Monster Ball
- 1 point for opposing team when the Monster Ball crosses the line
After playing a few rounds, bring student’s in and discuss strategies before playing the next round.
Strategies to discuss with students:
- Jamming the Monster Ball by rolling the small balls
- Hit the Monster Ball in the middle-top to help it roll easier
- Use Teamwork – all throwing at the same time
- Waiting for opposite team to throw first so ball is closer and then you throw to reverse the direction and the other team will be all out of ammo
- Don’t just stand there watching after you throw – immediately go get a ball to throw again – the quicker you move, the more chance your team will have to win
Variations:
- Larger Class Sizes – Try playing with 4 teams (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) If the ball leaves the middle square area in your team’s corner of the court you will receive one point… the team with the LEAST number of points wins the game after 10 minutes – this version is also more strategic because of the multiple teams to consider. It’s fun to watch students who are on losing teams become allies and try to overthrow the teams in the lead.
- Using Multiple Monster Balls – Add in more than one ball and keep track of points as they cross the lines. Once they cross the other team’s line they must stay out of the playing area and can’t re-enter the game – I usually tally points as they cross the line. If you are using different sized balls, award more points for a larger ball than a smaller ball.
That’s it – it’s a great game to work on throwing and to discuss strategy with your students.
I Hope your students enjoy this game as much as mine have
You can download the Monster Ball Game Sheet for free below:
Throwing and Catching Unit Overview:
Check out an overview of My Throwing and Catching Unit Here
Hope that was helpful!
Have Fun and Teach On!
Thanks so much. I played this game while I was being observed by he Principal and it went really well!
You’re welcome Jeanne!
Glad the observation went well!
Classes enjoyed this game. Where did you find the red and blue team point scorekeeper in the strategizing video?
Hey AJ,
You can find the ScoreKeeper at the link below:
Score Keeper with Stand
Hope this helps!
Before watching your video， I also design this game for my student. It is a funny game。
Hey Chan,
Glad you enjoyed the game. It’s one of our favorites!
Good morning. I play a game similiar to this, which I call Snowball Fight. I have a square marked out in the center of the gym, with 4 teams. Students try to hit a beach ball over another team’s line using yarn balls and bean bags.
Awesome!
Thank you for this idea. My class had a lot of fun.
Your monster ball game looks like fun. What type of ball(large one) would we use ? Any ideas where to purchase ?
Any large exercise ball or Cage Ball will work – you can use a beach ball too, but it will be a short game since they are so light
Great game! What grades do you play this with? Thanks!
Usually I play with 2nd through 5th grades
I tried this game today with my 5th graders and they loved it! Do you have any other cage ball games that you play with your kiddos?! I want to try four square, and volleyball, and scooter soccer.
I’ve done scooter soccer, but this is my most common one and the biggest hit for sure. I also do a really quick one sometimes called “Indiana Jones” where I create a circle with about 2/3 of the class and then make a smaller circle inside with the other 1/3. The cage ball goes inside the circle and the students work together to move the ball and try to tag the student who is selected as “Indiana Jones”. If they last 30 seconds they win and we switch out runners.
That sounds awesome! Thanks! 🙂
Great game — I also play a similar version of this called Poison Ball — I place a large volleyball in a hoop in the middle of the gym (this is the poison pit) — each team is behind a line (this is their island). On the signal they will throw their softi balls at the poison ball to make it go over the opposite teams line — if they do they get a point.
You are not allowed to go into the poison pit unless you have on foot on the island–you can use team work to make a chain, but if someone lets go you are out of the game for 20/30 seconds.
I add a cone with a ball on top for each team (in the basketball key) — if you knock over the ball on the cone –the game stops and your team gets 10 seconds in the poison pit to steal as many balls as possible.
That’s a cool way to gamify and switch it up a bit, I like it
I play a similar game, but I call it Powerball. I talk about kinetic and potential energy, along with transfer of energy and friction.
I teach grades 6-8, so I roll the ball down the middle, bounce it, and throw it in the air to begin.
Cool – science integration!
Thank you Ben for sharing this game. I too use this same game and call it by another name. It is quite elaborate….we call it Star Wars Ball! We have the dark side and the Jedi’s. The big ball is the Death Star and boy do the kids love it. The balls are missiles and each team is on there respective star ship. I have one student be Luke Skywalker and one be Darth Vader and they are in the middle with the Death Star to send the missiles back to their star ships. Game is won when the Death Star hits (goes over the line) a star ship. I play the Star Wars theme song the entire time to add to it. I really like seeing how this game is played in so many ways. These are the best games, ones that are so versatile.
Kids love anything themed with Star Wars – haha. Yes, so many modifications
Thanks Ben for all you do. I love the game. I actually do the same game and relate it to social studies. I teach K-3 and I call it Borderball. I use 4 sides of the gym each side represents a town that borders our hometown and we see where the ball travels. Kids love it.
Good stuff – thanks for sharing!
I do the same game but in a circle with 6 teams. Each team protects a section. If it crosses they are infected by the “toxic pumpkin” and have to go to the dungeon and perform some exercise to get back. Tremendous game!
Cool I like that modification – nice for Halloween Theme too!