Concentration Ball

  1. Ball Games
  2. Indoor Game
  3. Readiness Games
  • Any Size

  • Grades 1-2

  • Balls

  • Less Than 10 minutes

Development Goal

Cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and making decisions.

Before You Start

  • Explain how to make a good, underhand toss with eye contact
  • Explain that everyone have to say the person’s name (recipient) before throwing.

Set Up

Can be played outside, in a gym or in a classroom. Have students form a circle with a little bit of room between each one.

How to Play

  • You pick a theme, such as animals.
  • Then one person starts with the ball and says an animal then says the name of someone in the circle and tosses them the ball.
  • That person must say another animal and toss the ball to another person.
  • You may not repeat answers and you only have three seconds to say yours.
  • If a players fails to do so, you may have them do some jumping jacks before rejoining the circle. Once three people get stuck you switch themes. Some examples of themes include, sports, colors, fruits, singers, etc.

Variations

  • For younger players you may go in a circle handing off the ball or you may try rolling it instead.
    • If you notice this as a problem, you may also add a rule about not throwing it back to the person that tossed it to you.