Activities

Make several pages with pairs of items that are heavy and light. Use poster board cut to size, or other heavy paper. Glue a picture of a rock on one side of the page and a feather on the other side.

Try a fun balancing activity in the math center. Give the children one paper plate at a time to balance on their head. See how many each child can hold. When they fall, count the number of plates in total and try again.

Set empty balancing scales in front of the children. Ask the children how many bears or blocks it will take to make the right side drop. Encourage the children to make estimates, then add bears to the right side until it drops.

Take scales outside, during outdoor time. Encourage the children to collect natural objects from outside and weigh them.

Roll a ball away from the infant. Encourage him/ her to crawl after the ball. After he/she reaches the ball, call to the infant to "come back" to you.

Place a few balls in a plastic tub near the infant. Take the balls out, one by one and hold them up. Count them as you go. “One, two, three balls.” Roll them toward the infant and count again, “One, two, three balls.

Model how to drop an object inside a container and pull it out. Give the infant a clean, empty container such as a coffee canister or an oatmeal tub. Provide objects, such as balls or small blocks, to drop inside.

Collect various sizes of soft balls and place them in a basket on the floor. Place the basket within arm's reach. Model for and encourage the infant to put the ball in the basket, saying, “Ball in? Ball in basket.

Show the children a tennis ball and an empty Pringles® chip can. Place the can on its side, on the floor or on a table. Roll the ball into the open end of the can.

During outside time, have the children take turns keeping a beach ball in the air by tapping the ball with their hands. If the ball touches the ground, switch turns to another child.

Create a stack with soft blocks. Demonstrate and encourage the children to roll a ball to knock the blocks over.

Provide a variety of balls to the children. Encourage them to roll, bounce or kick the balls. Talk about what they are doing.

Provide various balls, including golf balls, ping- pong balls or large rubber balls, to roll down various sizes of ramps. Teachers may consider using pool noodles cut in half, paper towel rolls and slats of wood as ramps.

Sit facing the infant and roll a large ball so that it lands right in front of him/her. Encourage the infant to reach out and push the ball back to you.

Sit facing a child, feet apart with the soles of your feet touching his/hers. Now roll a small ball toward the child and encourage him/her to roll it back.

Read Dancing with Degas by Julie Merburg. This imaginative book is a fun introduction into the world of ballerinas. Encourage the children to copy the dance moves the ballerinas use.This could be done in large group.

Put up posters of ballet dancersAround the dramatic play area. Use a broom handle balanced on two chairs to be a barre for the children to hold onto.

Create an infant-sized ball pit by placing balls in a small plastic pool. Select balls that vary in color, size, weight, sound and texture. Place the infant so he/she can explore as you narrate his/her actions.

Place a wide, round, plastic or aluminum mixing bowl on the floor. Provide lightweight plastic balls, and have the infant drop the balls in the bowl. Point out how the balls move around the bowl and from one side to another.

Cut and place a piece of paper large enough to cover the bottom of a baby wading pool.  Squeeze various colors of nontoxic paint onto the paper.  Place a smooth ball in the pool.