The Ripple Effect
learning with and from each other
Beware the Bouncy Ball Madness
One of Ms. Rogerson’s first lessons with us was a math review integrated into a PE activity. Yes, you heard right, math and PE combined! It was a great activity filled with Bouncy Ball Madness because you see, that was the problem: an evil gnome (who has since learned the error of his ways) had unleashed the Bouncy Ball Madness virus in our gym and it was up to the students to contain it before it spread. Ms. Rogerson explained tearfully that the gnome, Bijou, had stowed away in her backpack that morning. Thankfully being the jack-of-all trades person that she is, she had previous exterminating experience, so within minutes we had a gym full of certified exterminators that could help eliminate the virus. Their job was difficult and tiring, but they all rose to the challenge.
Goal: eliminate as many small and large virus molecules as possible as a team from their side of the gym and prevent the other team from accumulating extermination points. Points equated fees charged for the extermination process.
Points: 1 point for small bouncy ball extermination pattern (floor-opposite wall-floor); 10 points for large bouncy ball extermination pattern (same as small ball)
After a time limit, students collected bouncy balls and returned them to receive additional points to add (small ones) or for a multiplier of 10 (big ones) on their individual or group scores. As the activity progressed, Ms. Rogerson added in variations that introduced each team to larger and larger numbers. After 4 rounds, students presented their extermination process to the other team to see which group had the most efficient exterminators, how many bonus points were collected, and whether totals were accurately calculated.
This fun and creative activity will definitely be part of Mrs. Braidwood’s collection from now on as well. The variations you can try with it are infinite! And you never know when more mischievous gnomes will appear … but of course if they do, we’ll be ready.
9 Responses to “Beware the Bouncy Ball Madness”
Leave a Reply
ClustrMap
-
-
-
-
October 10th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
I love the lesson that Ms Rogerson came up with, so much so I would love to do something similar with the students in my classroom in New Zealand as I think that they would love it! (Please ask her if its alright). The students would have found it challenging but also exciting at the same time.
Mr Webb and Room 8, Melville Intermediate, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand.
October 13th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
@Mrs.Braidwood
Oh that was really fun !!!It was a really creative game that Ms Rogerson came up with. Is Ms Rogerson coming back in Novenber? got to go!!!!
October 22nd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
@Kaylee
Did you ever get hit with a bouncy ball? I hope not, it doesn’t feel very good. The game was still really fun though! 
You are right, that game was really fun, but it hurt a little when I got hit with a bouncy ball, and that happond alot!
October 20th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Hi! How are you Mrs.Braidwood? School is awsome But you are the best teacher.
October 29th, 2010 at 9:37 am
@Mrs.Braidwood
hi mrs braidwood It is Brooke and i think that the bouncyball madness was a really fun math and gym combined and I think that was the most fun I’ve ever had with math
what was the most fun you’ve ever had with math??
from brooke math rules!!
October 29th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Dear Mr. Braidwood,
Hi! I like your blog. That seems really fun how you guys got to mix math with gym. That could encourage kids to hand in their work on time and stuff like that, and then they get to do a game in the gym. Good luck with your blog!
October 29th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Dear Mrs. Braidwood,
That sounds really fun! I would never think of Math and P.E. together. I’m not a big fan of Math myself but I like P.E., so it might make fun. I think I might suggest that to my teacher. Thanks for posting that!!
-Maddy from Mr .Carmichael’s class
November 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@Mrs. Braidwood.
I think that game was really fun Ms. Rogerson did a good and creative job with it. I love math and I love P.E. so I loved that game. Will we play it agian?
November 15th, 2010 at 11:43 am
It sounds like you had a fun time, but I can’t quite picture the game. What did the students have to do to get a point? And to get 10 points? (Were the points just based on the size of the ball?)
I see you mentioned a floor-wall-floor pattern, so I assume they had to throw the balls according to that pattern. And then catch it again, after it hit the floor? Or just chase it down? Or bounce it to their teammates that way? Did they start at a certain point, or just wherever they wanted to stand? Other rules…?