Lesson Planning Form

Name of Activity – Balloons

Originating Idea
Children enjoy playing with balls during the outdoor time and gym time. I thought that it
would be fun to experiment with balloons.
Curriculum Area
Choose 1:
(Highlight one of the Categories)
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Physical development and health
Language, literacy, and communication
Mathematics
Creative arts
Science and technology
Social Studies
KDIs – #16. Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing
in using their large muscles.

Materials
Balloons, water, sand, air. Fill balloons (different colors and sizes) with these items have
enough for each kid.

Appropriate Age group

Pre-K children – ages 4 and 5

Beginning of Activity
Opening statement

We have had a lot of fun playing with all sorts of balls while we are outside. I was thinking that a
balloon is kind of like a ball and I wonder if it might be fun for us to play with some balloons. I
have some filled with different things that way we can see which filling is our favorite and works
best.
We will take the balloons outside and we will pass the balloons back and forth, you can toss
them lightly, but please do not throw them.
Middle of Activity – (what will the children be doing/saying – how will you transition from
the teaching to the children doing – should read like a script but can be brief)
Early Extension:
Children will need assistance tossing the balloons. The teacher can provide hand over
hand assistance or demonstrate/model how to toss the ball underhand.
Middle:
Children will toss the balls with ease. The teacher will speak to what they are seeing the
children doing and ask the children questions about what balloons they are throwing.
What one is easier to throw or what balloon is heavier?

Later Extension:
Children will toss the ball with ease and may try to throw the balloon harder or further.
The teacher can ask the children to try to throw the balloon overhand (making sure to
only do this with the balloon that has air in it or is smaller). Ask the child to make
predictions on what balloon will be the easiest or hardest to pass.

End of Activity
Now it is time to clean up the balloons. Can you all help me find the blue balloons first and put
them in the box. Then can you find the small balloons, the ones with sand? (Continue this until
all the balloons are put away.) Which balloon was your favorite for passing back and forth?
Why was that one your favorite?

Follow-up Ideas -
Add XL balloons and tiny water balloons filled just a little bit for the next time.

Have children take a few steps back each time they toss the balloons and see how far they can
toss the balloons and what happens when they drop each balloon.