Grade Level: K-2
After an instant activity, let students know they will be working on striking an object with a hockey stick. Demonstrate how they should use “soft taps” with both sides of the stick to dribble and control the ball, much like you use “soft taps” with the feet when dribbling a soccer ball. Then let them know they will be using these small taps to play a game called “Hockey Highway“.
Let them know that once they have retrieved their equipment, they are to take them to a self space and begin to “start their engines“. This means they are to dribble the object back and forth (left to right)ten times without moving out of their self space. In other words they pass it back and forth to themselves but don’t move. Once they have done this, they can begin to safely travel around the “highway” (the open general space), using different pathways (straight, curved, and zigzag) to avoid collisions.
If students lose control of their ball, dribble out of bounds, or have a collision, their car is now “stalled” and they have to start their engine (soft tap the ball back and forth to themselves wile remaining stationary) again before they can begin to travel again!
As students travel through the general space, remind them to use soft taps in order to keep the ball close to their stick, and to use both sides of the blade.
Strikes a ball with a long-handled implement (e.g., hockey stick, bat, golf club), sending it forward, while using proper grip for the implement. Note: Use batting tee or ball tossed by teacher for batting. (S1.E25.3)
Variations:
Periodically call out “red light”, at which students stop the car (their body) but keep the engine going (keep dribbling back and forth). When you say “green light”, they begin to travel again, as detailed above, keeping sure to change pathways to move away from others.
Add cones or other obstacles to the activity space for added challenge.
