Here’s how it works:

• Get a few dodgeballs or soft balls for this activity. You probably won’t need more than four at first, but may need more once students get better at it. Depending on your class size, you may choose to split your students into two groups,

• Students stand in a circle, and each has a number (we use our class numbers, but you can choose whatever numbers you’d like). Mix up the numbers, so they aren’t all standing next to each other. Let them know which students have numbers before and after them. (Ex: You are 1, you are 2, you are 3, etc.)

• Pass Student 1 the first ball, and s/he tosses the ball to Student 2. This continues through all of the numbers, and the last student passes the ball back to Student One. This repeats, and as the first ball gets about halfway around the circle, pass another ball to student one for him/her to start tossing too. Now students have to keep track of two balls in the circle. If they get the two balls juggling well, try to add a third one!

• If a ball drops at any time, they have to start over with one ball at student 1. At the end of the time you have, note how many balls was the record so that next time you play, you can try to beat your record!

Group Juggling is a fantastic morning meeting activity to build teamwork, coordination, and focus! It’s not as easy as it seems! But my fourth graders love trying to work together to juggle more balls each time!

Instilling the love of language plus it helps build vocabulary.

I have popsicle sticks with each student's name and students grab a stick on their way into the classroom. This is the person they are greeting in the morning during breakfast.

A fun rhyming game keeps students smiling and engaged. Example: A student says " Sunny, Funny" then the student picks another student to share a rhym. We play until all students have shared.