Over my time teaching, this has been one of the most successful group games.
There is a way our eyes track motion which makes holding attention very easy. Also
throwing and catching a balloon is relatively natural and easy. A balloon moves
much slower than a ball; this give younger students more time to catch the ball.
Note- some younger children have difficulty catching a ball. Balloons move slower
and are easier to catch. !!Safety note. Balloons can be a choking hazard for young
kids. And some institutions do not allow them. Nerf balls or scarves are a
possible alternative. If you use anything more solid than a balloon, check your
ceiling light fixtures. A ball could shatter a light.
Help students particularly shy student feel joy and competence being in from of the class and having attention focused on them. Help group members develop their leadership skills.
Help students follow different leaders even ones who are just developing their
skills. Reinforce the group having clean, starts and stops and feeling positive
about their successes.
Help members to experience positive arousal/excitement To encourage some playful movement. Develop hand eye coordination. Experience having everyone working together as a group.
Develop attention skills. Hear the silence after a stop.
Make paying attention to the 'stop' a game like 'Simon Says'. Begin to set up patterns. Give group members experience of leading the group and follow different leaders.
For some groups, this game can be done in the first session. Other groups, may
require several sessions to be able to do this.
Celebration Rhythm, If students haven't yet learned the celebration rhythm, this
is a good time to teach, particularly after a successful rumble to a silence after
the balloon is caught.
Note- some younger children have difficulty catching a ball. Balloons move slower
and are easier to catch. Also balloons travel slower than balls so they give more
time to play the rumble and prepare for the stop.
"I will throw this balloon in the air. While it is in the air, play a rumble. As
soon as I catch it, stop." Call "Sticks Ready" Do several balloon tosses, some
higher some lower.
Ask, "if I go like this," (fake toss the balloon but don't let it
leave your hand), "Should you rumble?"
Alternate high tosses, low tosses, and fakes.
Call "Sticks Asleep"
Reinforce and anchor the group members ability and willingness to stop at the stop
signal. Call the 'Celebration Rhythm'
Now you can have other adults be the next balloon conductor. It is best if the
adult is well regulated. Have each student be the balloon conductor.
Safety- game has clear rule. And an orderly form and taking turns.
Significance- students get to show leadership
Connection- students get to be part of the group
Growth- students exercise and develop their skill of paying attention
Growth - particularly shy students gain more confidence by being in front of the
group.
Having the ball as a prop to focus and also their physical movement helps them
activate the Do- Deal system and deactivate the 'me-default system' thus feeling
more present and engaged and less anxious.
?Visually tracking a moving ball activates and engages the orienting system?
? Other primitive motion sensing systems? For many people, social situations
especially ones that might put them ‘on the spot’ create a lot of anxiety.
Because of that anxiety some people avoid being part of groups, or take roles in
the group which diminish them. This exercise helps participants get into movement.
Moving help to counter balance the anxiety. When people are inactive is when they
feel most anxious. According to Chamberlin we have three systems- The Me system,
the Feel system and the Deal System. When people are inactive their attention
frequently turns to the Me system. They easily ruminate on things that have gone
wrong, or could go wrong. Another name for this is stage fright. As soon as a
person starts moving and getting engaged, They switch into the Deal system.
Leadership- What does a good leader do?
What leaders do you respect?
Walking Rhythm Squares
Conducting Rumbles
Two Balloon Conductors
Rumble while players Toss an the imaginary ball
Dying Cockroach, Engine Trouble
Performance This game can be used part of a
performance.