Kids on the Ball: Using Swiss Balls in a Complete Fitness Program

They're colorful, big, and enticing. In recent years, innovative teachers have introduced the Swiss Ball, previously used primarily for therapy, into educational settings. Now you can use this unique tool to help children develop balance, coordination, rhythm, and fitness skills. In Kids on the Ball the authors, three physical educators and a physical therapist, -explain the benefits of using Swiss Balls, -describe activities using the ball, -include step-by-step instructions, reproducibles, and written objectives, -discuss modifications for special needs students (mainstreamed or not), -address safety procedures, management, and care of the ball, -provide curriculum ideas for incorporating the Swiss Ball into your present program, -integrate Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences and different learning styles, and -list content standards and benchmarks (NASPE and APENS). The book presents 23 complete lesson plans and 118 activities that have been successfully used by teachers in physical education classes. Virtually all of these activities can be used in inclusive settings. The activities cover the spectrum, including balance, coordination, rhythm and dance, flexibility, muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, manipulative skills, and even games. The activity finder makes using the book a breeze. This unique piece of inexpensive, low-impact equipment adds variety to your program and provides valuable benefits to your students, so get on the ball!