A 5-day active curriculum unit for 3-year-olds themed around Ball Sports & Rolling. Includes a weekly planning matrix, a detailed teacher guide with daily scripts, and printable classroom materials for sorting, patterning, and movement games.
"Hello friends! Look at this bright green ball. It has fuzzy hair! This is a tennis ball. Can you rub the ball on your cheek? Is it soft or scratchy?"
Creative Art Activity
Roll & Paint Tracks: Tape a massive piece of butcher paper on the floor. Dip fuzzy tennis balls in green/blue paint and show students how to roll them back and forth.
STEM Exploration
Size Sort Arena: Scatter various sized balls in the room. Prompt children: "Find a tiny golf ball! Now find a giant yoga ball!" Place them in marked boxes.
Large Motor Setup
Racket Balloon Tap: Cut foam pool noodles into lengths. Connect the ends with electrical tape to make a circular loop racket. Tape balloons to the air for kids to hit up.
Day 4 Focus: Bowling & Spatial Awareness
Morning Meet Up Script
"One, two, three, four, five shiny bowling pins! When I roll my ball, they go CRASH! Let's crash our hands together like bowling pins! Ready... Boom!"
Creative Art Activity
Bubble Wrap Bowling: Paint long sheets of bubble wrap with vibrant tempera paint. Wrap empty plastic soda bottles with paper to construct pins, then stomp on wrap to paint.
STEM Exploration
Magnet Ball Paths: Draw wavy roads on a metal whiteboard or cookie sheet. Instruct children to lead magnetic balls along the path using magnetic wands from underneath.
Large Motor Setup
Mega Cup Bowling: Build pyramids with lightweight plastic cups. Have students sit or kneel 4 feet away, rolling a heavy ball to knock down the colorful cups!
Theme: Sports Fun & Fitness • 3-Year-Olds Playbook Daily Guide • Days 3-4
Playbook Teacher Guide
Ball Sports & Rolling Unit • Active 3-Year-Olds
Page 3 of 3
Day 5 Focus: Championship & Obstacle Fun
Morning Meet Up Script
"Hooray! Today is Championship Day! We have played like superstar athletes all week. Give your hands a clap, clap, clap! Let's do our happy victory dance!"
Creative Art Activity
Sparkle Gold Medals: Give students pre-cut cardboard circles. Provide yellow tin-foil, sparkling sports stickers, and yarn. Assist them to paste items to create their own award medals.
STEM Exploration
Speedway Chutes: Setup long cardboard tracks. Have students slide a tennis ball from high angles, then flat angles. Discuss: "High makes it zoom-zoom-zoom!"
Large Motor Setup
Stadium Obstacle Course: Combine elements. Kids run along painted court lines, kick a ball, crawl under a table, roll a massive yoga ball, and strike a grand champion pose!
Kick & Roll Circle Song
(Sing to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
"Roll, roll, roll the ball,
Roll it to our friend!
Slowly, gently, look at it spin,
Playtime never ends!
Kick, kick, kick the ball,
Kick it with your feet!
Boom, boom, boom we score a goal,
Our soccer team is sweet!"
The Champion Chant
(Interactive Call & Response for Circle Time)
Teacher: "Who can roll?" Kids: "We can roll!" (roll hands)
Teacher: "Who can jump?" Kids: "We can jump!" (jump up once)
Teacher: "Who is a champion?" Kids: "I AM! Hooray!" (hands in air)
Daily Sensory & Small Motor Corner Directions:
Day 1: Playdough Pitch
Pinch dough into tiny sports spheres. Press flat targets on table laminate sheets for aiming accuracy.
Day 3: Tennis Monster
Slice a horizontal line in tennis balls. Show kids how to squeeze sides with one hand to open "mouth" and insert plastic beads.
Day 4: Golf Tee Balance
Press green golf tees into dry florists foam. Balance ultra-light table tennis balls on top of tees without toppling.
Theme: Sports Fun & Fitness • 3-Year-Olds Playbook Daily Guide • Day 5 & Chants
