Skittle and Wall

Parent engaging in their child's development at home

Use walls and other objects to develop an understanding of how deflection works. Skittle and Wall is a strategic game that helps develop throwing accuracy and an understanding of ball movement.

Set up

A few metres from a large blank wall, set up a variety of targets, such as a container castle, soft toys, or bowling skittles. The children stand infront of the targets (the targets are between the children and the wall). Give each child a tennis ball/bouncy ball/marble.

How to play
Step 1:
  • Get the children to throw one at a time, starting at a slight angle (to the side of the targets)
    • You can give each child multiple tennis balls if you prefer
Step 2:
  • If a target is hit after bouncing off the wall, remove the target!
  • The next child then takes their turn
Step 3:
  • Keep going until all the targets have been knocked over
  • Play again, this time at a different angle or distance to continue exploring deflection
Variations
Make it easier
  • Roll the ball instead of throwing
  • Use a larger ball, like a spiky ball
  • Start the children close to the wall, with the targets behind them
Make it harder
  • Start the children from further behind the targets
  • Throw from sharper angles
Activity information
Age: 3-5 years, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Participants: 1 +
Equipment: Targets, Tennis balls
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching

Before playing, explore and demonstrate how throwing a ball at an angle against a wall affects its path. Explore a combination of soft/hard throws, as well as throws done at a sharp/slight angle. Then, use the teaching cues to develop underarm throwing/rolling skills;

  1. Step on the star (step with opposite foot onto star marker)
  2. Swing arm forward
  3. Throw (fire)
Physical literacy tips
  • Start this activity slowly, exploring the rebounding action step by step
  • Let the children rebuild the targets/create their own targets