Catch the Magical Creatures (Striking)

The magical creatures have escaped! Catch them all to keep the magical forest a secret. Children learn how to strike in this imaginative game to challenge all abilities.
Scatter ~10-15 hula hoops (adjust this to suit your group size) in a small, flat space. In each hoop, place 1-3 objects (e.g., a ball, marker, beanbag, witches hat). Facing the hoops, line up a row of flat markers and tees at least 5 metres away (the striking area). Place enough tees and bats for one per child, or one between two. Ensure tees are placed at a safe distance apart. Place an empty bucket or hoop behind the striking area (this will be the treasure chest). Have a supply of tennis balls.
Examples of magical creatures include;
- Witches hat = unicorn
- Tennis ball = slime ball
- Animal beanbag = an animal
- Foot marker = giant's footprint
- Star marker = shooting star
- Skipping rope = snake
Step 1:
- Explain to the children that they are the ‘Magical Creature Catchers’ and all the Magical Creatures have escaped and need to be returned safe to their home before the humans find them!
Step 2:
- Upon the educator's instruction of "Ready, Aim, Fire!" the children hit the ball off their tee
- Children must wait for the educator's 'all clear' to collect their ball
- If they have landed/rolled into a hoop with a magical creature, they choose one animal to collect and return to the treasure chest
Step 3:
- Return to your tee and reset it, ready for the next round
- Continue working as a team and return all the creatures back to the treasure chest before the magical forest is discovered!
- Move hoops closer
- Use more hoops
- Try ground level striking (cricket style)
- Use larger balls like a spiky ball
- Move hoops further away
- Try tee-ball striking
- Use a tennis ball
Before starting demonstrate how to safely strike. Practice without a ball. Remember the striking teaching cues:
- Hands together
- Ready: stand side on to the ball (use markers to assist)
- Eyes on the ball
- Step & Swing – step with the front foot toward the target
- Have hoops set up at a variety of distances to challenge all children
- Build the story behind this activity to engage children even more
- Work as a team to rescue all the creatures together