Objective: A volleyball game becomes a way to practice addition skills

Cognitive Link: Throwing and catching helps develop eye muscles needed for near, far vision, and eye tracking

Academic Concepts: Number operations, mental math

Equipment: The volleyball net and poles will already be set up for the game and poly spots placed on the floor for positions. Make a number ball using a volleyball. Write numbers 3-9 on it with a permanent marker. Keep score on the dry erase board.

Organization: Use the basic volleyball rotation pattern of 3 rows of 4-5 people to rotate in a backward "S". Server is the person in the back right corner position.

Anticipatory Set: TEACHER'S QUOTE: "Throwing and catching helps the eyes track better for reading. Let's review our math skills and increase our eye fitness at the same time."

Activity: Server starts the game by throwing the ball over the net (one try only). A person from the other team catches it and says the number under his/her right thumb; then throws the ball to opposite sex team member. The second team member says the number under their right thumb and adds it to the sum and throws the ball to a third team member who adds the third number to the sum and then throws the ball over the net.
Say, "1, 2, 3, over". The team that doesn't miss or drop the ball gets the total sum as points for their team.

Closure: TEACHER'S QUOTE: "The eyes have it! Practicing math skills help you remember math better."