I’m making a fun language game by writing letters on tennis balls! The idea is to make learning more hands-on and exciting by letting students move the balls around to build words, practice spelling, or play with sounds. It’s a playful way to boost language skills while staying active. The dog can join in too! It can fetch balls, pick letters, bring them to students, or play a “throw in bucket” game. There are so many fun ways to learn with a furry friend! Become a My Schooldog Member to learn more!
You need
- tennis balls
- permanent marker
- basket or bucket
How to make
I make ABC balls by drawing the letters with a permanent marker, adding uppercase on one side and lowercase on the other. I always let the marker dry completely before using the balls.
Were to buy
3 GAMES WITH ABC TENNIS BALLS
It’s an advantage if the dog can:
- Fetch and deliver balls on command.
- Drop the ball into the bucket upon return.
- Stay calm and focused around children.
- Wait patiently while the children throw or pick balls.
- Follow simple instructions from both adults and children.
This helps make the activity smooth and fun for everyone!
1. Throw in bucket
“Throw in the Bucket” – How We Play
We place an empty bucket or basket on the floor. The children have all the alphabet balls and stand a few meters away. One by one, they throw a ball, trying to land it in the bucket. Meanwhile, the dog waits patiently as the children take their turns.
How many letters are in the word? The child gives the dog the same number of treats as there are letters in the word—a fun and rewarding way to practice spelling!
You will need the following equipment:
- Alphabet tennis balls with letters written on them (using a permanent marker).
- An empty bucket or basket to collect the balls during the game.
- Dog treats for rewarding the dog and for the child after completing the game.
- Space on the floor to spread out the balls and allow children to move freely.
- Optional: Blindfold for the child playing the role of the dog.
2. ABC bingo
ABC Bingo – How We Play
The children spread all the ABC balls across the floor. Each participant takes a bingo board with letters and sits on the floor with a bucket or basket in the middle.
The dog is sent out to fetch a ball, brings it back, and drops it into the bucket. The children can also take turns “playing the dog” by wearing a blindfold, crawling toward the balls, and picking one without looking. They then remove the blindfold and place the ball in the bucket.
An adult reads the letter on the ball and marks it on an alphabet chart. To make the game extra educational, the adult can say the letter sound instead of just the letter name, helping the children connect the sound to the correct letter.
The children check if they have the letter on their bingo board and cross it off if they do. The first child to fill their board shouts “Bingo!” and wins the round. As a reward, the winner gives the dog the same number of treats as the number of marked letters on their board.
You will need the following equipment:
- Tennis balls with letters written on them (using a permanent marker).
- Bingo boards with letters and a pen, for each child
- A bucket or basket to collect the balls during activities.
- A blindfold for the children if they are playing the role of the dog.
- Dog treats for rewarding the dog and for giving to the child who wins bingo.
- Space on the floor to spread out the tennis balls and allow children to move around freely.
3. Find the lettersound
Find the Letter Sound – How We Play
We use A4 sheets of paper, with a picture of a word on one side and the word written with letters on the other side. The sheets are spread out on the floor with the picture side facing up, and the child chooses one sheet. If the child wants (and if the dog knows “touch” or “target”), the dog can also choose a picture. We place a basket or bucket on top of the picture on the floor.
The adult then finds the balls that match the letters in the word on the sheet. The children stand a few meters away and throw the balls one by one. The goal is to land the balls in the bucket. The adult and child says the sound of the letter when the ball hits the bucket or falls to the floor. Balls that land on the floor can be thrown again by the dog who can fetch them for the child and place them in the basket.
Once all the balls are collected in the basket, the children sit in a circle on the floor. We flip the sheet over and read the word written on it. The children take turns pulling a ball out of the bucket. The adult says the sound of the letter, and the children repeat it. Then, they find the letter sound in the word on the sheet in front of them and write the word with the tennis balls under the sheet.
If the balls just roll around, it can help to make a ramp with a blanket to keep the balls in the right place.
You will need the following equipment:
- A4 sheets of paper with a picture of the word on one side and the word written with letters on the other side.
- Tennis balls with letters written on them (using a permanent marker).
- A basket or bucket to place on top of the picture and collect the balls.
- Dog treats for rewarding the dog when it fetches balls.
- Space on the floor to spread out the sheets and allow children to move freely.
- A blanket or ramp (optional) to help keep the balls in place if they roll around.
These simple items are all you need to set up and enjoy the game while practicing letter sounds and spelling!