At PLT4M, we teach and practice the underhand roll via fun and dynamic bowling activities for elementary PE. In this article, we’ll explore how these fun bowling activities align with SHAPE standards, preview our full slate of game options with activity descriptions, and share a full lesson sample from PLT4M’s K-5 offering to help bring these skills to life in your classroom.
Teaching Underhand Roll Via Bowling Lesson Plans For Elementary PE
Bowling provides an exciting and engaging way to teach the underhand roll in elementary physical education.
As a popular lifetime physical activity, bowling supports a well-rounded approach to physical literacy by improving coordination, balance, and accuracy while reinforcing fundamental movement skills.
Unlike traditional bowling alleys with long lanes and heavy balls, bowling in physical education is designed to be adaptable and accessible for young students. With creative modifications, teachers can create dynamic and engaging activities that fit within a gymnasium space by:
Using lightweight foam or plastic balls and pins for safe and easy practice.
Setting up different lane configurations to vary challenges and keep students engaged.
Introducing different challenges like bowling for prizes or different point systems.
Organizing team-based bowling relays to promote cooperation and friendly competition.
By incorporating bowling-based lesson plans, PE teachers can turn skill development into a game-like experience, making it enjoyable and meaningful for students of all abilities.
Through structured practice and playful challenges, students build a foundation for lifelong physical activity while mastering an essential motor skill in an exciting and memorable way.
Get Free Sample Lessons!
Explore our K-5 Curriculum with these select Lesson Plans from some of our most popular Units. Each lesson includes a one page lesson overview, equipment checklist, game setup, teaching cues, standard alignment and more!
Teaching To The Standard – Underhand Roll
The underhand roll is a clearly defined standard within SHAPE America’s K-5 guidelines.
PreK-2: 1.2.6 Demonstrates rolling a ball in a variety of non-dynamic practice tasks.
3-5: 1.5.19 Demonstrates rolling a ball in a non-dynamic environment.
In addition to directly addressing the standards for rolling a ball, teaching and developing the underhand roll helps PE teachers equip young students with foundational skills that will later support the underhand throw.
PreK-2: 1.2.9 Demonstrates throwing in a variety of non-dynamic practice tasks.
3-5: 1.5.19 1.2.9 Demonstrates throwing in a variety of non-dynamic practice tasks.
Underhand Rolling Cues
When teaching the underhand roll in bowling, these key underhand rolling cues can help students develop proper technique and set them up for success.
Finger Placement – Keep the pinky and pointer fingers out of the holes. The thumb, middle, and ring fingers go in the holes.
Hand – Keep the hand under the ball (palm up) at all times.
Feet – Step forward with the opposite foot (e.g., if the ball is in the right hand, step with the left foot).
Arm – Swing the arm back, then forward, keeping it straight.
Release – Release the ball at a low level and follow through.
These simple underhand roll cue words and visual demonstrations can help elementary PE students build confidence and refine their underhand rolling technique in bowling activities.
13 Bowling Activities For Elementary PE
In PLT4M’s library of over 150 elementary PE lesson plans, there are 13 bowling activities for elementary PE that help practice and develop the underhand roll:
Add A Pin – A small group activity designed to give students practice at rolling for accuracy at an increasing number of pins.
Aerobic Bowling – A small group activity designed to help students work on rolling for accuracy and collecting bowling pins.
Bingo Bowling – Take a shot and mark off the number of pins that got knocked down to see which team or player gets “Bingo” first.
Blackout Bowling – A 6-pin bowling activity designed to get students working together to “blackout” their entire game sheet.
Bowling For Critters – A small group activity designed to practice rolling at a hoop in order to collect a critter.
Bowling For Dollars – Get your students bowling and earn money based on the number of pins they knock down!
Bowling Tic-Tac-Toe – Challenge a partner to a game of tic-tac-toe where you earn an “X” or an “O” every time you roll and knock down the pin.
Bowling With The Champs – A bowling activity designed to help students work on rolling for accuracy in a 1v1 champions vs challengers format.
Caterpillar Bowling – A small group activity designed to practice rolling at a single pin from a variety of distances.
Cube Collectors – Get your students to win math manipulative cubes based on the number of pins they knock down.
Full Lane Bowling – A full-lane bowling activity designed to get students working together to rotate through the positions and use technology to keep score.
Team Pin Knockdown – Be the team with the last pin standing in this large group bowling activity designed to help students work on rolling for accuracy.
Wacky Bowling – Put your underhand roll skills to the test as you compete in these 10 “wacky bowling challenges.
Want more than just bowling resources for elementary physical education class? Learn more about our full slate of elementary PE lesson plans made in partnership with our K-5 expert Mike Graham.
Get Free Sample Lessons!
Explore our K-5 Curriculum with these select Lesson Plans from some of our most popular Units. Each lesson includes a one page lesson overview, equipment checklist, game setup, teaching cues, standard alignment and more!
Sample Lesson From PLT4M’s Bowling “Underhand Roll” Activities Elementary PE
Check out one of PLT4M’s bowling activities for elementary PE. Featured in this blog is the activity “Add A Pin.”
In each lesson, PLT4M provides the following materials and resources for successful implementation of fun and exciting PE games and activities:
Is It My Turn Activity Sheet (Printable For Classroom Management)
Equipment Checklist
Game Set Up
Step by Step Directions
Best Practices
Key Takeaways on Underhand Roll and Bowling Activities for Elementary PE
There are countless fun and modified games to introduce the underhand roll via bowling to elementary students.
With a mix of activities, you can create an engaging bowling unit that helps students develop fundamental skills like rolling technique, accuracy, and teamwork.
While this blog post just scratches the surface, PLT4M offers a variety of unit resource packs, sample lesson plans, and more! Reach out to learn how you can enhance your PE program with PLT4M!
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