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Home » All categories » Language Activities for Preschoolers: Preposition Fun With Balls

Language Activities for Preschoolers: Preposition Fun With Balls

April 15, 2015 •

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Time for our weekly Playful Preschool Series .  This week we are exploring lots of activities to do with balls.

Playing in general is a wonderful way to develop language skills.  We are excited to show you a language activity that works on learning about prepositions.

Ball and Magna Tile Language Play

Language activities for preschoolers are fun and playful with this ball and Magna Tile activity. Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

Why We Chose This Language Activity

My 3 year-old’s favorite toy is [easyazon_link identifier=”B0093LSWIE” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Magna Tiles.[/easyazon_link]  They are a bit of an investment but one I’m so glad we made.  Both of my kids play with them on a daily basis.  I love to listen to them describe their creations and problem solve when something doesn’t work quite the way they want it to.

To add a new dynamic to the mix one day, I set out a tray of small balls for them to incorporate into their play.

Setting Up

Set-up for this play is super easy!  You will need a set of [easyazon_link identifier=”B000CBSNRY” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Magna Tiles[/easyazon_link]and a collection of small balls.

The Activity

I let the boys just explore for a bit with the tiles and balls.   Then, I told them that I had some challenges for them.  They were pretty excited!

Making a box for a ball to work on language skills for preschoolers.

I said, “One ball needs to fit inside a box.  Can you build a box for one ball?”  They quickly began building boxes with the tiles. My youngest preschooler enjoying seeing how many balls he could fit inside the box.

Using Magna Tiles for a ball to cross in this language activity for preschoolers.

Then I said, “A ball wants to travel over a bridge.  Can you build a bridge for the ball?”  My 4 year-old enjoyed trying to make a trestle bridge.

The boys played for over an hour with this activity.

Here are some more challenge suggestions.

Place two balls under a bridge.

Build two boxes.  Place a ball between the houses.

Build a fence with tiles.  Place a ball behind the fence.

Roll a ball down a ramp.

This activity is a great way to develop language skills with your preschoolers.

Related Posts

Labeling the Farm

Rainbow Climb Language Activity

Books to Get Kids Excited About Vocabulary

Keep reading.  Visit the links below for more great ball ideas from the #playfulpreschool team!

Ball Theme Alphabet Activity: Kick the Cup by Mom Inspired Life
Rhymes with Ball Ending Word Sounds Game by Capri + 3
Teaching Word Families with Ping Pong Balls by Fun-A-Day
Math Activities with Balls by The Educators’ Spin On It
Ball Jar Numbers by Learning 2 Walk
Fine Motor Ball Color Sorting by Still Playing School
What Makes Balls Bounce by Rainy Day Mum

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Filed Under: All categories, Reading Ideas

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Comments

  1. Laura at Mommy Maleta says

    April 26, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Great Idea! And congrats this post was the most clicked on at The Thoughtful Spot Blog Hop and will be featured tomorrow! Thanks for linking up your preschool education & fun!

  2. Samantha @ Stir the Wonder says

    April 25, 2015 at 7:41 pm

    Love these activities! This post will be featured as the post with the most clicks! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you join us again next week!

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 25, 2015 at 8:12 pm

      Wow, thank you Samantha!

  3. Nichole {youclevermonkey} says

    April 18, 2015 at 7:47 am

    Have you seen the book ‘The Bouncing Ball’ Jodie? It would be a great match for this activity! I came across it at the library last year: http://www.youclevermonkey.com/2014/06/prepositions-and-picture-books-2.html
    Please excuse the link drop but I think you’d love this book 🙂

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 18, 2015 at 9:49 am

      Oh I will have to check that out, thank you!

  4. Theresa says

    April 15, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    What a great exercise in building and following directions! We have Magna Tiles and balls and will have to try this out.

  5. Danielle says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I absolutely love this! It’s a fantastic way to incorporate language skills and engineering!

  6. Amanda says

    April 15, 2015 at 9:34 am

    This looks like so much fun. I’ve been eyeing magnatiles for a while!

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 15, 2015 at 9:37 am

      Amanda, they are wonderful! I held off for a long time because of the price, but they have been a favorite from the first day we got them. I’m amazed at the things the boys come up to do with them. We have ordered more since the kids want to build bigger and bigger creations.

  7. Cerys says

    April 15, 2015 at 3:35 am

    Fantastic activity – this is something that I need to work on with my youngest she keeps getting confused with multiple prepositions

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 15, 2015 at 9:38 am

      Hope it is successful for you Cerys!

Trackbacks

  1. Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop #85 | ABC Creative Learning says:
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    […] VIEWED LAST WEEK! Language Activities for Preschoolers: Preposition Fun With Balls By: Growing Book by Book Super Cute Butterfly Magnet Crafts For Kids By: Sunshine Whispers   […]

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  3. Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop #85 - Stir The Wonder says:
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  6. Teaching Word Families with Ping Pong Balls - Fun-A-Day! says:
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    […] Ball Ending Word Sounds Game by Capri + 3 Teaching Word Families with Ping Pong Balls by Fun-A-Day Language Activities for Preschoolers: Preposition Fun With Balls by Growing Book by Book Ball Jar Numbers by Learning 2 Walk Fine Motor Ball Color Sorting by Still […]

  7. Ball Theme Alphabet Activity: Kick the Cup - Mom Inspired Life says:
    April 15, 2015 at 7:27 am

    […] Ball Ending Word Sounds Game by Capri + 3 Teaching Word Families with Ping Pong Balls by Fun-A-Day Language Activities for Preschoolers: Preposition Fun With Balls by Growing Book by Book Ball Jar Numbers by Learning 2 Walk Fine Motor Ball Color Sorting by Still […]

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