Master Materials List

Prepare these items before starting the 3-week unit. These materials are selected for safety, small hands, and high engagement:

• Soft Foam Frisbees: 2–3 per child (essential for indoor safety and preventing boo-boos).
• Paper Plates: 10–12 heavy-duty paper plates (used to make DIY decorated frisbees).
• Hula Hoops: 2–3 hoops (for targets).
• Colorful Plastic Cones: 6–8 cones (to mark throwing and standing stations).
• Plush Toys: 3–4 small stuffed animals (to act as "targets" or "passengers").
• Masking Tape / Painter's Tape: For floor markings (indoor use) or sidewalk chalk (outdoor use).
• Bright Stickers: To mark proper thumb placement on the frisbees.
• Laundry Basket or Large Cardboard Box: The "Frisbee Monster" target.

Week 1: Meet the Frisbee!

Focus: Familiarity, two-handed grip, spatial awareness, and sliding.

Learning Objectives

• Students will identify a frisbee and explore its shape and texture.
• Students will demonstrate a two-handed "steering wheel" grip.
• Students will slide a frisbee across the floor to knock over a soft target.

Success Criteria

The student can hold the frisbee with two hands and slide it forward along the floor toward a designated line.

1. Introduction & Hook (10 Minutes)

The Hook: Sit in a circle. Pull a soft foam frisbee out of a colorful gift bag or box.

Talking Points (Ages 3-6 appropriate):

"Look what is inside my magic bag today! It’s round like a giant pancake! But wait, we don't eat it... we spin it! Touch it—is it soft? Is it bumpy? It’s a Frisbee! Today, our frisbees are going to turn into steering wheels for rocket ships!"

Warm-Up Activity: Give each child a frisbee. Have them hold it with two hands like a steering wheel. Run around the space safely. When you say "Red Light!", they must stop and lift their frisbee high above their heads like a crown.

2. Body of the Lesson: "I Do, We Do, You Do" (20 Minutes)

A. "I Do" (Teacher Modeling)

Show the children how to sit on their bottoms on the floor. Hold the frisbee flat against the floor. Place your hand flat on top of it.

Talking Points:

"Watch my magic hand. I put my hand flat on my pancake. I push... and slide! Wheeeee! It slides across the floor like an ice skater!"

B. "We Do" (Guided Practice)

Sit opposite the student(s) about 3 feet apart on a smooth floor (wood, tile, or low carpet).

• Place a colorful sticker on top of the frisbee.
• Have the child put their hand directly on the sticker.
• Practice sliding the frisbee back and forth to each other. Keep it on the ground!
• If playing with a single homeschooler, slide it back and forth with them, calling out: "1, 2, 3... Slide to me!"

C. "You Do" (Independent Practice & Play)

Game: Frisbee Bowling!

• Set up 3 lightweight plastic cups or soft plush toys about 3-4 feet away.
• Mark a starting line with painter's tape or a cone.
• Give the child 3 soft frisbees.
• Challenge them to slide the frisbee along the floor to knock down the targets.

3. Conclusion & Assessment (10 Minutes)

• Recap: Have the children hold their frisbees flat like a tray. Ask: "Are our frisbees soup bowls or flat pancakes?" (Flat pancakes!).
• Formative Assessment Check: Ask the child to show you their "steering wheel grip." Observe if they use two hands on the outer rim.
• Clean-Up Fun: Have them fly their frisbees back into the storage basket like landing helicopters: "Chop-chop-chop, land in the box!"

Adaptations for Diverse Learners

• Scaffolding (Struggling): If sliding is hard, use paper plates instead of foam frisbees. They slide much easier on carpets and are lighter.
• Extension (Advanced): Increase the distance of the bowling targets. Have them try to slide the frisbee using only their non-dominant hand.

Week 2: The Flying Pizza!

Focus: Single-hand grip, the arm swing, and the concept of releasing.

Learning Objectives

• Students will demonstrate a one-handed grip with their thumb on top of the frisbee.
• Students will swing their arm across their body and release the frisbee forward.

Success Criteria

The student can stand at a throw line, grip the frisbee with one hand, and throw it forward in the air (even a short distance) toward a target area.

1. Introduction & Hook (10 Minutes)

The Hook: Put on an imaginary chef hat. Pretend to roll out dough on the floor.

Talking Points:

"Welcome back, Chefs! Today we are making flying pizzas! Look at my pizza crust (hold up the frisbee). We need to hold it tight so the cheese doesn't fall off! Put your thumb on top—squeeze it like a little crab claw! Pinch it! Can you say, 'Pinch the pizza'?"

Warm-Up Activity: Give children paper plates. Let them draw "pizza toppings" on them with crayons for 5 minutes. This creates ownership and gets them excited to throw their custom "pizzas."

2. Body of the Lesson: "I Do, We Do, You Do" (20 Minutes)

A. "I Do" (Teacher Modeling)

Show how to hold the paper plate or foam frisbee with one hand. Place a bright smiley-face sticker on the rim. Put your thumb right on the sticker, and wrap your fingers underneath.

Talking Points:

"Watch Chef [Name]. I hug the pizza to my belly. I say, 'One, two, three, fly!' and swing my arm open like a gate. Pop! The pizza flies!"

B. "We Do" (Guided Practice)

• Help the child place their thumb on the sticker (the "crab pinch").
• Stand behind the child. Gently guide their elbow/arm.
• Have them curl their arm into their belly, then swing it straight out, releasing the plate. Repeat this motion without letting go first, then try it letting go together.

C. "You Do" (Independent Practice & Play)

Game: Feed the Frisbee Monster!

• Decorate a large cardboard box or laundry basket to look like a silly monster with a wide-open mouth.
• Place a cone 3 feet away as the "chef's kitchen."
• Give the child their paper plate pizzas and foam frisbees.
• Let them throw the "pizzas" into the monster's mouth. Cheer loudly every time a plate lands inside or hits the box!

3. Conclusion & Assessment (10 Minutes)

• Recap: Ask the child: "Where does our thumb go when we pinch the pizza?" (On top!). Have them show you their crab-pinch hand.
• Formative Assessment Check: Watch the child throw three times. Are they throwing forward, or dropping it straight down? Celebrate any forward motion!
• Rest Time: Balance the frisbee on their heads while walking slowly back to the circle. If it falls, they must freeze!

Adaptations for Diverse Learners

• Scaffolding (Struggling): If throwing is too difficult, let them throw into a hula hoop lying flat on the floor right at their feet.
• Extension (Advanced): Challenge the child to step forward with one foot (same side as throwing hand) while they throw.

Week 3: Camp Frisbee Championship!

Focus: Catching mechanics (alligator catch), target accuracy, and teamwork.

Learning Objectives

• Students will attempt to catch a gently tossed/dropped frisbee using two hands ("Alligator Catch").
• Students will navigate a simple outdoor/indoor frisbee obstacle course.

Success Criteria

The student will actively try to catch a tossed frisbee by clamping two hands together, and will complete a three-step target course.

1. Introduction & Hook (10 Minutes)

The Hook: Put on safari hats or pretend binoculars. Look around the room.

Talking Points:

"Oh my goodness, look! I see flying alligators in the swamp! Do you know how an alligator chomps? Show me your big alligator arms! Chomp, chomp! Today, we are going to use our alligator arms to catch the flying frisbees!"

Warm-Up Activity: "Alligator Claps." Play music. Have children walk around. When the music stops, they must clap their hands together vertically (top-to-bottom, not side-to-side) and yell "CHOMP!"

2. Body of the Lesson: "I Do, We Do, You Do" (20 Minutes)

A. "I Do" (Teacher Modeling)

Hold a soft foam frisbee. Toss it up gently in the air to yourself (about 1 foot high) and catch it by clamping your hands flat together like an alligator mouth.

Talking Points:

"Look at my alligator mouth! The frisbee flies close... and CHOMP! My hands clap together to catch it safely!"

B. "We Do" (Guided Practice)

• Stand very close to the child (2 feet away).
• Hold the frisbee at chest height. Tell them: "Get your alligator mouth ready!"
• Gently drop/toss the frisbee directly into their open, waiting hands. Encourage them to squeeze their hands together.
• Repeat 5 times, celebrating every contact with the hands, even if they drop it!

C. "You Do" (The Ultimate Camp Course!)

Set up a simple 3-station obstacle course using your cones and hoops:

1. Station 1 (The Launchpad): Stand inside a hula hoop and throw a frisbee as far as you can. Run and pick it up.
2. Station 2 (The Balance Walk): Walk to the next cone while balancing the frisbee on your head.
3. Station 3 (The Target Hoop): Try to throw the frisbee through a hula hoop hanging from a chair or tree branch.

3. Conclusion & Celebration (10 Minutes)

• Recap: Gather the campers. Ask: "How does the alligator catch the frisbee? Show me!" (All kids clap hands together).
• Summative Assessment & Reward: Present each child with a "Frisbee Champion" sticker to place on their favorite paper plate or foam frisbee.
• Group Cheer: Put all hands in the middle, place a frisbee on top, and yell: "1, 2, 3... CAMP FRISBEE!"

Adaptations for Diverse Learners

• Scaffolding (Struggling): If catching a thrown frisbee is too hard, have them catch a balloon instead to practice the hand clamp motion at a slower speed.
• Extension (Advanced): Have the child throw the frisbee to a partner (or parent) and try to catch a return throw from 4–5 feet away.