Kate has excellent ball skills and loved when we played some of the Yulunga Traditional Aboriginal Games that have been published by the Australian Government in a booklet. The games can be modified and played with modern equipment. They are an excellent way to promote understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture as well as being fun physical activities.
Kate has learnt two ball spinning games.
JIllora
is a game where children spin a big ball on the ground and see whose ball spins for the longest. Kate played with a soccer ball and we times the spins on an iPhone but when playing with the children, you could have the children counting out loud how long the ball spins for and then compare whose ball spins the longest.
Pirrha
is a game that was traditionally played with gypsum balls Aboriginal women made and then spun on a disc/plate. Lynda used an upside down frisbee and a small handball to spin.
Both games work on fine motor skills, gross motor skills and balance. Numeracy concepts such as time and comparisons are incorporated as well. The games encourage the children to play in groups which is great for building a sense of community and belonging. The games are also fun and take a bit of problem solving to manage as well.
Here is a video of Lynda playing the Pirrha game.
And here is a link to the whole Yulunga Games Program.
You can also go to the Sports Australia website to read more about Yulunga Games.
TASK: Read through the Yulunga Games document with your coach and pick out 2 more games to learn and share with the children. Learn the games, find equipment and then video yourself showing the children how to play the games.
Comments