Beach Ball and Tennis Ball Activity - Reproductive Systems

Today in health we started our unit on the reproductive systems. Below is the activity that I use as an introduction. I pick 2 student volunteers to "act" out the two systems while the rest of the class tried to figure out what they represent. I usually select volunteers that can use a little embarassement. Needless to say the volunteers quickly return to their seat once they realize what they are representing :-)


Beach Ball and Tennis Ball Activity -

Activity:  This activity is fun and helps students understand the male and female reproductive system.  You have to be a little crazy and energetic to do it, but research will confirm that when we use metaphorical thinking students retain and understand the concept better.   You can add or delete what you are or are not comfortable with in this activity.  Have fun!

Materials:

Male:

1. Two beach balls
2. Two tennis balls
3. One basketball hat or something similar for head
4. Two golf balls
5. Two markers/pencil

Female:

1. Two cups with two tennis balls inside
2. Red Jacket
3. One basketball
4. Tissue

Male:

Hold two beach balls in your hands down to your sides……place two tennis balls with tape to your shoulders…….the basketball or large round hat is on your head…….the golf balls taped to your knees and the markers are the sperm that travel through the system. Explain the male reproductive system with the following props starting with the testicle

1. Testicles:  beach balls
2. Sperm:  Markers/Pencils that come from the testicle and up the arms (vas deferens)
3. Epididymis: Your hands that are holding the back of the beach balls
4. Vas Deferens:  Your arms
5. Seminal Vesicle:  The tennis balls taped to your shoulders
6. Prostate:  Your head
7. Urinary Bladder:  Hat on your head/or basketball on your head
8. Cowpers Gland:  Golf Balls on your knees
9. Penis:  Legs
10. Urethra:  Between your legs

Female:

Hold two cups with one tennis ball in each cup.  Hold arms extended out to sides.  Pop a tennis ball out of the cup and down the arm to show ovulation.   Put on red coat and take it off to show menstruation of the endometrium. The basketball can be placed in front of your stomach to show the urinary bladder.  The tissue would be between your knees to show the hymen…which some girls have and some do not.)  Explain the female reproductive system with the following props starting with the ovary (cups).

1. Ovary:  Cups
2. Ova:  Tennis balls
3. Fallopian Tubes:  Arms
4. Uterus:  Trunk of Body
5. Endometrium:  Red Jacket    
6. Urinary Bladder:  Basketball
7. Cervix:  Knees
8. Hymen: Tissue between knees
9. Vagina:  Legs
10. Labia:  Feet