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Unit 2 - Theatre History
Module 2: Jesters, Tricksters and Fools
Lesson 4 - Learn to Juggle

Introduction:
The objective of this lesson is to learn how to juggle.

Objectives:
- to concentrate during drama experiences
- to initiate out-of-class activities to support in-class work

Resources:
balloons, scissors, and sand or tennis balls, open space and blank wall

CELs:
COM

Components: Creative/Productive

Quick Juggling Facts

  • Juggling is keeping two or more things in the air at one time by catching and tossing them. This is referred to as toss juggling.
  • In juggling, the objects you throw are called props. Many people associate balls with juggling, but lots of objects are used.
  • We can only tell when juggling originated by pictures or stories. The earliest known picture of toss juggling is from Egypt in about 1994-1781 BC. However, there is a Greek statue from about 200 BC that shows a man balancing balls on his body. This likely indicates juggling.
  • Common types of toss juggling include cascade and fountain.

Activities:

These activities are written as instructions for the students. As the teacher, you should try all of these activities before asking your students to attempt them:

Making your own juggling balls:
• Cut the tips of your two balloons
• Fill one balloon with sand to the point where it gives only slightly to the touch
• Pull the other balloon over the first so that the openings are on opposite sides of the new ball
• If done correctly, you will be able to see the bottom of the original balloon in the hole of the balloon you stretched over it

Learning Cascade Juggling:

Step One:
• Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and toss one ball back and forth between two hands.
• The ball should have a nice even arc that is slightly above your head.
• Continue to do this until you do not need to move your hands much to catch the balls.

 

Photograph of Mike Diakuw by Wendy James

Step Two:
• Pick up a second ball.
• Hold one ball in each hand.
• Throw the first ball as in step one.
• Throw the second ball when the first ball is at its highest point.
• Don't catch, let them fall to the ground.
• Keep repeating until the balls fall consistently right in front of your toes.

Step Three:
• Repeat step two, but now catch the balls instead of dropping them.
• Keep repeating until you have a continuos motion and have to move your hands very little to catch.

Photograph of Mike Diakuw by Wendy James
TIP: If at any point you find yourself moving, stand about two feet from a wall and repeat the steps.
Since movement causes pain when you hit the wall, you will soon stop moving.

Step Four:
• Add the third ball to your tosses.
• Toss every time a ball reaches the top of the arch.
• Catch with the hand that has just thrown.
• Try to keep your tosses as low or "tight" as possible and move very little.

 

Photograph of Mike Diakuw by Wendy James

Instructional Strategies: Demonstration, Drill and Practice

Evaluation: Use learning juggle as a potential bonus opportunity and reward it well. While the steps sound easy, a substantial amount of practice is necessary. Bonus marks are an appropriate reward for this. A sample bonus rubric is included in pdf.

Alternative On-Line Activity: All the activities are easily done on-line using available resources. Instructions for juggling including an animated step-by-step guide are available at http://www.acm.uiuc.edu/webmonkeys/juggling/

An excellent write-up on how to juggle (including adaptations for special need) is found at http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/juggling/bar.html

After viewing resources material, students could practice the technique and have a local teacher evaluate the juggling based on the bonus rubric (pdf). This could be faxed or e-mailed to the teacher of the course.

 

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