Are you looking for a way to put and extra spin on your bowling unit? If so, you should try giving disco bowling a whirl. Disco bowling is a glowing combination of neon color lights, glow sticks, along with disco lights/ball and music. It is fun and awesome way for the kids to experience and become completely engaged with bowling in their Physical Education classes.
Building Bowling Basics:
Prior to doing the disco bowling unit the students are taught in a progression how to bowl with all the lights on and all the safety concerns addressed that apply to our space and our care for others. The disco bowling is a culminating activity at the end of the unit.
First students are given demos and instructions on how to bowl and where to place fingers in the ball as well as safety concerns addressed. We do not worry about scoring. At this level the students just enjoy knocking pins down. They are told what happens with strikes and spares.
Students start at a close range (size of the gym could determine where you start) and only try to knock 3 pins down. Then students go from 3 to 5 pins. From there they go to 10 pins. If students prefer to have less pins, they have that choice as well. They need to be comfortable and successful and given choices. The distance away from the pins also varies with each lesson. Student also choose their distance if they are being safe and mindful of each other.
In my setting, students are placed in groups of 3 with 8 lanes across the gym separated by border patrol hockey barriers purchased through Gopher Sport, you may have something else that works to separate lanes. Soft bowling balls are used, not real ones. One student is the bowler, one student is the pin reset person, and one student returns the ball to the bowler. The students will rotate through each position throughout the entire class. Once the students have had success with regular bowling then disco bowling can be the finishing activity.
Creating the Ultimate Disco Bowling Experience
For disco bowling you will need disco lights, three small ones worked very well in my gymnasium, which is a bit on the smaller size. The disco lights were not the kind you hang from the ceiling, they were small, and you can place on floor, and it projects the lights all over the gymnasium. If you can project a giant disco ball from You Tube on the wall that helps with ambience as well. You will also need disco music which is appropriate for students. LED lights were used to light up the lanes and to help see the pins non-toxic glow bracelets were secured onto each pin.
Some extra considerations while attempting a disco bowling day. Be mindful of any students with sensitivity to strobe lights or moving lights, check with your school nurse to see if any students would not be able to participate and find and alternative activity if necessary. Do not use fast moving lights. Make sure you are confident your students will be safe in the dark and not scared or be mischievous. Give students plenty of time to get ready and so you can address any concerns. Be cautious with glow bracelets, I did not have any problems, but I made sure to collect all of them and knew how many I had to avoid any potential issues. Give yourself time to set up. This is a lot of set up but it completely worth it if you have the support from Administration and teachers. I had to leave the pins and lights set up for several days which had to be coordinated with our Extended Day program.
The students had an absolute blast, they were bowling, they were moving, and they were dancing and on task and they continue to ask for disco bowling. Some of them have said, “this was best PE class ever.”
