„Edubal” jako nowa metoda w pedagogii gier i zabaw z piłką – przegląd badań

The aim of this study was to sum up the experiences gained during twelve-year research on effects of using educational balls called ‘edubal’ in PE classes in grades 1 to 3 of the primary school (i.e. children aged 7 to 10). The research was carried out in Poland an in Germany. The authors focused their attention on objectives and tasks of contemporary education of children aged 7 to 10 – first of all supporting and stimulating comprehensive development of children, especially with regard to improving coordinative motor abilities which determine, inter alia, reading and writing skills. Employment of ‘edubal’ education balls in early school education (grades 1 to 3 of the primary school) activates cognitive, emotional and physical spheres of a child and hence contributes to the integration of the subject content. The children while participating in PE classes with the use of education balls learn about letters, spelling rules, colours, mathematical signs and punctuation marks as well as numerous rules which are useful in linguistic and mathematical education and they shape their coordination abilities and improve physical skills. Moreover, they also develop their coordination abilities. ‘Edubal’ education balls have a much wider scope of application than it was the case twelve years ago. They are also used in occupational therapy of disabled persons and in work with dyslectic children who attend therapeutic schools.