Background. The aim of the study is to verify relations between movement classes with the use of the educational balls “edubal” and the ability to write in lines in 1st grade students of elementary school. Material and methods. The study diagnosed 43 students (23 girls and 20 boys) from elementary school in Czarny Bór. Data were collected by means of a pedagogical experiment carried out with in parallel group technique (experimental and control group). The experimental factor was the program of physical activity classes integrated with teaching program in elementary school. The experimental group used the education balls “edubal” twice a week for 45 minutes. At the beginning and at the end of the school year “The pedagogical method of examination of reading and writing skills for grades I–III of primary school” by Straburzyńska and Śliwińska was used to evaluate students’ writing skills. Results. The research proved that the students from the experimental group significantly improved their writing skills and achieved better results than those from the control group. Girls made less mistakes than boys. Conclusion. The physical activities with the use of the educational balls “edubal” improve the elementary school students’ ability to write in lines. There are differences in the students’ writing skills performance based on sex.
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.
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