You need to know, “What materials give me the biggest bang for the buck? What materials do I absolutely need to run the most lessons I can from Montessori Physical Education (especially when cost is an issue)?” If you ever had these questions, this blog post is for you!
The recommended equipment list is meant specifically for my Montessori Physical Education lessons. There is a lot of great PE equipment that I have not used yet, but will in the future.
This is what I would consider the Essential Equipment List. The total cost of purchasing all these materials would be around $600.
It consists of:
Comes in sets of 6
Cones
One set of each should work well
Comes in a pack of 24
Each set comes with 6 (recommend 3 sets)
It comes in sets of 6
This is what I would consider the Necessary but Potentially Pricey Equipment List. This list has some interchangeable pieces depending on whether your play space is inside or outside. For example, the 55-gallon containers can be used instead of the adjustable basketball hoops (especially if you only have an outside space). While the basketball hoops can be expensive (about $400 each), the adjustable capability is integral to your younger students’ success in some games. If you buy the Essential List and the Necessary but Potentially Pricey List, the total will vary between $2000 to $3000 (really, depending on the adjustable hoops).
It consists of:
Basketballs
A standard basketball set comes with 6
Having a set of mini basketballs is suitable for your younger students
The Wilson Evolution is my favorite basketball on the market, and I would recommend it to anyone running a basketball team. Otherwise, it's too pricey for PE class.
If you have the budget for them, I would get at least two
One bucket comes with 48 balls
Soccer balls / Volleyballs / Kickballs
Each set comes with six
55 Gallon Container (if basketball hoops are not an option)
I would suggest at least two, but four is best
This is what I would consider the "Money Is No Object" Equipment List. If you have a substantial budget, this is the rest of the equipment I use for my lessons. Honestly, it took me years to accumulate all this equipment, so don’t feel like you need it all immediately. As long as you ensure the equipment lasts, you can add new pieces each year to build the collection. For example, the scooters I get are from Cosom, and they are excellent but expensive. I bought a set of six each year, and after three years, I finally had enough to work for me. If you buy everything, the total will be around $ 6,000.
It consists of:
Score Keeper
The electronic one is pricey but pretty nice
Flip scorekeeper is more gentle on the budget
I would get at least 4
36 X 48 board
A set of 12 depends on how many students you have
For your larger middle school students, longer sticks may be necessary
A set of 40 pool noodles should be more than enough
I would get at least four
Don’t cheap out on scooters. The best are 16-inch premium boards. They roll so much better than anything else on the market. Buy one set a year until you have enough for your students.
Tape Measure / Walking Measurer
Just need one of each
Get some longer 16ft ropes and some individual 9ft ropes.
These also come in handy if you plan on having a flag football team
Basic Lego or building block set
One set of 500+ is more than enough
A cricket set comes with a bat and a wicket.
A baseball tee is a good investment for younger ages.
One deck is more than enough, but they usually come in two packs
I would get two sets if possible
Spike ball nets (recommend Jogenmax)
Jogenmax is pricey, but so much easier to set up and put away, and mine has lasted for years with no problems.
I would purchase individual footballs as opposed to a set
Football can substitute for many throwing-and-catching games, so depending on preference, it could be used more often.
These can be very expensive, so I suggest going to a used sports equipment store to buy what you need. Good used tennis rackets are about $20 a piece.
You may want several of these depending on your play space and the number of students.
Hand scoops (or junior lacrosse sticks)
A set comes with twelve, so you may need several sets.
Buy either the 50ft or 100ft spool
These are very useful but a little pricey, and can be made if you have the time.
So there’s the list. Again, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list that covers all your athletic school needs, especially if you run sports programs. This list is meant to point you toward the materials you need to run Montessori Physical Education lessons. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program, which means that when you click a link directly from this site, it supports Montessori Physical Education.