Bunny, Stork and Bound Relay

A relay where each lane is split into three sections, each with a different way of jumping: two-foot bunny hops, one-foot stork hops, and long bounding strides from foot to foot. Students explore the different take-offs used later in the long jump and triple jump.

How to play

1. Form 4 teams of 6 and mark a 15 m lane for each, split into three 5 m sections with colored flat disc cones: blue, red, and yellow (2 min).
2. Demonstrate each jump: blue section two-foot hops, red section hopping on the preferred foot, yellow section long bounds in the air (2 min).
3. Practice round with no racing: each student goes through the lane once and jogs back outside it (3 min).
4. Relay: the first runner does all three sections, rounds the end cone, jogs back outside the lane, and high-fives the next teammate; first team finished earns 3 points, second 2, and the rest 1 (4 min).
5. Second round with the sections in a different order and hopping on the other foot (3 min).
6. Tally the points and ask: which jump moves you forward the most? (1 min).

Rules

• Complete each section with its own jump; switching early means going back to the start of that section.
• Jog back outside the lane to avoid collisions.
• Leave only after the high-five behind the line.
• Land with bent knees to protect the joints.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility: move through the course using three ways of traveling they can manage, such as forward, turning, and sideways.
• Autism or shyness: post a picture of each animal at the start of its section as a reminder of the jump.
• Fitness or skill level: faster students carry a beanbag that must not drop; students who tire while hopping may switch feet halfway through.

Learning goals

• Tell apart two-foot jumps, one-foot hops, and bounding strides.
• Keep a jumping rhythm through short sections.
• Follow relay rules and cheer on the team.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 8
• flat disc cones: 16

Teacher tip

Hopping tires out six-year-olds quickly; shorten that section if you see them stopping. The colored cones remind students when to switch without you having to talk.

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