Cocherito Leré: Long Rope Rhyme with a Duck
A traditional folk long rope game: while the group sings the folk rhyme, the jumper jumps to the beat and ducks on every "leré" so the rope passes overhead. Students work on rhythm, reacting to a sound cue, and learning a classic singing game.
How to play
- Make groups of 6 to 8 with a long rope and two turners; everyone else lines up 6 feet to the side of the rope (2 min).
- Teach the traditional rhyme by singing without the rope; the group claps on every "leré" (3 min).
- Practice without jumping: the rope turns slowly and each student practices ducking as it swings high, standing beside it (3 min).
- Game: one jumper runs in while the rope turns, jumps to the beat, and ducks on each "leré" as the rope passes overhead; when the rhyme ends, the jumper runs out (6 min).
- Rotation: the jumper becomes a turner and a turner joins the line; everyone jumps and turns at least twice (included in the time above).
- Final variation: two students go in holding hands and sing together (4 min).
Rules
- Turners raise the rope on every "leré" so the jumper can duck.
- Enter from the side where the rope is coming down toward the floor, after the previous jumper is out.
- Turn the rope with the whole arm, never at face height.
- The line waits 6 feet away so nobody gets hit by the rope.
Variations
Easier
Start inside a still rope and have turners swing it back and forth without turning it all the way over.
Standard
Run in with the rope turning, jump, and duck on each "leré."
Harder
When the rhyme ends, run out without touching the rope and have the next jumper run in without stopping it.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: be the song leader, or turn the rope seated with the other end tied to wall bars.
- Hearing impairment: a classmate raises a hand on each "leré" to signal the duck.
- Skill level: students who can't jump a turning rope do it with the rope swinging like a pendulum.
Learning goals
- Learn and enjoy a traditional singing game.
- Match jumps and ducks to the rhythm of a song.
- Take turns as turner and jumper.
Equipment for a class of 25
- long rope: 4
Teacher tip
Six-year-old turners find it hard to lift the rope on "leré," so practice that move separately with them. If no one knows the rhyme, the teacher can sing it while the class just claps.
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