Cricket Hops on the Ankle Elastic
A Chinese jump rope tied between two chairs at ankle height becomes the crickets' house: kids jump over it, step on it and hop in and out to a made-up chant. Kids practice two-foot jumping and get a taste of traditional elastic jump-rope games.
How to play
- The teacher ties the elastic around the legs of two chairs at ankle height, making a long rectangle, and we learn the chant "Cricket, cricket, hop, hop, hop, in you go, out you go, step on top!" (2 min).
- Taking quick turns, we jump from outside to inside and back out with feet together (3 min).
- We step on the elastic with both feet and hop off it (3 min).
- We do the whole chant: in, out, step on, hop off (4 min).
- Each child makes up a cricket jump and the others copy it (3 min).
Rules
- The elastic stays at my ankles or on the chairs; I never pull it up high.
- I jump with my feet close together.
- If I mess up, I start my chant again.
- I wait for my friend to come out before I go in.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, lay the elastic flat on the ground and just jump in and out.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, elastic at ankle height with the full chant.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, set up two elastic stations where two kids act as the chairs, holding it with their ankles.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the elastic lies on the ground and the child rolls the wheels or walker in and out to the chant.
- Visual impairment: use a thick, brightly colored elastic and the teacher names each move just before it.
- Autism: keep the chant exactly the same each time and support it with in/out/step picture cards.
Learning goals
- Jump with feet together in and out.
- Link movements together following a chant.
- Learn about the traditional elastic jump-rope game.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Chinese jump rope: 3
- Chairs: 6
Teacher tip
With two or three stations set up, there's no waiting line. Use heavy chairs, or have a child sit on each one, so they don't tip when the elastic stretches.
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