Frogs In and Out of the Pond

Each child is a frog with a hoop pond on the floor. On the teacher's cue they jump in, out, around, or switch ponds. It builds two-foot jumping, careful listening and spatial awareness through a classic in-and-out game.

How to play

1. Before starting, spread the hoops around the gym, one per child, well apart. Each child stands outside their hoop.
2. Show the frog jump: squat, hands on the floor, jump forward with both feet. Everyone tries it three times without a hoop.
3. Cues for 2 minutes: "Into the pond!" (jump inside the hoop) and "Onto the bank!" (jump out). Say them slowly at first, then faster.
4. Add "Sleepy frog!": crouch still inside the hoop until you hear "ribbit." Then "Bouncy frog!": hop around the hoop two times.
5. Cue "Ribbit, switch ponds!": all frogs leave and frog-jump to a different empty hoop. Play 2 minutes mixing all the cues.
6. To finish, pick up half the hoops; now two frogs share each pond and jump in and out together.

Rules

• Jump with feet together and land with soft knees.
• Look before switching ponds so nobody bumps.
• Don't step on the hoop: it can slide.
• If two frogs arrive together, they share the pond.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: instead of jumping, the child moves feet or hands in and out of the hoop from their spot.
• Hearing loss: pair each cue with a gesture (palm down for in, palm out for the bank).
• More skilled kids hop on one foot; less skilled kids step in and out.

Learning goals

• Jump with both feet together in and out of a hoop.
• React to spoken and visual cues.
• Find an empty hoop while moving through space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 20

Teacher tip

Set the hoops out before the class comes in so nobody waits. If hoops slide on a slick floor, swap them for chalk or tape circles.

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