Hop Over the Little Board
Each child has a jump rope stretched out on the ground as a "little board" and hops over it to the rhythm of the Mexican chant "Brinca la tablita." It warms up the body with two-foot jumps and practices rhythm and counting.
How to play
- Each child lays a rope straight on the ground: that is their little board. The teacher hops over it singing the Spanish chant "Brinca la tablita, yo ya la brinqué…" ("Hop the little board, I already hopped it, now you hop it, I'm all tired out") (1 min).
- Everyone sings and hops side to side over the board with feet together, one hop on each strong beat (2 min).
- Go on to the counting part, "Dos y dos son cuatro…" ("Two and two make four, four and two make six…"), with one hop for each number we say (1 min).
- Change the way we hop: forward and back, sideways, on one foot for a moment, or like frogs (2 min).
- Finish by tightrope-walking along the board and then rolling up the rope (1 min).
Rules
- Everyone hops over their own board, not a friend's.
- We land softly with bent knees.
- When the teacher says "I'm tired!", we sit down on our board.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, curve the rope into a narrow river; crossing with a hop or a big step is enough.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, two-foot hops to the beat and counting out loud in the number part.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, alternate side and forward hops, and raise the board just off the ground on two low foam blocks.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child who can't jump crosses the board in a wheelchair or with a step, or keeps the beat by patting their legs.
- More skilled children: hop on one foot or do a half turn in the air.
- Visual impairment: use a thick rope or a pool noodle that can be felt underfoot, and the teacher claps on every hop.
Learning goals
- Jump with feet together and land softly.
- Match jumps to the beat of a traditional chant.
- Warm up the body before the main activity.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Jump ropes: 25
Teacher tip
"Brinca la tablita" is a well-known Mexican jump-rope chant; laying the rope on the ground lets the whole class jump at once. Space the ropes two big steps apart, because kids drift closer as they get excited.
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