Jumping the Wiggly River

Long blue fabric strips on the ground are rivers; two children wiggle them from the ends to make low waves while the others jump over without getting wet. It works on two-footed jumping, timing and taking turns.

How to play

1. Lay four blue strips on the ground: they're rivers. Jump them while they're still, feet together, from one bank to the other (2 min).
2. At each river, two children hold the ends and slowly wiggle it along the ground like a snake; the others jump it as it passes (3 min).
3. Switch the river wigglers so everyone gets to jump and everyone gets to make waves (2 min).
4. Put two strips side by side to make a wide river and jump it with a running start, or in two hops using a “stepping stone” (3 min).
5. The river falls asleep and lies still: cross it on tiptoe, walking along the fabric as if it were a bridge (2 min).

Rules

• The river wiggles flat on the ground, never up high.
• Jump only when no one is in front of you.
• If you step in the river, shake off your feet and keep playing.
• Everyone takes a turn wiggling the river.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child crosses on a “bridge” (a still strip) or wiggles the river from their wheelchair while others jump.
• Visual impairment: a hand-holding classmate calls “Now!” as the fabric passes, and the strip can have a bell at each end.
• Less dexterity: use a narrow, still river that can be crossed with one big step.

Learning goals

• Jump with both feet over a low obstacle.
• Time a jump over something that's moving.
• Take turns wiggling and jumping.

Equipment for a class of 25

• long blue fabric strips: 4

Teacher tip

Strips should be thin and stay flat on the ground: no ropes or thick fabric that could catch feet. The usual mistake is wigglers lifting the fabric: “the river runs along the ground, like water.”

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