Jumping with Halteres: Recreate the Ancient Greek Jump

Students recreate the long jump from the ancient pentathlon, which was done swinging weights called halteres, using very light dumbbells. They measure their jump with and without weights and find that swinging loaded arms can lengthen the jump, linking history and biomechanics.

How to play

1. Show images of Greek pottery with jumpers holding halteres and ask: do the weights help or get in the way? (3 min).
2. In groups of three, each student does three standing broad jumps without weights on a chalk-marked area and the best is measured (6 min).
3. Technique: swing the arms back and forth with 1 kg dumbbells, take off with arms up and land under control (5 min).
4. Three jumps holding 1 kg dumbbells and bringing them forward on landing; the best is measured (7 min).
5. Compare results and explain the effect using arm momentum and the shift of the center of gravity; note who improved and who didn't (6 min).
6. Historical wrap-up: the ancient pentathlon and which of its events still exist today (3 min).

Rules

• Dumbbells never weigh more than 1.5 kg and are never released in the air: keep holding them.
• Jump onto an area with thin mats at the end or onto grass, never onto concrete.
• Nobody stands in front of the jumper or within 6 feet to the sides.
• Anyone with shoulder or back discomfort jumps without weights.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do a seated medicine ball throw with and without a preparatory swing to study the same effect.
• Hearing impairment: technique is demonstrated on video and the start is signaled with a gesture.
• Knee injury: act as measurer and analyst and explain the effect to the group with the data.

Learning goals

• Learn about the jump in the ancient Olympic pentathlon and its context.
• Test the effect of arm swing and load on the jump through experiment.
• Explain the result using biomechanics concepts.

Equipment for a class of 25

• dumbbells: 18
• tape measure: 9
• mats: 9
• chalk: 4
• worksheets: 9

Teacher tip

Research suggests a light load can improve a standing jump by a few centimeters; not everyone will notice it, and that's an interesting finding too.

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