The Dolphins Jump the Waves Together

Children are dolphins swimming together behind a leader, jumping the waves and going through hoops their classmates hold. It practices jumping and group play.

How to play

1. The teacher explains that dolphins live in groups and swim together; we press our hands together over our head like a fin and walk with a wavy body (2 min).
2. The pod swims behind the lead dolphin (the teacher), and when the teacher says "Wave!", everyone hops to get over it (3 min).
3. Hoops on the floor are bubbles: the dolphins jump two-footed in and out, from bubble to bubble (3 min).
4. In pairs, one dolphin holds a hoop upright resting on the ground and the other ducks through it as if leaping through a hoop in the sea; then they switch (4 min).
5. The dolphins rest, floating together in a circle, breathing through the blowhole on top of their head: they breathe in and let it out with a "whoosh" (2 min).

Rules

• We swim as a group behind the leader.
• We jump with feet together and land softly.
• The hoop holder keeps it still until their friend gets through.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair holds the hoop or rolls through a large hoop held sideways at their height.
• Visual impairment: use high-contrast hoops, and the leader calls out each wave.
• Less skill: instead of jumping, they move from bubble to bubble with a big step.

Learning goals

• Jump with feet together and land with control.
• Move as a group following a leader.
• Cooperate by holding equipment for a partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Hoops: 15

Teacher tip

Place hoops one small step apart so they don't overreach. The common mistake when holding the hoop is lifting it as the friend goes through, so ask them to keep it touching the floor.

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