The Queen of the Seas Jumps In

To the traditional Spanish jump-rope rhyme "Soy la reina de los mares" ("I'm the queen of the seas: I throw my handkerchief down and pick it back up"), children jump a long rope that the adult swings or turns slowly and low, touching the ground at the handkerchief line. It works on rhythmic jumping, running in and out of the rope and a classic playground rope game.

How to play

1. Sitting down, learn the rhyme while acting out throwing the handkerchief down and picking it up (2 min).
2. Without a rope, jump in place to the rhyme and touch the ground on "I throw my handkerchief down" (2 min).
3. Rope lying still on the ground, then swinging low: jump it one at a time (3 min).
4. Rope turning slowly: run in when the teacher says "now!", jump, touch the ground and run out (5 min).
5. The whole rhyme in the rope for anyone who wants; everyone else sings and claps (2 min).

Rules

• I wait my turn in line, away from the rope.
• I go in when the teacher says "now!".
• If the rope stops on me, no big deal: back to the line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Less coordination: the rope stays still on the ground and the child jumps it at their own pace.
• Limited mobility: turn the rope with the teacher from the wheelchair and lead the singing.
• Hearing loss: give the "now!" with a tap on the shoulder or by dropping your hand.

Learning goals

• Jump a rope in time with its rhythm.
• Run in and out of the rope at the right moment.
• Learn a traditional jump-rope rhyme.

Equipment for a class of 25

• long jump rope: 2

Teacher tip

Turn the rope very slowly and let it brush the ground: the slap tells them when to jump. If there's no second adult, tie one end to a fence at about a child's waist height.

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