Instant Activity

Name of Activity: Flying Through the Solar System

Purpose of Activity: The third through sixth grade students will cooperate in groups of four or five, memorize a science jump rope rhyme, and attempt to turn 180° while jumping in a long jump rope and reciting the “Flying through the Solar System” jump rope rhyme.

Activity cues:

1. Eyes on the rope
2. When the rope hits the X in the center, scoot in and jump
3. Rope turners watch the jumpers feet while jumper is jumping rope.

Prerequisites:

1. Long jump rope skills
2. Enter and exit a long jump rope
3. Ability to turn the body 180°

Suggested Grade Level: 3 - 6

Materials Needed:

One-16 foot long rope per group of 3; 2 turners and a jumper.
One copy of the "Flying through the Solar System" rhyme per group.

Full lesson plan that you can download/print. Includes Grading Rubric (PDF)

Description of Idea

Variations:

TRICK MOVES:

High Jump (knees in as far as the jumper can get them) for “Jumping off of Jupiter” part of rhyme

Turn 180° as many times as possible for “I took a turn around Saturn” part of rhyme

Grab stomach and make laughing motion for “Laughing at Venus” part of rhyme.

Teaching Suggestions:

In order to get the “beat” students may want to try reciting the rhyme while pretending to jump rope, prior to actually jumping rope and rhyming.

Equipment: May use shorter rope, place jump rope on the ground, or do a seashell swing to modify lesson. Have the student jump over the rope while saying the rhyme- turners become helpers in aiding memory of the rhyme and three different locomotor movements.

Instruction: Laminated written rhyme for students with visual needs

Environment: empty gym floor in order to have no distractions of playground equipment
Rules: May use laminated written rhyme aids, may jump over stationary rope for students with physical disabilities. Only jumping or only reciting of the rhyme per turn, but not both for students who may need to concentrate on one skill at a time defines a miss.

Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:

Equipment: May use shorter rope, place jump rope on the ground, or do a seashell swing to modify lesson. Have the student jump over the rope while saying the rhyme- turners
become helpers in aiding memory of the rhyme and three different locomotor movements.

Instruction: Laminated written rhyme for students with visual needs

Environment: empty gym floor in order to have no distractions of playground equipment

Rules: May use laminated written rhyme aids, may jump over stationary rope for students
with physical disabilities. Only jumping or only reciting of the rhyme per turn, but not
both for students who may need to concentrate on one skill at a time defines a Miss.