I begin my long rope jumping with my third graders by discussing the importance of rhythm in rope jumping. We practice turning, then jumping. Then on the walls in the gym, I place several station signs with a piece of chart paper at each station. On each chart, I have written a different rhyme. We discuss the various types of rhymes (nonsense, counting, in and out, etc.). I place the students in working groups and for a couple of classes they rotate from chart to chart trying the various forms of rhymes (a.k.a. poetry)! They get a lot of jumping practice along with cooperative skills. They also enjoy the freedom of choosing which station to try. I always have more charts than I do groups of jumpers.

After they are comfortable with these rhymes I give them an assignment to write their own rhyme about our school. We discuss the characteristics of a good rhyme, one that is fun and easy to jump with. What makes it fun and easy to jump with? They write their own individual rhymes, then bring them to class and teach them to their team. Classroom teachers like this unit because it gives our kids authentic reasons for writing and the writing is in a form they are not always comfortable with. Great way to integrate writing across the curriculum and reading. The quality of the rhymes increases each year that I use this unit.

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