Jump rope is a great activity. It is terrific for the aerobic benefits, as well as for the balance, coordination and teamwork (that's right, teamwork). Usually you may think of jump rope as an individual activity. In many cases, it is just that. We all have taught our students different "tricks" or skills with a jump rope.

What about making it a "team" type of activity? You may want to organize a "jump-a-thon" at your school. I was fortunate years ago to work with Nora Campbell. She came up with this idea. Here is how it works. We tell our kids (3-4th graders, in our K-4 building) that they need to put themselves into teams of 5-6 classmates. They can be anyone from their grade level. They do not have to be from their classroom, but they can if they want.

We take this opportunity to talk with them about how to make groups. We never have captains "pick" teams. That would mean that if someone is picked first, then someone else (maybe you!) would have to be picked last. We tell them what they should be looking for in a potential teammate. We tell them that they may not want the "best" jumper. Rather, they may want someone who is a hard worker. Even when this person makes a mistake, they will do their best to fix it for the next time. The shouldn't look for someone who only wants their turn. They should look for someone who is good at taking turns as well as giving and taking advice.

Once these "guidelines" are out there, they all know what is expected of them. They all want to be part of a group, so they wil do their best to exibit those qualities to their classmates. Once we all start practicing, I tell them to be on the lookout for kids in other groups that look like sonmeone they may want on their team (doesn't get down after a mistake, encourages others, offers good advice, takes other's suggestions...). This keeps everyone on their best behavior. It also gives their behavior a meaning. They are not acting this way just because I want them to, they are acting this way because their classmates want them to. They are now responsible to more people than just themselves.

Our practice begins with just learning how to "get into the rope." This involves two turners turning the rope so the top of the rotation goes toward the jumper. The jumper must get in on the third turn of the rope. I tell them to listen for the rope to "click" on the floor as it turns. This by itself usually takes 1-3 classes to get.

Once this is introduces, we go to some poems for them to jump to. These include "Fortune Teller," "School is Cool," "Candy in a Dish," "Teddy Bear" and many more. We like the "open ended" poems, because there is no real end to the words. The kids can go as long as their skill lets them. A search on line for "jump rope rhymes" will turn up many hits.

We will also teach them a "chase." This is a favorite! The basic rules stay the same: turn towards the jumper and the jumper enters on three. What is different is that someone is chasing the jumper. Both people, the runner and the chaser start next to one of the turners. The runner runs a "figure 8" around the two turners, running through the turning rope each time through. The "chaser" must give the "runner" a "one revolution" head start of the rope before they go after them. This continues until one catches the other. One safety note, if one of the runners gets caught on the rope, the turners must immediately let go of the rope. This will prevent anyone from getting pulled down by the rope.

Once all of the teams are made (we usually give them one week to get their teams. Anyone not on a team by then gets assigned a group), we go out for the "Jump-a-Thon." We bring them out by grade level onto our blacktop area. We go through the poems, or let the kids pick what poem they want to do. We then finish with round of chase. It is a big hit each year! It would be a good way for you to introduce to your students both jump rope skills, as well as "relationship" type skills when they make up teams. It is a good way for you to drive home the point of how you expect them to behave with you and their classmates right from the beginning of the year.