This week, students are beginning our jump rope unit! Earlier in the school year, younger grades did exploratory movements with jump ropes on the floor. Now, we are actually starting to work on jumping over the rope with younger students, and working on more advanced jump rope skills and tricks with older students.
Younger students are introduced to swinging the rope from back to front, catching the rope with their feet and then stepping over. Then, progressing to jumping over the rope as it swings over, and then trying to jump over more than once without stopping the rope. Then we work on rhythmic jumping, double bounce, single bounce, and then some jump rope tricks. Tricks include:
- forward/backward
- hop on one foot
- straddles (side/front)
- the "x" (crossing right leg over left, and vice-versa, making an X with your legs!)
- the boxer: two hops one foot, two hops other foot
- cross-over
- switching from jumping forward to backward and vice-versa, without stopping the rope
Jump Rope for Heart:
We are partnering with the American Heart Association - Jump Rope for Heart this year to help raise money to help people with special hearts. This coincides nicely with February as heart health month, as well as our jump rope unit in our regular physical education classes! During our first PE class of the week, students watch a short promotional video explaining the Jump Rope for Heart program. Look for a letter and envelope explaining how the program works in backpack mail!! Here are some unique things about Jump Rope for Heart here at Haisley:
- We are all participating in the jump rope unit during PE classes. You will notice a permission slip attached to the envelope - you can recycle this piece of paper, as we don't need permission slips to participate in PE class. :)
- Fundraising is optional. Thank you gifts are a part of the fundraiser. All kids participate in jump rope regardless of bringing in Jump Rope for Heart donations.
- The American Heart Association rewards schools for donations. Haisley Physical Education receives new PE equipment - more money raised means more free equipment for our PE classes. Jump Rope for Heart also donates jump ropes and educational posters and materials for our PE program. Many of these posters are displayed on our gym bulletin boards!!
Donations are accepted online, or in cash/check (CHECKS MADE TO AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION). To register online for online donations, go to www.heart.org/jump. Search for our school and sign up for online donations! You can share your page via Facebook or emails.
Here are some pictures of kindergarteners and first graders working. =) Look for more pictures later this week!!
Kindergarten
First grade
