“Giftedness is not what you do or how hard you work. It is who you are. You think differently. You experience life intensely. You care about injustice. You seek meaning. You appreciate and strive for the exquisite. You are painfully sensitive. You are extremely complex. You cherish integrity. Your truth-telling has gotten you in trouble. Should 98% of the population find you odd, seek the company of those who love you just the way you are. You are not broken. You do not need to be fixed. You are utterly fascinating. Trust yourself!”

Linda Silverman~Gifted Development Center Denver


Friday 31 May 2013

Kicking it old school! and a FREEBIE!



Do you remember playing outside at recess when you were a kid?  I used to LOVE recess!  I would play a game called "UPSY" where we would throw a ball (remember those tri-coloured balls which were red, white and blue?) up against a wall and say a chant while we did it.  "One two three and upsy, four five six and upsy, seven eight nine and upsy, ten and upsy, start again!"
I would play this mindless game for ages!  The chant has stayed with me my whole life!  At my school, I am responsible for maintaining a supply cart for outdoor recess play.  It is filled with utility balls, skipping ropes, frisbees, tennis balls, footballs, soccer balls and other fun things!  My students take it out at each recess and sign out the equipment for the students to play with.  They also collect all the materials back and maintain inventory as well.  I have to say they do an outstanding job!

Last spring I bought YOGI ropes (also known as Chinese skipping ropes) at the dollar store.  When I was at school, we just knotted a big bunch of elastics together.  We didn't have store bought ropes.  Thinking back on the games I used to play I decided I wanted to teach my students some of the ones I used to play on the playground when I was young.  I also wanted to put these ropes in the equipment cart and see if I could get the younger children interested in trying them.  



                                                        

Chinese Jump rope courtesy of splendidlittleblog.com

I remember that I had been to a workshop which dealt with outdoor games.  The resource they gave us included a card which explained how to play YOGI.  Today we went outside and my students taught themselves how to play in groups of three.  We had so much fun that we decided to teach the grade two class how to play too.  The students actually had a great time and were surprised at how challenging some of them found it. I really enjoyed watching them learn the chant and the foot sequence.  We will have the whole school kicking it old school in no time...or would that be jumping it old school?

Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Health

How to Play
2 players stand 1.5 m (4 feet) away from each other with legs
shoulder width apart.The Yogi rope is held at the ankles of
the 2 players to form a rectangle.
The third player, the Jumper, does a variety of actions (see Variations) which all players have agreed on prior to playing.
Once the Jumper has completed the routine, the rope can be moved to different levels on the body (calf, knees, thighs, hips,waist).
The Jumper repeats the routine until they miss the intended jump.Then the Jumper changes places with 1 of the other players
holding the rope.

Variations
Players make their own routines by combining different moves to different rhymes.
The player recites the chant, jumps in and places their feet when they land according to the routine. When they say the second line they can create new actions,do them in reverse or make up new ones.


Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Health






For your own FREE copy of the simplified instructions, just click on the image above!  

Have a great weekend everyone, I still have 28 days until summer holidays...not that I'm counting or anything!



Freebie Fridays



Classroom Freebies Manic Monday


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13 comments:

  1. My kids LOVE Chinese jumpropes!! They learn to play in PE and then we have them at recess once they know the "official" rules.
    Erin
    http://adventuresinthirdgrade-brown.blogspot.com/

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  2. Glad to hear I am not the only one who still thinks these games are fun and relevant! I love new and novel ways to get the kids moving while they are still enjoying themselves!
    Sidney

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  3. This is awesome. I will totally have to try this next school year. WAHOO! Thanks so much for sharing. LOVE IT!
    -John (Mr. Hughes)
    An Educator's Life

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    1. Thanks John! It really is fun and the kids like the change of pace. It is really challenging for some of the kids who consider themselves to be very "athletic". Even the boys get competitive! This is no sissy sport!
      Sidney

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  4. 28 days...wow! Hang in there. I feel like my last 4 might be more than I can take. Thanks for the freebie!
    Brandee @ Creating Lifelong Learners

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    1. Thanks! I tell you it is a long haul this year. I have standardized testing all next week in math and language and then my report cards are due on the following Monday morning! I think I feel chaos looming in the background somewhere! Enjoy your last few days, take the kids outside and teach them YOGI!
      Sidney

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  5. I love the red, white and blue balls! In fact I am the only teacher that likes them at my school but begged for them to order enough for my class so I could teach them they games I played as a young girl. And OMG I totally forgot about Chinese Jump Ropes - total flashback. We made them with elastics too. Will be on the lookout for them now. Thanks for the freebie!

    Looking From Third to Fourth

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    1. I found the jump ropes at the local Dollar Tree last year. I think you can also get them at Dollarama here in Ontario. Honestly, so simple but so much fun! Have a great weekend!
      Sidney

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  6. Thanks for linking up your freebie at TBA this week. I'm having a Great, Big Pout-Pout Fish Giveaway and I would love for you to enter!
    ~Fern
    Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!
    Fern Smith's Pinterest Boards!

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    Replies
    1. Why thank you beautiful Fern! I so love the new picture....you look FABUUUULOUS dahling! I will hop on over and enter!
      Sidney

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  8. I've never played this game, but it looks like a lot of fun :) I'll have to see if I can do it when we go back to school :)

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  9. Faith,
    It is great as it challenges your mind and your body! The kids love it! Make sure you give it a whirl when you return to school. It's great for those you gotta get outside days but you don't have a lot of time and don't need a lot of equipment!
    Sidney

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