Physical Activities
Learn a Jump Rope Song
- With a partner choose and learn a song to jump rope to
- There are a variety of songs that can be found online
- As a class we will twirl the rope and sing the songs
- Jumping is optional but encouraged
- Reflection:
- Why do you think school age children line up to jump rope with two twirlers?
- What basic needs are met?
Examples
Here are just a few options found on “The Ultimate List of Jump Rope Songs & Skipping Rhymes”.
15 Cents
I asked my parents for 15 cents,
To see the platypus jump the fence.
She jumped so high she touched the sky,
And didn’t come back till the Fourth of July.
~Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher
A My Name Is
A my name is Alice
And my husband’s name is Arthur,
We come from Alabama,
Where we sell artichokes.
B my name is Barney
And my wife’s name is Bridget,
We come from Brooklyn,
Where we sell bicycles.
C my name is _________
And my husband’s name is ___________
We come from __________
Where we sell ___________.
(Continue throughout the alphabet)
~Ellen Mason, AACS Music Teacher
Birdie, Birdie in the Sky
Birdie, birdie in the sky,
Why’d ya do that in my eye?
Birdie, birdie in the sky,
Gee, I’m glad that cows don’t fly.
Cookies, Candies in a Dish
Cookies, candy in the dish;
How many pieces do you wish?
1, 2, 3, 4, . . . . .
~Mrs. Harris, AACS Art Teacher
Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys,
Jumping on the bed.
One fell off,
And bumped his head
Mama called the doctor,
And the doctor said:
“No more monkeys
jumping on the bed!”
I Had a Little Puppy
I had a little puppy.
His name was Tiny Tim.
I put him in the bathtub,
To see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water.
He ate a bar of soap.
The next thing you know,
He had a bubble in his throat.
In came the doctor
(person jumps in).
In came the nurse
( person jumps in).
In came the lady
With the alligator purse
(person jumps in).
Out went the doctor
(person jumps out).
Out went the nurse
(person jumps out).
Out went the lady
With the alligator purse
(person jumps out).
Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
She asked her mother, mother, mother,
For fifteen cents, cents, cents,
To see the elephant, elephant, elephant,
Jump the fence, fence, fence.
He jumped so high, high, high.
He reached the sky, sky, sky,
And he never came back, back, back
Till the Fourth of July, lie, lie.
~Katy Mormino, 2nd grade
Juggling with Scarves
- Using colored nylon scarves learn to juggle
- What to use: Start with three objects that fit comfortably in your hands and won’t roll far when dropped.
- Stance: Stand with your elbows bent at about degrees and tucked close to your hips.
- The motion: Hold the item in your dominant hand.
- Toss it in a smooth upward arc to your non-dominant hand.
- The item should peak at about eye or forehead level
- The catch: Let the item drop into your waiting palm.
- Avoid the urge to reach out and grab it.
- Practice this back-and-forth until it feels automatic.
- Reflection
- Did you find success juggling with scarves?
- What tips could you give a child?
- What skills are used during juggling?
References
- Elite Jumps. (2023). The Ultimate List of Jump Rope Songs & Skipping Rhymes. https://elitejumps.co/blogs/guides/jump-rope-rhymes-songs.
- Juggling for Beginners. (2026). Learn how to juggle and shop for juggling equipment with expert recommendations for jugglers. https://juggling-for-beginners.com/
