This game is perfect to use alongside the virtual-skipping-league KS1 skipping lesson plan.
Over the centuries, hundreds of skipping games and skipping rhymes have been made up, handed down, passed around, modified and updated by children. They are fantastic fun and are surprisingly challenging. There are as many regional variations of rhymes and games as there are skipping games themselves. The number of participants varies from game to game but all games need observant and competent rope turners. A little practice at simply turning the ropes with each other would be time well spent.
You will need the correct rope. There are two types of long ropes available from skip-hop that are suitable for these skipping games. For one, two or three skippers in one rope, we suggest that you use one of the ropes in our double dutch speed skipping rope set. For any games involving four or more skippers at a time, we suggest our 7.5m Long Rope.
So let’s start with a lovely game for younger children, best for Reception and key stage 1 children – that’s approximate ages of 3yrs to 5yrs.
Over The Moon Skipping Game
We have been using this skipping game in workshops since day one. It’s the perfect skipping game for children in Nursery, Reception and Year 1 to try (three to five-year-old children). It helps alleviate any fear of the rope, develops timing and an understanding of when to run and when to stay put, and is simple but very exciting (as even adults will attest).
Skippers line up at right angles to the long rope and turners, far enough away to not get hit, of course, but close enough to minimise the distance needed to run under it.
The long rope needs to be turned in a direction which means the skippers are running with the long rope, not against it. To check this, if the turners stand with their arms out straight and parallel to the floor and are both pointing in the skippers’ direction. If their arms move down towards the floor to begin the turning process, this will send the long rope in the correct direction. i.e. away from the skippers towards the floor. Not away from the skippers towards the sky which is the result of moving the arms up.
Once the long rope is in motion, the skipper runs under the long rope and out the other side and stops when they are far enough away not to get hit.
Under the Moon – Over the Stars.
This skipping game is divided into two parts:
The first part is Under the Moon, which you have just read, and then Over the Stars.
The child or children are now on the far side of the rope having run through.
To complete the Over the Stars skipping game, the skipper turns around and runs back at the long rope and tries to jump it. The long rope is still travelling in the same direction and hasn’t stopped since the skipper went underneath it, so the timing of the run is even more essential than before.
teaching tip The best point at which to begin the return is when the long rope is level with the skipper’s nose and on its way up.