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!