Flying+Through+the+Solar+System


 * **Name of Activity:** **Flying Through the Solar System** ||

**Purpose of Activity:** The third through sixth grade students will cooperate in groups of four or five, memorize a science jump rope rhyme, and attempt to turn 180° while jumping in a long jump rope and reciting the “Flying through the Solar System” jump rope rhyme. **Activity cues:** 1. Eyes on the rope

2. When the rope hits the X in the center, scoot in and jump

3. Rope turners watch the jumpers feet while jumper is jumping rope. **Prerequisites:** 1. Long jump rope skills

2. Enter and exit a long jump rope

3. Ability to turn the body 180° **Suggested Grade Level:** 3 - 6 **Materials Needed:** One-16 foot long rope per group of 3; 2 turners and a jumper.

One copy of the "Flying through the Solar System" rhyme per group. [|Full lesson plan that you can download/print. Includes Grading Rubric] (PDF) **__Description of Idea__**

1. Each group must participate in “group space”, such that their jump rope has enough space to turn freely, with out hitting another groups rope.
 * Safety Considerations:**

2. Sweep all debris away from jumping area in order to prevent injury by falling.

3. Students might need to be shown (by an adult or teacher) how to properly swing the jump rope in order to prevent injuries of fellow students.

1. When a student misses a jump, that student takes the place of one of the turners
 * Rules:**

2. When the following student misses a turn they take the place of the other turner

3. Both turners have the “official” and final word if a jump was missed or not

4. A miss is a mistake in rhyme or in the jumping of the rope.
 * One student jumps rope at a time
 * The turners, jumper, and any student waiting to take a turn jumping rope repeat the following rhyme:

> //Flying through the Solar System//
 * Jump Rope Rhyme:**

> //Flying through the Solar System//

> //was so great//

> //The feeling I got//

> //is hard to relate//

> //I flew by Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars//

> //Jumped off of Jupiter, after sailing on some stars//

> //Took a turn around Saturn//

> //because you see I was laughing at Uranus//

> //Don’t you know//

> //as Neptune reminded me it was time to go.//

> //How fast did I go?//

> //10…20…30…40…50…60…etc.//
 * High Jump (knees in as far as the jumper can get them) for “Jumping off of Jupiter” part of rhyme
 * Turn 180° as many times as possible for “I took a turn around Saturn” part of rhyme
 * Grab stomach and make laughing motion for “Laughing at Uranus” part of rhyme
 * A miss occurs when either the jumper forgets part of the rhyme, one of the Locomotor skills, or misses a jump of the rope. The jumper then becomes one of the turners.

**Variations:** TRICK MOVES:

High Jump (knees in as far as the jumper can get them) for “Jumping off of Jupiter” part of rhyme Turn 180° as many times as possible for “I took a turn around Saturn” part of rhyme Grab stomach and make laughing motion for “Laughing at Venus” part of rhyme.

**Teaching Suggestions:** In order to get the “beat” students may want to try reciting the rhyme while pretending to jump rope, prior to actually jumping rope and rhyming.

Equipment: May use shorter rope, place jump rope on the ground, or do a seashell swing to modify lesson. Have the student jump over the rope while saying the rhyme- turners become helpers in aiding memory of the rhyme and three different locomotor movements. Instruction: Laminated written rhyme for students with visual needs Environment: empty gym floor in order to have no distractions of playground equipment

Rules: May use laminated written rhyme aids, may jump over stationary rope for students with physical disabilities. Only jumping or only reciting of the rhyme per turn, but not both for students who may need to concentrate on one skill at a time defines a miss.

**Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:** Equipment: May use shorter rope, place jump rope on the ground, or do a seashell swing to modify lesson. Have the student jump over the rope while saying the rhyme- turners

become helpers in aiding memory of the rhyme and three different locomotor movements.

Instruction: Laminated written rhyme for students with visual needs Environment: empty gym floor in order to have no distractions of playground equipment Rules: May use laminated written rhyme aids, may jump over stationary rope for students

with physical disabilities. Only jumping or only reciting of the rhyme per turn, but not

both for students who may need to concentrate on one skill at a time defines a Miss.