Real-World Walkabout: Jumping and Measuring Fun
In this activity, students combine different types of jumping with measurement for a high-flying math activity.
SUBJECT AREA
- math
SKILL
- measurement
GRADE LEVELS
- first grade
- second grade
- third grade
MATERIALS NEEDED
- masking or painter's tape
- open space to set up tape lines
- ruler
- yardstick or meter stick
- measuring tape
- pencil and paper
DIRECTIONS
- Make 10 separate tape lines. Space the lines about 12 inches apart. Have a student measure 12 inches between each tape line. Label the first line Start. Have a student label each tape line with consecutive numbers or letters such as 1, 2, 3; A, B, C; 10, 20, 30, etc.
- Play using these simple instructions for various ways to jump. If desired, ask students to record their jumps and then try to beat their best jumps with repeated tries. Students may also want to experiment with arm movements to find out whether the movements help them jump farther.
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- Long Jump: From a standing position, have children count out how many lines they can jump over in one big jump.
- Backward Long Jump: Try a backward long jump! Can students beat their front-facing jump score?
- Long Hop: From a standing position, have students count as they hop over the lines on one foot.
- Extended Stretch: Have each student stretch one leg with one foot on the Start line. Mark the spots, and have children measure their stretch.
- Running Long Jump: Tell children to run, land one foot on the Start line, and find out how far they can jump. Mark their spots, and have them measure their jumps.
- Triple Jump: Tell students to run, land one foot on the Start line, and find out how far they can jump three times in a row. Mark their spots, and have them measure their jumps.
- High Jump: For a variation, tie a string between two objects. Have a child measure the height of the string. Then, tell students to jump over it from a standing position. If desired, raise the string for higher jumps.
