Long Jump Sticks
What you need
- three or four sticks to mark landings
- a piece of chalk or a strip of masking tape for the start line
How to do it
- Draw a start line on the path, or lay a stick across the grass.
- Show a standing jump: feet together, bend the knees, swing the arms and jump forward, landing on both feet.
- Lay a stick where their heels land, and let them try to jump past it.
- Compare the sticks: which was the longest jump? Was it the one where they swung their arms most?
Why it matters
A stick on each landing spot keeps a record of every jump, ready to compare when the next one goes past it.
What they're learning
- Two-footed jumping
- Take off together, land together.
- Swinging the arms
- Arms help the jump go further.
- Further or shorter
- Comparing where the sticks lie.
What to look for
Notice them swinging their arms harder after a short jump.
A tip
Jump on grass or another soft surface, in shoes that grip, and keep the sticks flat on the ground, never held.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: jump over a stick laid on the ground
Harder: try a jump with a short run-up and compare it with the standing jump
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Gross motor activities · Toddler activities with masking tape