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The group will play a game in which they have to hop and jump onto dragon footprints.
Age range: 3-6
Theme Area: Perseverance
Learning Goals:
Children will practice large motor skills by jumping and hopping.
Children will follow directions to play the game.
Children will learn that it's important to keep trying to do a difficult task.
Materials Needed:
Paper
Scissors
Tape
Directions:
Cut out "dragon" footprints from pieces of construction paper. In an open area, indoors or outdoors, tape the footprints in a path on the ground that will show when players have to hop, and when they have to jump. For example, the path might begin with two side-by-side footprints that mean that a player has to jump onto the two footprints. Then continue with a single footprint. That means the player has to hop onto the one footprint. For the initial game, make the path simple so that children can easily accomplish the task. For example, if most children are able to jump but not hop, you might make 5 jumps and 1 hop.
Invite children to play a game of "Dragon Jump" with you. Model how to play the game as you tell them the directions. Say, "Is everyone ready to play Dragon Jump? Here's how you play. When you see 2 footprints, you have to jump onto them. When you see one footprint, you have to hop on one foot to get onto it. Then you keep hopping and jumping down the path until you've reached the end."
If children have difficulty hopping or jumping, help them practice by breaking the tasks down into steps. "Okay, before you jump, bend your knees and bounce up and down. Then lift your feet off the ground."
As you continue playing "Dragon Jump," make the paths more and more difficult so that children will have opportunities to practice new skills.
Following Up:
Read books about persevering at a difficult task, such as The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, and Mrs. Mooley by Jack Kent.
Let children create a game path by placing footprints on the ground and saying what you have to do to get onto the footprints.
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