Down to the Baker’s Shop

The great thing about jump rope songs, is that students practice keeping the beat while they sing the rhythm. Beat versus rhythm? Check. Plus, it’s fun! Give me two adults willing to swing the rope, and you can bet I’d be in there jumping around with the rest of the kids.However, when it comes to our students, we can’t just assume that they know how to jump rope or that they know how to swing the rope for others. First, have a discussion with your P.E. teacher. They’ll be able to tell you exactly what each grade can and can’t do. From there, you’ll be able to build your lesson for each grade.

 

Here are some ideas to prep for jumping rope in the music room.

• Keep the rope flat on the floor. Have students jump over the rope, side to side. Their goal is to keep the steady beat with their feet. Hula hoops would also work well for this.
• Have one student seated at each end of the rope. Then, have them slide the rope to and fro to the steady beat without lifting it off the ground. The goal in this scenario is that the jumper never steps on the rope and keeps a steady beat as they jump.
• Give students a chance to practice jumping rope individually as they sing (if you have the space).

 

Let’s assume that you aren’t able or don’t want to use jump ropes in your classroom. In this case, have students pair up and do the following movements:Down to the baker’s shop
Students hold hands and turn around without letting go. They should end up facing each other with their hands still together (“wringing the dishrag”).

 

hop, hop, hop!
Students keep hands together and hop for each “hop” that they hear.

For my mother said, “Buy a loaf of bread.”
Students swing arms back and forth to the beat with hands still together.

Down to the baker’s shop, hop, hop, hop!
Students “wring the dishrag” and hop as before.

What I love about this lesson idea is that you can adjust it to work for several grade levels. Plus, it’s filled with so much movement that the students are guaranteed to work off some energy, and maybe even break a sweat.

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