Materials
• Chalk
Directions
There are a number of ways a hopscotch game can be set up. Find a level surface and draw the diagram shown on the page. Each box should be about 18 inches square. Draw another line a few feet from the bottom of the diagram. Number each box as shown. You will need a smooth stone or other small object that can be thrown onto the squares. To start the game, stand behind the line and throw the stone onto square. Hop over the stone onto square 2 and continue to hop to square 3. Jump with both feet onot squares 4 and 5, hop onto square 6 and jump with both feet onto squares 7 and 8. To come back the other way, jump and turn at the same time and retrace your steps. When you reach square 2, stand on one foot and bend down to pick up the stone. Return to the line. Continue the game by throwing your stone onto square 2 and repeating the hopping, jumping, and turning. You lose your turn when you miss the square with your stone or when you step on or over the line. Leave your stone in the square to be repeated if you're playign with friends. Try to complete the path through the hopscotch from square 1 to square 8 and back again.
Note: The word "hop" in hopscotch used to mean th walk lamely or to limp. "Scotch" derives from "scratch," which means line.
Source:
Excerpted from 365 Afterschool Activities by Sheila Ellison & Judith Gray (Sourcebooks, 1995)
