Activity
Hula-Hoop Jumping
Use a Hula Hoop to practice various motor skills! Great for adapted PE classes!
This activity has been revised and was originally created by Kathy Heydt and Monica Allon and published in the Perkins Activity and Resource Guide (1st edition, 1992). The second edition is available for purchase.
This activity works on gross motor skills by focusing on weight shifting, balance, jumping and hopping. This improves students’ abilities to use playground and exercise equipment, and to participate in recreational sports and leisure activities. Lessons include Adapted Physical Education, Independent Living and Social Skills.
Materials
Hula-Hoop®
Procedure
- Place the Hula-Hoop® flat on the floor.
- Ask the student to jump forward inside the hoop, and then outside.
- This can be done to hand clapping or to music with a beat.
- Provide assistance as needed.
- Ask the student to jump sideways in and out of the hoop.
- Ask the student to jump backward in and out of the hoop.
- Use hopping in place instead of jumping.
- For physically challenged students, use stepping in and out of the hoop.
- Substitute the hoop with other items such as boxes or tire tubes.
- Make a row of hoops and ask the student to step, jump or hop from one hoop to the other.
- Vary the distance between the row of hoops.
- Set up two rows of hoops or boxes (one for the right foot and one for the left). Ask the student to step forward from one hoop to another.
Hints: Be sure to guard the student against falling or bumping into obstacles. Perform the activities on a safe surface, such as an exercise mat.
