Hopscotch

• 1.

  With an adult, choose an outdoor paved area that is clean, safe, and free from traffic.

• 2.

  Use your Super Brush to draw a hopscotch court. A common pattern is three squares, one above the next, followed by two squares side by side centered over those. Then draw a single centered square, with two side-by-side squares centered above it. Draw one more square above the others, and a large oval above the last square called Home.

• 3.

  Number the nine squares from the bottom up, left to right.

• 4.

  Players pick a token, such as a rock, bean bag, or paper plate. Players decide who will go first.

• 5.

  Player stands behind the bottom square and tosses a token into the square marked 1. Player hops on one foot over the square containing the token, and continues up the court, using one foot to hop in square 2 and square 3, both feet at the same time to hop in squares 4 and 5, one foot in square 6, both feet for squares 7 and 8, one foot in 9, and both feet in Home.

• 6.

  Jump and turn around, keeping feet in Home. Hop back in the same pattern, stopping in square 2 to reach down and pick up the token, then hop in square 1 and out.

• 7.

  Players try to complete the course without stepping on a line or losing their balance. If the token lands outside the intended square, or player steps on a line, or puts a foot down in the wrong place, the turn is over.

• 8.

  Play continues with players taking turns, tossing to the next number in sequence, and hopping accordingly. Players must complete each number in order to try for the next. Winner is the first player to complete the course.

Adaptations

• Draw a non-traditional pattern for your court. Use other shapes or different patterns for single and both feet. Make it as easy or as complicated as you like!
• Instead of tossing the token, use your foot to kick it to the next number.
• Balance the token on one foot and hop through the series of squares. If you drop your token, your turn is over.
• Try balancing a marker on your head or on your index finger while you complete the course. Then try your forearm, or your left or right knee.
• With eyes closed, and head up, hop through all the blocks and return. Players call "hot" if you hop correctly, "cold" if you miss.
• Check out even more creative variations of this popular game.<br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1104">Hip Hop Hopscotch </a><br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1466">Hop on a Huge Number</a><br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1486">Hop on a Turtle Game</a><br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1066">Outdoor Island Hopping Game</a><br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1463">Roll Out Hopscotch</a><br> <a href="http://www.crayola.com/coloringcraft/craft/detail.cfm?id=1233">Who’s Wandering? Hopscotch</a>
• Make your own tossing tokens with paper plates or rocks. Decorate them with Crayola Markers and/or Sidewalk Paint.
• To make bean bags for tossing, decorate socks with colorful Fabric Markers. Color each one differently so players can tell them apart. Ask an adult to heat set the colors according to package instructions. Partially fill socks with aquarium gravel or pebbles. Tie ends of socks.
• Crayola Model Magic® can be used to create tossing tokens. Air-dry the tokens. Decorate them with Washable Markers if you choose.
• Use Crayola Sidewalk Chalk, Chalk Tools, and even the Rainbow Rake™ to give your hopscotch court a creative twist. Invent courts with themes such as pond life or sea monsters.