Fun with Character: Jump Ropes

Bring in a jump rope and choose 2 volunteers to turn the rope. Now you will need one person who knows how to jump in and jump while the rope is turned for them. Watch how the jumper watches the rope and waits for just the right time to jump in. It may take several turns of the rope for the jumper to judge the speed of the rope to plan just the right timing on jumping in. Sometimes the jumper waits too long and then it seems impossible to jump in. Sometimes the jumper misjudges the rope and doesn’t get in correctly. Sometimes a jumper needs the rope to just sway for them to get in and then the overhead turns can begin.

To process this activity, ask these or similar questions:

• Is jumping rope fun?

• Can you see how Initiative is like jumping rope? You need to assess the situation before you jump and then you just jump in!

• The next time you need to “jump into” a project will you remember the jump rope?