Copyrighted Material 2. After your holes are drilled you will need to determine how long to make your jump ropes. This will depend on the size of the children who will use them. You may also want to make a longer rope for use by a group. 3. Add about 12 inches to your desired final length. Wrap some tape tightly around where you plan to cut the rope. This will help you get a clean cut and keep the rope from fraying. Cut off any excess rope casing after the knot. Do this on both sides and then pull the caps so they meet their corresponding knots. 7. The last step is to hot-glue a 4-inch pipe section into each end cap. You can use PVC cement instead of hot glue if you have it available. You’ve just created a very durable kid-size jump rope. Have fun. 4. After making the cut, thread the three PVC pipe connectors onto the rope. These pieces will self- center on the rope when it is spun, and their added weight will draw the rope to the ground for easier jumping. 5. Now add an end cap onto each end of the rope; make sure you have about 12 inches of rope pulled through the cap on each end. Then push the rope’s outer casing down and cut out about 6 inches of the rope’s core. Storage Store your jump ropes with your other outside play equipment. What’s Learned Jump ropes are great for developing large-muscle skills and coordination. They will also come in handy as props for all kinds of active dramatic play. Variations Vary the length of the ropes you make to meet the needs of different children. Play with your jump ropes inside and out. 6. The next step is to knot the outer casing a few times so that it will not pull back through the hole. Jump ropes make great fire hoses, rescue lines, and other props during dramatic play. Activities—Learning Equipment to Build Copyrighted Material 191