What is it?

Most of us of all ages, and from all over the world will have played some version of hopscotch. It’s a great way to improve your number skills too.

History

The game is believed to have started as a training exercise for Roman foot soldiers, who played the game in full armour and field packs. Roman children imitated the soldiers by drawing their own boards, and creating a scoring system, and “Hopscotch” spread through Europe.

Unlikely fact:

The original hopscotch courts might have been 100 feet long (around 30 metres). Use the measuring wheel to see how long this was if you like. Hard work in armour!

 What to do

1. Draw a 5 x5 sqare and randomly fill it with numbers up to 25. Now try:
2. Hopping on each number up to 25, and down again.
3. Hop on odd numbers. Then try even ones. Then prime numbers.
4. Start at 1 and add 2 each time, then 3, then 4. You can do this from any number.
5. Try it backwards to subtract!
6. Hop through your 2, 3, 4 and 5 times tables.
7. Make your own grid: French children make snail shaped ones. What can you do?

Where’s the maths?

 Useful links: