Gross Motor Fun: Jumping Jacks Dice

I’m always looking for fun ways to work on basic gross motor activities. I love changing things up all the time. This is our fun activity we did with these: jumping jack dice.

This has been a part of our 30 Days of Moving with Kids. It was a fun way to add something different and have some fun. The dice really do make a different for some activities. It turns a simple gross motor activity into a game for my girls.

This really is something simple to do to work on jumping jacks. When I taught jumping jacks were my favorite activity to teach. It is fun to break down the movements to arms, legs and putting it all together.

What you need for this activity: jumping jack dice (see link below), photo dice, and number dice: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

I made a printable to go with this activity. There is is one to make a dice and one that fits in the photo dice.

I thought it would be fun to see the three different movements. You can see them below: Jumping Jacks: Arms Only, Legs Only, and Arms & Legs.

I always tell them we start as a stick with arms at their side and legs together. This gives them a good visual of what we always look like at the start.

Jumping Jacks: Arms Only

I always start by reviewing the movement. The arms go up and down. I like to call it making a “Y”. Plus kids love to have a mental picture of what they are doing. I always show them first what movement we are going to do.

Jumping Jacks: Legs Only

As with the arm movements, we review the movement for the legs. I tell them we are making a “Y” on its head. I love being creative with the visuals that I give my girls.

Jumping Jacks: Arms and Legs

After you have reviewed the arms only and legs only it is time to put them together. Even if you have done jumping jacks before it is fun to review since you will be mixing it up a little bit. I remind them we start as a stick and then jump out to make an “X” with our arms and legs.

Now after you have it all you have fun! Roll the dice and see what comes up. It might say arms only 5 times. So you do the arm movement 5 times. You can keep track of what you are doing or just have fun! We have also changed it up where I add a third dice that has fast, slow, or normal speed. This will mix up your activity in a very fun way!

What you will find in this printables:

• Three different actions: Arms Only, Legs Only, and Arms & Legs
• Dice for different speeds: slow, fast, normal
• Two types: cube dice or make your own die

Click here to get your copy of the Jumping Jacks Gross Motor Dice.

Check out these other fun gross motor posts:

• 10+ Gross Motor Book Ideas!
• Fall Themed Gross Motor
• Gross Motor: Hula Hoop Tunnel

Cassie – 3Dinosaurs.com