Hop on Pop Hopscotch

What You Need:

• Copy of Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
• Chalk
• Sidewalk or driveway
• Paper
• Pencil
• Bean bag or a small rock

What You Do:

1. After you read Hop on Pop with your child, make a list of all the “-op” words you both can think of using your book for some help. Review the words with your child, sounding out each one as you go through your list.
2. Use chalk to draw a traditional 10-square hopscotch board on the sidewalk. The squares should alternate: one square, followed by two side-by-side squares, and then one square etc. You and your child can do this part together!
3. In each square, have your child write one or two of the “-op” words from your list using the chalk.
4. Now it's time to hop! Play this hopscotch just like the traditional game only with one important difference: when your child tosses the bean bag onto a square and begins to hop through, before she skips over the square with the bean bag, she must make up a sentence using the word (or words) in the square. For example, if her bean bag lands on a square that says, "drop," her sentence could be something like, "I hope I don't drop these cookies on Pop!" Be creative with your sentences!
5. On her way back through the hopscotch board, she must make up a new sentence using the same word or words to finish her turn.
6. If your child hesitates or loses her balance while trying to think of sentence, then she is out and her turn is over. Time to try again!
7. Play along with your child to encourage her and reinforce the sound and meaning of the words as you go.

This game can be played solo or with many children. Have a blast celebrating the poetic prose of Dr. Seuss as you hop your way to better vocabulary and reading skills!