Snail Hopscotch

Hello future readers,

Even though it's November, it's been really warm here in Springfield, almost like Springtime! On Saturday, I decided to try playing a new way to play Hopscotch that I saw in a "Zoom" book I checked out of the school library. "Zoom" is one of my favorite television shows. It has kids in it, doing all kinds of groovy things like songs, games, cooking, and kids can even send things in! I sent in a poem once, but I don't think they got it. I guess lotsa kids send stuff in. Anyway, when I saw this book, it had a bunch of outta site things in it, just like the show, and one of them is "Snail Hopscotch". I got out my chalk and started to draw a snail on the sidewalk.

It's not easy to draw a good snail for hopscotch. Some of the boxes come out bigger than others, but I did my best. I thought it came out pretty good.

Here's how you play: You draw a snail as big as you want and add lines to make boxes. One every third space you write the word "rest". The object is to hop on one foot all the way around the snail and back again without touching the lines. You can put both feet down on the "rest" boxes. If you make it, you can write your name in any box you want. That becomes your own rest spot. Only you can use it. If you don't make it and touch a line, then your turn is over. Whoever has their name the most times on the snail is the winner.

Just as I finished, I saw Susan coming down the block.

Of course she wanted to know what I was doing. After I told her and explained the rules, I asked her if she wanted to play. I knew she would. Susan is a really good hopscotch player, but this was something different. I let her go first.

She made it all the way around the snail and back, so she picked a box and wrote her name.

Then it was my turn. I found out that it wasn't as easy as it looked. I was glad for those rest spaces!

*whew!* I made it! Now I could write my name in a box.

We kept on playing like that for awhile, it was really fun!

I messed up a few times. Susan got her name on the snail more times than I did, so she was the winner.

I wasn't surprised. I told you, she's a pretty good hopscotch player. Even though I didn't win, I still had a groovy time. It's fun playing new games. But I'm gonna practice, so I can get better and win!

Do kids still play hopscotch in the future? If you do, maybe you can try playing "Snail Hopscotch" with some of your friends. Have fun!

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman