‘SKIP Around the World’ Challenge

‘Skip Around the World’ is a whole-of-school challenge that integrates physical activity with teaching and learning, open to primary and special schools

Week 1: October 6 – 10

Week 2: October 13 - 17

Week 3: October 20 - 24

About the Challenge

This initiative focuses on participation, inclusion and fun with lots of learning opportunities along the way. All classes, at all levels are encouraged to build a short skipping break in to their daily routines, across the 3 weeks of the challenge. Working together as a class, and as a school, your combined skips will allow you to travel to many of the world’s most famous locations.

Your Challenge - Your Way

1 skip = 1 km

Schools/classes can decide how they wish to engage with this initiative.

Option 1: Decide which of the destinations they would like to visit

Option 2: Try to reach all 15 destinations to complete the Around the World route (74, 823)

The Commitment

10-minute skipping break every day

3 weeks, 15 skipping days

Whole-School Engagement

Resources and Supports

Registered schools will gain access to a wide range of resources and supports, available in both English and Irish. Adapted activity ideas are provided to ensure that students with additional needs can participate in this challenge.

Information Slideshows

Skipping Ropes

Skipping Tutorial Videos

Challenge Resources

Advice on Inclusion

Skipping Challenge Testimonials

This is some of the feedback received after the recent ‘Skip Around Europe’ challenge.

"Pupils not only learned how to skip but also about language, food, music etc. It has been a fantastic learning opportunity."

"Absolutely loved the tutorial videos as they were levelled and allowed for differentiation amongst the various ability levels. The ideas in the inclusion tutorial were particularly relevant to the children in our special class."

"Everyone felt included, no child was self-conscious and no child wanted to opt out of the skipping, it was great that there were lots of alternatives for children that found skipping with a rope challenging."

"Brilliant way of improving their fitness, especially for pupils who may be reluctant to participate in running/ team sports etc."

"Junior Infants are now skipping each morning and they are loving the skipping ropes. They are getting better and better each day and are looking for the skipping ropes as soon as they come into the classroom!"

"This challenge not only provided opportunities for improved physical activity levels but also naturally integrated peer teaching and learning eg: 6th class children paired with Infants and counted their skips for them."

"Some staff were initially hesitant about finding time each day to participate in the challenge but found that the children were very energised and more focused as a result so in fact, extra time became the priority most days!"

"Parents very happy. Local shop is sold out of skipping ropes. Children skipping in their estates in the evenings."