Jabari Jumps + 8 Activities for Targeting “Up” and “Down”
It’s time for some fun in the sun.
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall is a charming book about a boy overcoming his fear of jumping off the diving board into the pool. It repeats the words “up” and “down” in the text several times but also conveys these concepts through the illustrations. We see how far he has to climb to get up to the board and how small everyone looks down below. We sense his hesitation about taking the big leap.
Read Jabari Jumps then use these activities to target the core vocabulary words “up” and “down”…
Sensory Activities
Blow Bubbles
Blow bubbles up and watch them fall down. Model “up” and “down” using the child’s AAC system.
Make a Sensory Bag
Fill a resealable bag with water. Then add large beads and sequins or glitter. You can also dip an old marker in the water to give it a blue tinge. Once you have removed the air and sealed up the bag, secure it to a tabletop or wall. Have the child gently press their finger on the bag to move the beads around. Talk about how they go up and down.
Toys
Model “Up” and “Down” Using Dolls
Gather dolls or action figures and make them pretend to jump into a toy pool or go down a toy slide. If you don’t have something like that available, create a slide by propping a large piece of cardboard up against a wall.
Go Fishing
Pick up the fish with the fishing rods and put them down in front of you. Race each other to see who can catch the most fish.
Gross Motor Activities for Targeting “Up” and “Down”
Balloon Volleyball
Blow up a balloon. Use some painter’s tape or string to create a “net”. With one or more players on each side of the net, hit the balloon back and forth. Do your best to keep the balloon up in the air.
On the Playground
If you have access to a slide, model “up” as the child’s climbs up the ladder and “down” as they slide down.
“Ring Around the Rosie”
Sing “Ring Around the Rosie”. Walk in a circle as you sing and pause after “we all fall… (DOWN!)”.
Snack
What else? Have some goldfish crackers. Pretend to make them jump up and swim down.
Model “Up” and “Down” During Daily Activities
Don’t miss out on opportunities to model “up” and “down” throughout the day (e.g., we stand up, we sit down, etc.).
For more core vocabulary activities, check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
