Leaping is a large rhythmic motor skill that can be done moving forward, and it precedes motor skills pedaling and prancing in difficulty.

The whole series of 16 large motor skills beginning with the easiest to most complex includes: walking, running, marching, galloping, sliding, hopping, jumping, leaping, pedaling, prancing, toe pointing, skipping, waltzing, minuet, schottische, polka.

For kids that have learning disabilities, assist by holding one or both their hands while they practice any of the motor skills.

Giant Step and Leaping Techniques

Moving forward: To perform both giant steps and leaping, the lead foot alternates such as in walking.

Giant steps are very similar to walking in that one foot presses into the floor, heel first, rolling to ball of foot and balancing on one foot momentarily before the other foot steps forward onto the surface in the same manner.

In giant steps the knees are bent slightly as the heel makes contact with the floor and the space between steps is as much as student can comfortably manage.

Leaping steps, as in photo, are similar to giant steps with the addition of a spring forward from the bent knee position of giant steps. There is no straightening of legs between steps. The rhythm is to bend knee on & and land on the accented count, such as: &/ leap &/ leap & /leap & /leap.

Arms can be held out to the sides for balance or in opposition: when the right foot is in front the left arm is in front, and when the left foot is in front the right arm is in front.

Giant Step and Leaping Lesson

Preparation: Make enough space for the kids to move without bumping into furniture. Some ideas include using the front of the classroom with furniture scooted back; the center of the room; the wooden stage in a multi-purpose room. A tiled or wood floor surface is best indoors; grass, asphalt or even sand is great for outdoors.

Have students stand in a group at the back of the space facing you, the teacher, at the front.

Ask students to do 2 giant steps forward toward you and then 4 leaps toward you. The 4 leaps should take the same amount of time as the 2 giant steps.

If your students have trouble learning to count, it is an activity that will help give meaning to numbers: The movement and rhythm of the students in the group will carry them along.

The counting rhythm would be:
1, 2, &/ 1, 2, 3, 4 &/1, 2, &/ 1, 2, 3, 4 or walk, walk & leap, leap, leap, leap & walk, walk & leap, leap, leap, leap etc.

For more practice

All 16 basic rhythmic motor skills and dances for practice are in my book:
Rhythms and Dances for School Age Kids


Article by Susan Kramer; photo credit M. Ryckman