SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Children have a new way to learn as they play at the Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary Center.
Seven hopscotch patterns in light blue and yellow are on the playground at the school that instructs students in grades kindergarten through fourth.
The patterns were the idea of third-grade teacher Laura Rhody.
"I wanted another way for the students to learn their multiplication facts," she said. "In the classroom, we do flash cards. We do activities on the Smartboard."
Rhody said she was just "drawing doodles" on paper and came up with the designs that were submitted to Schuylkill Haven Area Superintendent Lorraine Felker. The designs were painted on the playground this summer, Principal Matt Horoschak said.
Before the hopscotch patterns became a reality, Rhody said she put index cards on the risers of the steps so the students could learn before entering their class.
During a recess Tuesday, students gravitated to the fun patterns that have shapes like triangles, circles and squares, to name a few.
Third-grader Jennifer Rowland, 8, was bouncing a basketball through a long pattern with numbers like 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, etc.
"I like being able to go through and bounce the ball," she said as she practiced her skills.
The third-graders go outside twice a day, one during recess and the other time during "snack/math fluency" time and have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Jack Miller, 8, hopped on one foot through numbers 0 to 9.
"It helps me do my multiplication tables," said Trent Creasy, 9.
Rhody said the students have not yet started multiplication tables, but that she would probably start teaching them in November.
She also noted that the hopscotch patterns tend to draw more female students.
"Mostly girls flock to it ''cause it's kind of a girl activity," Rhody said.
