This rope has been knotted and wrapped around various objects - both human and inanimate - to test out friction and resistance as they pull, climb, stretch or wrap their bodies around the rope.
It has been combined with tyres, tubes and the plastic slide to experiment with knots, slopes, angles, ideas and different ways of balancing.
It has been used to make traps, webs and pulleys. It has become a way of learning to negotiate conflict as 10 different children grasp one length of rope, each with different ideas on how to use it.
Rope was twisted, pulled, tangled, untangled and knotted.
There was a (not entirely friendly) tug of war. Voices were raised:
"Get off the rope, I'm trying to tie it"
"I'm doing the knot"
"Not there, here":
As those less interested in the task at hand drifted away and a level of co-operation was reached, the tension in the rope was increased, heights and angles were negotiated and knots were tied tighter.
And then it was time to test out our rope bridge.
Tentatively and gingerly at first;
Then with more vigor.
Height and tension needed adjusting.
And then feet and legs curl around to suspend themselves in mid air.
Fun, movement, experimentation, negotiation, communication, testing, measuring, balancing. co-operating and joy: all from a length of rope!
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