Hopscotch originated as a military training exercise in ancient Britain during the early Roman Empire. During those times, soldiers hopped across the 100-feet field with their full equipment. It was believed that such exercise could increase their stamina and the strength of their feet, things that were of essence for armies at that time.

Around the world, children have enjoyed drawing grids on the sidewalk or on the

ground and then jumping or hopping from one end of the grid to the other.

They draw different kinds of grids. Some are like these. Others are round and curl in a circle. Still others are a

large square with many small squares inside.

Translations: Hopscotch

In India, it’s called chikki-billa, chikki (the chalk borders) and billa (the marker) .

In Kannada, which is primarily a language of the state of Karnataka ,Hopscotch is referred as “Kunte Bille” where the ‘e’ in the last is pronounced like the ‘e’ in the words “ten” or “level.”

Danish - hinkeleg

Swedish hoppa hage (lek)

French - marelle Spanish rayuela, tejo

EscargotA French variant of hopscotch is known as Escargot (snail) or "La Marelle Ronde" (round hopscotch). It is played on a spiralateral court. Players must hop on one foot to the center of the spiral and back out again.

Rumanian – şotron

Maltese - passju

- Hebrewקלאס klas

Havana - Cuba

Hungarian - ugroiskolaUGRÓISKOLA Az egyik legelterjedtebb játék a világon: földbe karcolt, krétával vagy puha kõvel aszfaltra rajzolt ábrái mind az öt világrészben megtalálhatók, még Nepálban és a csendes-óceáni szigeteken is .

Italian gioco della campana

These kids are on Artauro Island, off the coast from Dili, in East Timor

Bolivia - La ThunkunaChina - Tiao Fei JiGermany - TemplehupfenThe Netherlands - HinkelbaanVietnam - PicoIndonesia - One-Leg Jump

Michigan

In Brazil it is known as Amarelinha. In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is known as Rayuela. In Chile it is called "Luche". In Colombia it is also called "Golosa.“

Girls playing hopscotch in Santa Cruz de la Laguna, a village on the shores of Lago Atitlan- Guatemala.

Portuguese amarelinha

In Russia and Russian-speaking countries it is known as классики – klasiki - (diminutive for the word meaning

classrooms) .

In Poland, it is

called 'klasy,'

meaning classes.'

Japan

In Malaysia the most popular variant is called tengteng or ketengteng.

In Turkish seksek

Greece

Ελληνική (Greek) κουτσό (παιδικό

παιγνίδι)

YouTube - Little girl plays playground hopscotch for the first time

YouTube - Nina doing Hopscotch

Mar-08