Ways to Make a Hoop:
- Buy a hula hoop.
- Garden hose: Make different sizes on your own using and old garden hose. Cut in preferred lengths, bend it, buy dowels to connect the ends (take a small piece of hose to the store as a sample so the dowel will fit exactly). The dowel should be cut into 1-1.5 inch pieces. Stick both ends of the hose tubing into the wooden dowel until stuck together, then tape over that seam with clear or duct tape (hint: if children can see the seam, they may want to take it the tape off).
- Coat hanger: Stretch out a wire coat hanger using pliers, leaving the twisted part intact. Cut off the hook and turn down the stump. Make the remaining part of the hanger into a hoop then tape over the sharp twisted part.
- Clear tubing: Buy clear, plastic tubing from a hardware store in two sizes, making the inside of the bigger tubing the same size as the outside of the smaller tubing (the smaller tubing will be cut and used as the dowel as in #2; alternatively, the larger tubing could be cut into an inch-length seal to place around two ends of the smaller tubing). After one end of is stuck into the connector, put either glitter or beads (be creative and colorful!) into the tubing to make it more fun. Then seal off with the other end and cover with clear packing tape.
- Rope/yarn: Place a piece of rope or yarn on the floor in the shape of a circle.
Have fun and watch for Part 2 which will give ways to use hoops!
Photo Credit: Twentyfour Students cc