Mushroom
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
This is not so much a game, more an essential starting point for parachute
play. Get everyone to spread out the parachute and hold the edge, spaced
out more or less evenly so they're standing in a circle. Pull the chute
taut and lower it to the ground (or knee level). On the magic word (e.g.
Mushroom!) everyone pulls the chute upwards (don't let go). It will fill
with air and rise up like a giant mushroom - or igloo. To get it as high
as possible everyone must take a couple of paces towards the center as the
chute rises. It's good to practice this so that the group can learn to
work effectively as a team and get the chute really high. It won't work
without co-operation.
Variations on Mushroom
Once you've mastered the basic mushroom it's fun to experiment. See what
happens if:
Everyone mushrooms and then runs to the center, still
holding the chute.
Everyone mushrooms, then lets go, especially outdoors
on a windy day!
Everyone lets go at exactly the same time. If there
isn't any wind, the chute will
retain its perfect mushroom shape and rise straight up in the air. Indoors
it may go up to the ceiling. To get this right it's best for someone to
shout "One.. Two.. Three.. Go!", or similar, immediately after
the "Mushroom!" instruction. For everyone to let go at exactly
the right instant will take practice and concentration. Groups of children
who haven't played with a parachute before will probably be delighted and
fascinated by the effect for quite a while before you move on to any other
games. It's particularly spectacular when the sun is shining down through
the chute.
Roller ball
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a large ball near the edge. Try to
make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this someone starts
the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, you lower the edge you are
holding, and as it goes past you raise your edge. When all the players do
this in synchronization it creates a wave going round the edge, pushing
the ball round in front of it in a smooth, steady circle. It can not be
done without concentration and co-operation! However, it is very rewarding
for the group to eventually achieve a smooth, continuous motion. Once
you've done this try speeding up - or change direction.
Big Turtle added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Have the children get on their hands and knees under a large "turtle
shell" and try to make the turtle more in one direction. As a
cooperative game, children have to work together to get the turtle to
move.
Variation:
Have the turtle go over a hill or bench or through an obstacle course
without losing the shell.
The Ocean added
7-24-00 Original
Author Unknown
We pretend the parachute is the ocean. I have them give me the name of an
ocean. Children move the parachute in response to the 'weather report'
they heard. (Encourages children to be creative). For example, I'll say,
"I heard on the weather report this morning that there was a slight
breeze over the Atlantic. What would that look like?" The children
respond by making small waves in the parachute. Other
suggestions have been - high winds, snow (we would have to pull it tight
to make the ice), twisters, etc. Once they get the hang of it the
possibilities are endless.
Jaws added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Everyone sits on the floor in a circle holding the parachute stretched out
with his or her legs underneath it. The chute is the sea and they are
sitting on the beach, happily dipping their toes in the water. By shaking
the edge of the chute realistic ripple or wave effects can be generated.
Once the waves are going well someone is selected to be a shark and
disappears under the chute. They move around underneath and because of the
waves it will be difficult to see where they are. The shark chooses a
victim and grabs him or her by the feet. The victim can give an
appropriate scream before disappearing under the chute. This person now
becomes a new shark. To prolong the game you can have the original shark
revert to being a bather - or to make it more lively you can have several
sharks in there at once. To
finish the game you can choose 'once a shark, always a shark' - so
everyone eventually becomes a shark. You can introduce freak weather
conditions - or even a
killer whale!
See-Saw Pull
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
From a sitting position, have the children pull the chute back and forth
in a see- sawing motion.
Make Waves
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
While gripping the parachute, everyone moves their arms up and down to
make small and large waves.
Ball Roll
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Have the children try to roll balls into
the hole in the center of the parachute.
Chute Lift
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Ask the children to lift the parachute high
over their heads and down again. Talk about the soft sounds and breezes
that are created. Move the parachute faster and notice the different
effects.
Another Mushroom
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
From a standing position, lift the
parachute from the ground to waist height, counting
one (lift) and two (lift). On three (lift), have everyone raise the
parachute high over their heads and then crouch down, pulling the
parachute tightly behind them. A mushroom effect is created as the
parachute settles.
Parachute Tag added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Lift the parachute high overhead. Call one
child's name and have her run (skip, hop,
twirl or crawl) to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags
her.
One Hand Run added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Have each child hold the parachute
with one hand, extending the opposite arm out for balance. Run around in
one direction, then change and run around in the other direction. A
variation would be to use music as the cue for changing direction (i.e.
direction can be changed every time the music stops).
Parachute Run
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Have the children take turns running on the
parachute as it lies on the ground, while the other children make waves.
See how long the children can maneuver on the waves before falling down.
The length of turns can be determined by songs that the
children choose to sing (i.e. everyone's turn lasts the length of one
song).
Popcorn
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Place a number of beanbags or cotton balls
on the chute. Shake the chute to make them rise like popcorn.
Poison Snake
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Place four to six pieces of yarn on the
chute. By shaking the chute, try to make them hit the players on the other
side. Keep track of who gets bitten. (With younger children you might want
to do snake or worm kisses instead.)
Pompoms
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Put the pompoms in the middle. Sprinkle
various sized pompoms in the top of the shoot and try to get them into the
middle pocket. You could have teams with different colors and count how
many they get in.
Shaking the Rug and
Making Waves
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Shaking rug involves rapid movement either
light or heavy. Making waves are large movements to send billow of cloth
up and down like waves. Waves can be small, medium or large. Kids can
alternate turns to see who can make the best waves.
Merry Go Round
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Turn the body so that the chute is held
with only one hand, walk, hop, jump, skip around holding the chute. It
looks like a merry-go-round.
Cathedral added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Everyone
lowers the chute and then on the count of three raise their arms high once
the chute is quite high. Everyone takes 3-4 giant steps toward the center
and pulls the chute behind them and sit down with their bottoms on the
edge of the chute.
Cat and mouse
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
(Although some might find this dangerous -
just make sure the cat is crawling on all fours and not running upright. I
have personally done this and if you take the proper precautions it can be
fun and uneventful.) One child ( the mouse) is under the chute, everyone
is shaking it, quite close to the ground and another child (shoes off)
crawls on top and tries to hunt and tag the mouse.
Running by Numbers
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
If the chute is a large one...the kids love
to run underneath and switch places with
others - could number them 1 through 5 around the circle- and then call
out a number. (Lots of screams for this one.)
There was a man
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Children walk around in a circle hanging onto the parachute
There was a man in our town
Who went for a WALK one day
But the wind blew so hard
He turned around
And WALKED the other way
Different actions, such as run, hop, skip, etc. may replace walk.
Weather
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
We start calm sitting on the floor and its
a gentle breeze then rain and move up to a thunder storm with everyone
standing up holding handles shaking as hard as they can to make thunder.
Drop the ball
added 7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Place a soft ball of any size in the center
and you have to try to keep the ball from falling off on your side.
Circus Tent added
7-25-00 Original
Author Unknown
Pull the parachute up into the air. Step
under it. Pull it down behind you and sit down with the parachute tucked
under your bottom. We call this our circus tent.
When the parachute goes
up
added 7-28-00 Original
Author Unknown
Sung to: "If your happy and you know
it"
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute is high
And floats up in the sky
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet.
... bend your knees
...wiggle your bottom
...lift one leg
..shout hooray
...shake your head, etc. etc.
Name Game
added 9-5-00 Original
Author Unknown
Sung to: "Row Row Row your Boat"
Up, up, up it goes
Down, down, down it comes
If your name is------- (put in a child's name)
Now's your turn to run
As you sing the song have the children raise the parachute above their heads.
When a child is named have him/her run under the parachute. Then slowly lower
the parachute to try and trap the child. Continue until all children have had a
turn.
Grand Old Duke of York added
11-26-01 Submitted
by: Natalie Tasso
Sing the Grand Old Duke of York while playing with the parachute. Teaches
directions up, down, right and left associations.
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill (Parachute Up)
And he marched them down again (Parachute down)
And he marched them to the left (Walk to the left)
And he marched them to the left (Walk to the left)
And he marched them to the right (Walk to the right)
And he marched them to the right (Walk to the right)
And he marched them up (Parachute Up)
And he marched them down (Parachute Down)
Oh what a silly sight (Shake the parachute really fast)
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