Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
Parachute Play
Objective:
The child will develop strength while raising and
lowering the parachute during play.
Materials:
large parachute
variety of sizes of balls
stuffed animals
Activity:
Several children will gather around the parachute,
holding a handle. Begin by practicing raising the
parachute above their heads and lowering the parachute
to the floor. Once they have these activities mastered and
the children are listening move on to other activities:
*All children hold on to a handle and practice making small ripples or
waves by moving their hands near their waist. Have children make large
waves by moving hands/arms in large movements.
*All raise the parachute, then quickly lower it, pull it behind their back
and sit on the edge while still hanging on to the parachute. The air will be
trapped under the parachute and all children will be able to see each other.
*Place a stuffed animal under the parachute. On „go‟ all children will
raise the parachute. Call out the names of 2 children. The children that are
selected will race to get the stuffed animal and race back to the original
spot. Continue the game until you have called all children.
*All children hang on to the parachute. Add a few small balls to the top of
the parachute. By making small waves, move the balls around the
parachute without having them fall off the parachute.
*Have one student sit in the middle of the parachute with legs crossed.
The rest of the students walk around him or her while holding the handles
of the parachute. On your signal, students stop and pull out on the
parachute. The person in the middle will spin.
Northeast Iowa Community Wellness Grant
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
*Each person stands around the parachute-- Have an adult call out a
child‟s name. That child crawls under the parachute, lies down on their
back with feet crossed and hands covering eyes. The children that are still
around the chute make fast waves to “cool off” the child under the
parachute. Nice activity for the end of a lesson.
Closing:
Message:
End the activity time with one more parachute activity.
Make waves with the parachute by the head, then
shoulders, waist, knees and finally ankles. The children will
have the parachute on the floor.
Eat smart to play hard. Eat fruits and veggies at
meals and snacks.
Northeast Iowa Community Wellness Grant
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
At Home Activity
Parachute Play
Each family can “play” these activities using a sheet or something that can be
held similar to a “parachute.”
Popcorn
Throw out small foam balls and have the participants shake the chute, popping them
up in the air.
Igloo
Everyone enjoys sitting under the parachute (igloo) and singing songs. Another
favorite activity is to put just your head under the chute and see if you can all take
turns saying your names, favorite hobby, favorite food, etc. before the center of the
parachute touches the floor.
Giant tent
Everyone lifts up, steps forward, and then sits down on the edge of the parachute.
Eskimo Exchange
Everyone lifts up, steps forward, and then sits down on the edge of the parachute.
Two people then switch places with each other.
Weave and Retrieve
Place objects under the chute. On command choose a couple of people to go under
the chute to get these objects when it is lifted.
Magic Carpet
On the count of 3 everyone lifts the parachute and then lets it go. It should float for a
short time before landing on the floor.
Message: Eat smart to play hard. Eat fruits and veggies at meals and snacks.
Northeast Iowa Community Wellness Grant
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right
Northeast Iowa Community Wellness Grant