Parachute Games
1. Popcorn-Throw out small foam balls and have students shake the chute, popping them into the air.
2. Making waves- Students standing up holding on to the chute. On command they begin to shake the parachute, making small or big waves.
3. Poison snakes-Throw jump ropes on top of the chutes and have students shake the snakes and try not to get bit.
4. Weave and Retrieve- Place objects under the chute. On the signal, the groups goes under the chute to gather the objects when it is lifted. Try get as many objects as you can. You can number the students off or use colors to organize.
5. Mushroom, mountain, or volcano-Start with the chute at a low level. On the signal the students bring the chute up all the way over their head and on the signal the students will quickly pull it down to the floor, trapping the air inside the chute.
*variation- Igloo- similar to mushroom, however you sit inside of the parchute while it traps air inside.
6. Shoe Shuffle- Number off the students. When you call out a number, those students will take off their shoes and toss them under the chute. On the signal, students will lift up the parachute and the number called will retrieve their shoes as fast as they can.
7. Flying Carpet- good finishing game. Start with the parachute on the ground. On the signal the students bring the parachute up over their heads and let go all at the same time. It should float up in the air before coming back down. Students should not chase the chute while it is floating.
8. Cooperative chutes- This activity requires two or more chutes. Six foot chutes are optimal. Place an object in your six foot chute and all together try to fling the object out of your chute to another group. The other group will try to work together to catch the object in their chute. Once they have the object in the chute, have them fling it back to their partner group.
9. Number chase- Give students numbers (1′s, 2′s, 3,s and so forth). Have the students walking clockwise in a circle, holding on to the chute with one hand. When a number is called, those students will run around the chute, while the chute is still turning. The object is to get back to the same spot you started from.
*variation- have the chute turners move at a faster speed in a circle to add a challenge when the runners have been called.
10. Parachute Volleyball- Divide the class into groups. Have the groups hold the chute and place a ball in the chute. Have the group fling the ball over the net onto the other side where the team on the other side tries to catch the ball before it bounces. Smaller chutes will work best for this game but two large chutes can work too.
11. Lifeguard- Have everyone sit by a color on the parachute with their legs and feet under the parachute (they will be the swimmers). Assign four students to go under the parachute. These are the sharks. Assign three lifeguards. They will stand up.
To start the game the sharks will grab at the legs and feet of the swimmers and try to pull them under the parachute. When a swimmer is grabbed they let go of the parachute and yell for help from the lifeguard. The lifeguard will run quickly to the swimmer to try to pull them back out of the water before they get pulled under the parachute.
If the swimmer is pulled under then the shark and swimmer must trade places. This is very important because if the shark doesn’t switch places eventually you will have only sharks and no swimmers.
Do this for a few minutes and then name new lifeguards and let play resume again.
12. Air Conditioner- Divide the group. When a group is called they will go underneath the parachute and lie down on their backs. The students on the outside will shake the parachute and make big waves to “cool off” the students lying down underneath.
13. Parachute Basketball- Place two hoops or old bike tires on the parachute along with balls. Each team will try to make a ball go through the basket as they are flipping the chute.
14. All Change- Have the students lift the chute above their head. When its above their head call out a designated group of people and have those students swap places under the chute before it falls and get to an empty space.
15. Ball in the Bucket- Have two or more teams. Each team will have a different colored ball. The teams will try to keep their color ball from going into the middle circle, while trying to get the other teams’ color ball into the hole.
16. Class Picture- Have kids start on their knees and lift up chute. Place the parachute behind their necks. They then carefully lower themselves to lie on their stomachs while bringing their hands together under their chins. If done properly, all you will see are their faces!
17. Cat and Mouse- Choose one or two people to be the mice. The mice get under the parachute. Then choose one person to be the cat. The cat gets on top of the parachute and on the signal will crawl around on their hands and knees trying to pounce on the mouse. The rest of the class holding the parachute will make waves to make it difficult for the cat to find the mice. Once the cat has found the mice, both return to the outside of the chute and chose new mice and cat are chosen.
18. Shoot the Canon- Try to work together to get a a bunch of balls to touch the ceiling of the gym.
19. Chute Crawl- half of the students stretch the parachute while the other half crawl on top to a spot opposite where they are. Have students sitting to do this.
20. Hot Potato- Make a mountain by lifting and then pulling down to the floor. Turn and sit down with back to the mountain and pass a ball or beanbag around the chute. When the center of the parachute hits the floor the round is over. See who has the object. The object is to not have the ball/beanbag when the mountain has deflated.
21. Pass the Parachute- Hold the chute flat at waist height. Players hold the rolled edge of the chute with enough tension to keep it flat. Players stand in their places and cooperate to keep the parachute moving around in the designated direction by reaching out with one hand and pulling chute towards them. Experienced classes should try to change directions on the signal.
22. Ball in the Bucket- Assign two teams to hold one parachute. Throw two different colored balls into the chute. Each team will try to keep their color ball from going into the middle circle, while trying to get the other teams' ball into the circle.
2. Making waves- Students standing up holding on to the chute. On command they begin to shake the parachute, making small or big waves.
3. Poison snakes-Throw jump ropes on top of the chutes and have students shake the snakes and try not to get bit.
4. Weave and Retrieve- Place objects under the chute. On the signal, the groups goes under the chute to gather the objects when it is lifted. Try get as many objects as you can. You can number the students off or use colors to organize.
5. Mushroom, mountain, or volcano-Start with the chute at a low level. On the signal the students bring the chute up all the way over their head and on the signal the students will quickly pull it down to the floor, trapping the air inside the chute.
*variation- Igloo- similar to mushroom, however you sit inside of the parchute while it traps air inside.
6. Shoe Shuffle- Number off the students. When you call out a number, those students will take off their shoes and toss them under the chute. On the signal, students will lift up the parachute and the number called will retrieve their shoes as fast as they can.
7. Flying Carpet- good finishing game. Start with the parachute on the ground. On the signal the students bring the parachute up over their heads and let go all at the same time. It should float up in the air before coming back down. Students should not chase the chute while it is floating.
8. Cooperative chutes- This activity requires two or more chutes. Six foot chutes are optimal. Place an object in your six foot chute and all together try to fling the object out of your chute to another group. The other group will try to work together to catch the object in their chute. Once they have the object in the chute, have them fling it back to their partner group.
9. Number chase- Give students numbers (1′s, 2′s, 3,s and so forth). Have the students walking clockwise in a circle, holding on to the chute with one hand. When a number is called, those students will run around the chute, while the chute is still turning. The object is to get back to the same spot you started from.
*variation- have the chute turners move at a faster speed in a circle to add a challenge when the runners have been called.
10. Parachute Volleyball- Divide the class into groups. Have the groups hold the chute and place a ball in the chute. Have the group fling the ball over the net onto the other side where the team on the other side tries to catch the ball before it bounces. Smaller chutes will work best for this game but two large chutes can work too.
11. Lifeguard- Have everyone sit by a color on the parachute with their legs and feet under the parachute (they will be the swimmers). Assign four students to go under the parachute. These are the sharks. Assign three lifeguards. They will stand up.
To start the game the sharks will grab at the legs and feet of the swimmers and try to pull them under the parachute. When a swimmer is grabbed they let go of the parachute and yell for help from the lifeguard. The lifeguard will run quickly to the swimmer to try to pull them back out of the water before they get pulled under the parachute.
If the swimmer is pulled under then the shark and swimmer must trade places. This is very important because if the shark doesn’t switch places eventually you will have only sharks and no swimmers.
Do this for a few minutes and then name new lifeguards and let play resume again.
12. Air Conditioner- Divide the group. When a group is called they will go underneath the parachute and lie down on their backs. The students on the outside will shake the parachute and make big waves to “cool off” the students lying down underneath.
13. Parachute Basketball- Place two hoops or old bike tires on the parachute along with balls. Each team will try to make a ball go through the basket as they are flipping the chute.
14. All Change- Have the students lift the chute above their head. When its above their head call out a designated group of people and have those students swap places under the chute before it falls and get to an empty space.
15. Ball in the Bucket- Have two or more teams. Each team will have a different colored ball. The teams will try to keep their color ball from going into the middle circle, while trying to get the other teams’ color ball into the hole.
16. Class Picture- Have kids start on their knees and lift up chute. Place the parachute behind their necks. They then carefully lower themselves to lie on their stomachs while bringing their hands together under their chins. If done properly, all you will see are their faces!
17. Cat and Mouse- Choose one or two people to be the mice. The mice get under the parachute. Then choose one person to be the cat. The cat gets on top of the parachute and on the signal will crawl around on their hands and knees trying to pounce on the mouse. The rest of the class holding the parachute will make waves to make it difficult for the cat to find the mice. Once the cat has found the mice, both return to the outside of the chute and chose new mice and cat are chosen.
18. Shoot the Canon- Try to work together to get a a bunch of balls to touch the ceiling of the gym.
19. Chute Crawl- half of the students stretch the parachute while the other half crawl on top to a spot opposite where they are. Have students sitting to do this.
20. Hot Potato- Make a mountain by lifting and then pulling down to the floor. Turn and sit down with back to the mountain and pass a ball or beanbag around the chute. When the center of the parachute hits the floor the round is over. See who has the object. The object is to not have the ball/beanbag when the mountain has deflated.
21. Pass the Parachute- Hold the chute flat at waist height. Players hold the rolled edge of the chute with enough tension to keep it flat. Players stand in their places and cooperate to keep the parachute moving around in the designated direction by reaching out with one hand and pulling chute towards them. Experienced classes should try to change directions on the signal.
22. Ball in the Bucket- Assign two teams to hold one parachute. Throw two different colored balls into the chute. Each team will try to keep their color ball from going into the middle circle, while trying to get the other teams' ball into the circle.