Physical education activity
Parachute Play
Use a large bedsheet as a parachute! Shake it with a parent, put balls on top and bounce them, and run underneath when it floats up.
Materials and setup
- large bedsheet or play parachute
- lightweight balls
- open outdoor space
Parent note
Reduced-mobility adaptation: parachute play is mostly upper-body already — holding edges, shaking, lifting, and bouncing balls all work seated. For the 'run underneath' and 'cat-and-mouse' elements, a wheelchair user can roll under the lifted parachute (often more fun because they move faster), and a child on crutches can be positioned under the sheet while others lift it. For the 'mushroom' sit-under move, seated participants simply duck their head as the others bring the edge down around them. The cooperation, counting, strategy, and game-invention goals all transfer fully. The physics/parachute-drop experiment in the upper-elementary variant is entirely desk-based and needs no adaptation.
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Use a large bedsheet as a parachute! Shake it with a parent, put balls on top and bounce them, and run underneath when it floats up.
Steps
- Grab a bedsheet or real parachute and go outside.
- Hold opposite edges and shake it gently — watch it wave!
- Place lightweight balls on top and shake to bounce them off: 'Popcorn!'
- Lift the sheet high together and child runs underneath before it comes down.
- Play 'color run': call out a clothing color — if you're wearing it, run under!
- Trace your shoe on paper at the start; draw a star on it for every round you finished.
Learning objectives
- Practice cooperative play requiring coordination with others
- Develop upper body strength and arm endurance through sustained shaking
- Follow game rules and take turns in group activities
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Parachute games with counting, colors, and teamwork challenges. Play mushroom (trap air), popcorn (bounce balls), and cat-and-mouse.
Steps
- Use a bedsheet or parachute with family members holding edges.
- Mushroom: everyone lifts the sheet high and quickly sits underneath, trapping the air bubble.
- Popcorn: place many small balls on top, shake and count how many fly off.
- Number game: count to 10 shakes, then everyone freezes.
- Cat and mouse: one person goes under (mouse), another on top (cat) — cat tries to tag the mouse through the sheet!
Learning objectives
- Cooperate with multiple people to achieve a shared physical goal
- Follow complex multi-step game rules
- Develop cardiovascular endurance and upper body strength
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Invent 3 original parachute games with written rules, scoring systems, and strategy elements. Teach your games to family or friends and run a mini game tournament.
Steps
- Play 2-3 classic parachute games to understand the mechanics: what movements work, what is fun, what is challenging.
- Invent 3 original parachute games. Each game must have: a clear objective, rules, a way to score or win, and a strategy element (not just random shaking).
- Write complete rule sheets for each game, including: game name, number of players, objective, setup, rules, scoring, and how to win.
- Teach each game to your group. Let them play a full round, then ask for feedback: was it fun? Were the rules clear? Was it too easy or too hard?
- Adjust rules based on feedback. Mark changes on your rule sheet in a different color.
- Run a mini tournament playing all 3 games. Keep a cumulative scoreboard and declare an overall champion.
- Fill in a 5-row progress chart across the week for the skill you're practicing.
Learning objectives
- Design original games with clear rules, objectives, scoring systems, and strategic elements
- Write clear instructional text that others can follow to play a game
- Iterate on game design based on playtesting feedback
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Study the physics of parachutes (air resistance, drag, surface area) and conduct experiments. Design and build miniature parachutes for objects, test drop rates, and present findings. Then apply your knowledge to design advanced parachute games.
Steps
- Research parachute physics: air resistance, drag force, surface area vs fall rate, and how real parachutes work. Draw a labeled diagram showing the forces acting on a falling parachute.
- Design an experiment: build 4 miniature parachutes of different sizes (using plastic bags or fabric and string) but with the same weight payload (a small toy or washer).
- Drop each parachute from the same height (a balcony, top of a staircase, or adult-held position on a stable step-stool — NOT a leaning ladder, and an adult must be the one at height) 5 times. Time each fall with a stopwatch and record the data.
- Calculate average fall time for each parachute size. Create a graph of surface area vs average fall time.
- Write a conclusion: how does surface area affect fall rate? Does doubling the size halve the speed? What other variables matter?
- Apply your physics knowledge to design one advanced parachute game that uses concepts you learned (e.g., a target landing game where different parachute sizes create different difficulty levels).
Learning objectives
- Research and explain the physics of air resistance and drag using scientific vocabulary
- Design and conduct a controlled experiment with quantitative measurement and multiple trials
- Apply scientific knowledge to practical design by creating a physics-informed game
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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