Parachute Activities

  • Lay the parachute out on the groundparachute
  • Each color team finds the panels of the parachute that matches their color teams: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green
  • Roll the parachute under their fingers and grip firmly. No need to use the handles. This will spread the kids out and give you a simple way to move groups of kids by saying, “Those of you holding a (chose a color) panel, go under the parachute and find a different panel”.

Ocean Waves:  Shake the chute

  • Grip: Roll the chute under your fingers for a firm grip.
  • Big Waves: Students make big waves by shaking the chute.
  • Add balls and try to bounce them off

Color Panel Run: (Color Panel style)

  • Grip: Roll the chute under your fingers for a firm grip.
  • Cue: Shoe tops, Lift up as high as you can, pull back…
  • Leader calls out one of the four colors and the people holding that panel run underneath to the other side and take a different panel of the same color.
  • Keep calling out colors until everyone completes a turn.

Dome (Igloo) 

  • Grip: Roll the chute under your fingers for a firm grip.
  • Cue: Shoe tops, Lift up as high as you can, pull back…
  • When the teacher sees that the chute is high and pulled back well:
  • Teacher says, “Go under and immediately sit inside the chute, while keeping the chute stretched out tight”.
  • Once inside, the teacher can let the class scoot forward and the chute will get taller.
  • Optional Panel color exchange: When the teacher calls out a color, people sitting on that color can get up in the middle and exchange places with other people with the same color.

Climb the Bubble (Color panel style)

  • Teacher says, “Shoe tops, 1,2,3, lift up as high as you can, pull back..
  • SNAP the parachute down
  • Put their knees on top on the outside of the chute (You should have a giant bubble in the middle).
  • Teacher calls color teams one at a time and says to “Climb the bubble!” All of the students from that color team crawl on top  of the chute until the bubble is deflated. Then they hurry back to the outside, so every color team has a turn.
  • You will have to inflate the parachute again each time.

Merry Go Round Color Panel Run: (Color Panel style)

  • Everyone hold the panels with your left hand on your color panel.
  • Start walking (skipping?) and stretch the chute out
  • Call out a color, ie. “RED”
  • When their color is called, they let go of the parachute and run forward (the same way the chute is moving) and step into the next available color panel.
  • Continue walking and calling out the four different color until everyone has had a chance to move.

Shark Attack Spark Style:

  • Class stands holding the parachute waist high. Make ocean waves by moving the parachute up and down.
  • Chose one panel color to be the sharks. They go under the chute and place their hands above their head to simulate a shark’s fin above the water.
  • Shark should slide step or do the grapevine near the rim of the parachute  for one lap before they begin swimming and moving back and forth and underneath the parachute. They should be cruising around and looking for ankles to bite.
  • On the teacher’s signal, “Bite” The sharks grab the ankles of someone who is standing  while holding the parachute.  The sharks take their place and the bitten people become sharks. Once you’ve been bitten you are immune from a being attacked by a shark until everyone has had a turn.
  • Continue until everyone has a turn being a shark.

 Traditional Shark Attack:

  • Class sits with legs underneath parachute.
  • One panel color will be the lifeguards. They will stay outside of the parachute and try save
  • students that get pulled under by the sharks.
  • Another panel color will be the sharks under the parachute. Give each shark a frisbee to
  • hold above their head under the chute.
  • When someone is pulled under the parachute by the shark, they will exchange the frisbee
  • to the new shark.
  • The “old shark” will replace the person they pulled under on the outside of the chute.

Additional Activities:

  • Picture Perfect: Start the same as igloo, but cover your head, so you can see everyone’s face while under the parachute.
  • Mushroom: Start the same as igloo, but this time everyone step forward and walk forward so the the parachute rises in the air.

Tchoukball (Chookball) Relay

Tchoukball Relay

Setup and Equipment

  • Four Tchoukball (Chookball) Frames 
  • Four balls: Playground Balls (any kind will work)
  • Four Cones red, blue, yellow, and green cones lined up facing the goal
  • Make 3 lines on the blacktop about 5 feet in front of the goals. Make a second line about 10 feet back and the third 15 – 20 feet back. Use sidewalk chalk, poly spots or jump ropes.

Guidelines:

  • Teams are lined up facing the goals. This is a relay.  If the ball is thrown directly in the center the ball it should bounce into the air and you should try to catch it on a fly. You also get points if you catch it on one bounce.
  • The first person on each team will move the ball by running to the first, second or third lines and throw the ball at the net.  More points are earned by attempting the longer throws.

Round 1: 

  • The first person on each team will move the ball by running to the first line or spot near the goal and attempt to throw the ball at the center of the goal.
  • If the ball is thrown directly in the center the ball it should bounce into the air and you should try to catch it on a fly. You also get points if you catch it on one bounce.
  • You earn 1 point for throwing and catching it on a fly and from the first line.
  • You earn 2 points by throwing and catching it from the second line on a fly and one point if you catch it on a bounce.
  • If you throw and catch it on a fly from the three-point line you get three points. If you catch it on a bounce you get 2 points.
  • Continue for five minutes and see how many points your team can get.

Round 2: Partner

  • The first two people on each team will move the ball by running to one of the lines. One person is the thrower and one is the catcher.
  • Use the same point system as above.
    Continue for five minutes and see how many points your team can score.

Round 3: Partner Variation 

  • One partner runs up and throws the ball and the other partner tries to catch it. On each turn switch the roles of throwing and catching.

Younger Grades: For the younger grades you won’t need to do the points. They’ll just enjoy seeing how far they can bounce the ball.
Variations: Round Three: Try different balls. How about basketballs, soccer balls?

The Most Fun Wins! 

Scooters in the Gym

Setup and Equipment

  • Six to Eight Scooters
  • Set small cones in a large circle near the center of the gym to make a race track.
  • Line up each team at each of the sides of the ‘circular “track”

Guidelines for Indy 500

  • This will be a race around the outside of the cones. You’ll be lining up like it’s a 400 meter relay on the track.
  • Break into pairs by your team’s cone. The partner can only push when traveling around the curves. The driver has to  glide or make themselves move on the straightaways.
  • When you get back to your starting part, change places or let your other partners take a turn. Continue taking turns moving around the track.
  • How many laps can your team do in five, or maybe 10 minutes?

Glide Control

  • Two partners from each team line up at the black line in the front of the gym. One is standing, the other is sitting on the scooter.
  •  On the teacher’s signal, the person in back leans down low and pushes their scooter partner towards the climbing wall;
  • When they hit the wall or calmly stop before hitting the wall, pick up the scooter and run it back to the front of the line
  • The scooter is handed off to the next people in line and they now go to the end of the line.

Parachute and Scooters

Setup and Equipment:

  • Six to eight of the three wheeled scooters.
  • If there are eight scooters, then each of the four teams will have two scooters.
  • Spread out around the parachute and do the merry-go-round by having everyone turn and skip in one direction. Then,stop and go in the opposite direction.
  • Six to eight people start moving under the parachute in the same directions as the parachute is moving.
  • Practice moving the parachute up and down.
    Choose six people to get a scooter and go under the parachute and begin moving around.
  • Whenever the parachute changes direction, the scooters should also change direction. Start walking or skipping, then change directions and moving the parachute up and down.
  • Whenever the parachute stops, the scooters can spin around or move any direction they want to.
  • After a couple of minutes change places, so everyone gets a turn under the parachute.

Scooters, Parachute in the Gym

Setup and Equipment:

  • Six to Eight Scooters
  • Set small cones in a large circle near the center of the gym to make a race track.
  • Line up each team at each of the sides of the ‘circular “track”

Guidelines for Indy 500

  • This will be a race around the outside of the cones. You’ll be lining up like it’s a 400 meter relay on the track.
  • Break into pairs by your team’s cone. The partner can only push when traveling around the curves. The driver has to  glide or make themselves move on the straightaways.
  • Whe you get back to your starting part, change places or let your other partners take a turn. Continue taking turns moving around the track.
  • How many laps can your team do in five, or maybe 10 minutes?

Glide Control

  • Two partners from each team line up at the black line in the front of the gym. One is standing, the other is sitting on the scooter.
  •  On the teacher’s signal, the person in back leans down low and pushes their scooter partner towards the climbing wall;
  • When they hit the wall or calmly stop before hitting the wall, pick up the scooter and run it back to the front of the line
  • The scooter is handed off to the next people in line and they now go to the end of the line.

Parachute and Scooter Activity

  • Spread out around the parachute and do the merry-go-round by having everyone turn and skip in one direction.
  • Choose one group to get a scooter and go under the parachute.
  • Parachute Commands
    • Shoetops
    • Raise the chute up as high as you can.
    • Snap Bring the chute down as fast as you can.
  • All scooters should be out by the count of three.
  • Continue taking turns by calling different color teams: red,blue, yellow and green.
  • Whenever the parachute changes direction, the scooters should also change direction. Start walking or skipping, then change directions and moving the parachute up and down.
  • Whenever the parachute stops, the scooters can spin around or move any direction they want to.
  • After a couple of minutes change places, so everyone gets a turn under the parachute.

 

Field Day Supply List

Tug of War 

  • One Tug of War rope that has four ropes that are red, blue, yellow and green.
  • Cones are set up around in a 4 foot square with one cone in the center.
  • Each color team lines up and holds their color team’s rope.

Potato Sack Relays

  • 4 Potato sacks
  • 4 cones: red, blue, yellow, green
  • Red cone is  10-15 feet across from yellow – that’s one team
  • Blue Cone is 10-15 feet across from green – that’s the other team
  • Line up relay style behind the cones. (Shorter distance to start (10-15 feet)

Pass the Ball: Team Relays

  • One red, blue, yellow, and green cone. Balls: Playground, Medicine, Other shapes and sizes
  • Teams line up behind the cone of their color team for directions

Tkouchball Bounce

  • Four balls: Playground Balls (any kind will work)
  • Two to Four Tchoukball Goals
  • Four Cones or Polyspots that match our red, blue, yellow, and green teams. Line up behind your color facing the goals.

Fill the Bucket

  • Four Cones for red, blue, yellow, green teams.
  • Water faucet and hose near this station.
  • Large container for holding water to dip from.
  • Four Pails for filling
  • Cups for dipping and passing the water.
  • Line up behind cones that match color team

Water Balloon Toss

  • Water balloons filled with water. The smaller size works fine. Fill and store in laundry baskets.

EDST 0602 Field Day

The Hello and Goodbye Field Day 
Thursday, June 2nd at 4:00
Edison Elementary School  1328 E. 22nd Ave.

U of O students enter in back of the school, at the gate off of Emerald Street side. We will meet in the gym.

Each student will check in and be given a sticker that will designate where they’ll start for our field day.

A “hello” warmup activity will start the celebration, then we’ll break into groups and begin the stations.

Each station lasts for fifteen minutes. Music will play for each station, a transition song will play when it is time to transition to the next station. Each group moves up to the next highest number until you get to six. After station six, teams will go to station number one.

* Those students who are assisting with running the activity should arrive 45 minutes early.

Field Day Links

  1. Fill the Bucket
  2. Water Balloon Toss
  3. 4-Way Tug of War
  4. Pass the Ball Relays Partner Ball Relays
  5. Tkouchball Bounce
  6. Scooters: Indy 500  Scooters and Parachute

 

Additional Activities:

Parachute Activities for Field Day

Coffee Sack Relays

 

Polyspot Basketball for Field Day

Setup and Equipment:

  • Polyspots are lined up in half/circle fashion around all of basketball hoops. Break the class into 4 teams. Put out as many spots as you can. Keep some on hand to throw out later if needed.
  • Set up the spots so that the green and yellow spots are at the taller hoops and harder shots. These spots are worth 20 points each. All other colors are closer and worth 10 points.
  • 20 points for yellow and 20 points for green, 10 points for all other colors.
  • For Grades K/1/2 put the spots up closer to the hoops. Put many spots around the “hopper” hoop in the center.
  • If time is short on this activity, it may work better just to have them count how many spots they can get.

Guidelines:

  • On the start signal, one player from each team will dribble to a spot and try to score a basket.
  • The players may have both feet on the spot, or one foot in back and one foot on the spot. No feet in front of the spot.
  • If the shot is missed, they must dribble back to their relay team and pass to the next player in line.
  • If the shot is made, the player should pick up that spot and dribble the ball in one hand and carry the spot in the other hand back to their relay team. Pass the ball to the next player in line and go to the end of the line.
  • A maximum of one polyspot per turn.
  • Each team will start a pile of spots and try to accumulate the most points.
  • Remind players that they must dribble to and from the polyspots.
  • At the end of the game, teams may count up their points.

The Most Fun Wins!

Torch Relay for Field Day

Setup and Equipment

Sixteen golf tubes, four tennis balls, various cones, stepping stones, and hula hoops, etc.

  • Four Teams lined up behind their color team cones.
  • Line up some obstacles: cones, stepping stones and hula hoops and other items that you have in a line in front of each team’s starting cone. At the opposite end of the starting cones place a second cone for half of the team.
  • This a shuttle relay, so half of each of the four teams start at opposite ends (more turns this way).
  • The first two people in each line have a torch (golf tube) to start.

 Guidelines:

  • On the signal the first person on each team moves through the obstacle course while holding their torch (golf tube) with one hand while balancing the ball on top. Two hands can be used for the younger students.
  • If they drop the ball off of the golf tube, simply pick it up and return moving across the course.
  • If someone knocks over an obstacle, they must stop and fix it before moving on their way.
  • Once they reach the other side, they pass the ball to the first person in the line and hand the golf tube to the next person in line and go to the end of the line.

 Object of the Game: How many turns can each person get? How many turns can your team get in 5 minutes?

Additional Options: Balance other types of balls or other items.

  • Can you balance the golf tube on the palm of your hand and move?
  • Can you carry two golf tubes?
  • Additional balance items also available.
  • For some of the older grades, you could also dribble a basketball, or kick a soccer ball around the obstacle course.

The Most Fun Wins!

 

Pass the Ball Relays

Setup and Equipment: 

  • Four Playground Balls: Red, blue, yellow, green
  • Four Medicine Balls
  • Four other balls of different shapes and sizes.
  • Two long ropes to lay down at one end for the finish line.

Guidelines: Teams line up behind the cone of their color team for directions

Round One: Over Under Relay

The object is to be the first team to cross the finish line.

  • Teams members line up in a line facing the finish line. Put a little space between them each other, so they can pass a ball behind each other down the line.
  • The first person on each team raises the ball above their head.
  • Leader says, “Go”
  • The starting person on each team passes the ball between their legs, the person behind then raises the ball above their head and the over/under pattern continues until the last person gets it.
  • When the ball gets to the last person in the line, that person runs all the way back up to the front, which will move the line forward. The pattern of over/under passing continues until all of the teams cross the finish line at the opposite end.
  • Or you can see how many turns they can get in 3 minutes.
  • The Most Fun Wins!

Round Two: Boulder Passing (medicine ball)

  • Teams stand in a line next to each other. Leave enough room for side to side passing:
  • The ball again starts in the front, but this time the ball will be pass from side to side.
  • When the ball gets to the last person in the line, that person runs all the way back up to the front, where the pattern of over/under passing continues until all of the teams cross the finish line.

Round Three: Hot Potato Passing

  • Teams stand in a line facing the front. Leave enough room to turn around and pass the hot potato!
  • The ball again starts in the front, as soon as you are handed the ball quickly turn around and hand off the hot potato to the person in back of you.
  • When the ball gets to the last person in the line, they run all the way back up to the front, with the ball barely touching their hands. 
  •  When all of the teams have crossed the finish line, the activity is over.

Round Four: Ball Toss Relay

  • Line up the four teams from the starting line to the finish line. Space the teams out so they have to toss the ball between them.
  • At the signal each team begins throwing and catching the ball to see which team can have their ball pass the line first.

Other Ideas 

  • Mix up the teams
  • Use other size balls

Coffee Sack Relays

Setup and Equipment

  • 4 coffee sacks
  • 4 cones: red, blue, yellow, green
  • 2 polyspots: red, blue, yellow, green
  • Teams line up behind the polyspot in relay style facing their cone.  The cones for each team are placed 10 to 15 feet away from across the starting polyspot
  • Change the length if it’s too long or too short after each group

Round One: Individual Coffee Sack Hop

  • One sack for each team
  • 1st player on each team puts both feet in the sack and hold the top of the sack.
  • “Go” Jump until they get to the cone, then go around the cone and give the sack to the next player
  • Give a high five to the 1st person on that team, who begins jumping to the other side.
  • Hand off the sack to the next person in line, then go to the end of the line.
  • When everyone on the team has returned to their starting positions, they should sit down.

Round Two: Individual Coffee Sack:  (A. Sideways B. Backwards) You May Want to do this is separate events.

  • Stand with both feet inside, but try to move sideways first turn and backwards on your second turn.
  • “Go” Students move until they get to the line on the other side.
  • Give a high five to the next person in line, who begins moving to the other side.
  • Hand off the sack to the next person in line, then go to the end of the line.
  • When everyone on the team has returned to their starting position a second time, they should sit down.

Round Three: 3-legged race

  • One sack for each team
  • 1st and 2nd person on each team are partners
  • Stand next to each other and pull a sack up on the legs that are next to each other. This is the third leg.
  • “Go” Move until they get to the cone and make a turn around the cone and back to the start. 
  • Give a high five to the next two people on that team, who begin moving to the other side in the same manner.
  • Hand off the sack to the next two people in line, then they go to the end of the line.
  • When everyone on the team has returned to their starting positions, they should sit down.

Variations: Can you do a four legged race, a five legged race?

 The Most Fun Wins!