Iceland Adventure

by Neetu | May 26, 2020 | Fitness Activity

Aim

To practice locomotor skills while following along on an imaginary trip to the North Pole.

Equipment Required

• Four cones for boundaries (same color).
• Spot marker for every kid.
• Music Player & pen drive.
• A large parachute.
• Fluff Balls

Play Area Set-Up

• Spread the parachute completely and lay it on the ground
• Have children hold the handles of the parachute or rolled up edges

Activity Description

When students arrive in the ground, explain to them that they are going on an adventure to the North Pole. Tell them they will be starting out asleep at “home” and will travel across high snowbanks to reach the train station. Tell them to follow along with what you do, as they listen to the story of their adventure.

• Say: “We are sound asleep in our nice, warm house. Oh! Time to wake up!”
• Say: “Let’s put on our coat and hat and mittens! Don’t forget your boots!”
• Say: “Now let’s go outside. Oh no! We can’t see where to go because the snowbanks are so high! Look! There’s a tree branch. Let’s jump up and grab onto it so we can climb up!”
• Action: Jump up, reaching arms up high.
• Action: Put your hand on your forehead, as though peering out into the distance. Then point.
• Say: “Now that we are up high we can see over the snowbanks. I wonder where the train is. Oh! I see it! I am so excited!”
• Action: Start to skip around the gym, all the way to the train platform.
• Say: “Let me have your train tickets.”
• Action: Hold your hand out to each student as they give you their imaginary tickets.
• Say: “All aboard for the North Pole!”
• Action: Form a single line, student’s hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Walk around the gym, pretending to be the train traveling north.
• Say: “It’s time for our first stop! Look! There are some reindeer!”
• Action: Move like reindeer, galloping around the gym.
• Say: “Time to get on board again!”
• Action: Walk around the gym again, simulating a train.
• Say: “Second stop! Oh look at the beautiful snowflakes!”
• Action: Point up and turn all around, as though in awe of the beautiful winter sky.
• Say: “Uh oh! A polar bear! RUN!”
• Action: Run around the gym in general space, being aware of each student’s personal space.
• Say: “All aboard for the final leg of the trip!”
• Action: Walk around the gym simulating a train.
• Say: “We’re here! The North Pole! We need to build an igloo so we can stay warm!”

Action: Stop and point to the parachute in the corner of the gym. Bring the parachute out so students can spread out around the parachute, grab the edge, raise it up, up, up and take a step forward, bringing it down quickly and sitting down on the inside edge, holding the air in like a tent.

Say: “I’m too excited to sleep! Let’s play some parachute games!”

Action: Students can play “popcorn” where light Fluff Balls are popped up in the air by making waves. The balls can be called snowballs. Other parachute games include Cat and Mouse, Switcheroo, Sharks, Merry-go-round, etc. Change the names of the games to fit the theme, for example, Polar Bears and Seals.

PE EFFECTIVENESS

Through observation, check student’s ability to follow the activity cues

DEBRIEFING

Students can be assessed in their ability to move safely in general space. A motor skills checklist can also be used to assess running, galloping and skipping form

Parachute Fitness

by Neetu | May 26, 2020 | Fitness Activity

Aim

We’ll improve our fitness – Strength through Parachute

Equipment Required

• Four cones for boundaries (same color).
• A large parachute with colored edges.

Play Area Set-Up

• Spread the parachute completely and lay it on the ground
• Have children hold the handles of the parachute or rolled up edges

Activity Description

It is widely known that many parachute activities can develop muscular

strength.  This activity can be a great addition to a parachute lesson and incorporates upper body strength.

• Start with the parachute spread out on the floor. Has each student sat BEHIND a color wedge? The parachute serves as a visual attraction rather than a tool for this activity so make sure to reinforce not touching the parachute during this activity.
• Demonstrate the push-up position with your hands near the parachute but not touching (students should be facing the parachute in a push-up position behind their color wedge). Have the students model the same position?
• Then, give a number (1-4) and a direction (right or left). On “go” the students will move that number of wedges in that direction while maintaining the proper “up” modified push-up position (and not actually going “down”). You can incorporate right/left or clockwise/ counterclockwise.
• Then, instruct the students to rest (body on the ground) at their new color wedge. You can then incorporate stationary push-ups or go back the other way.
• Combine this with ‘parachute curl-ups’ and ‘parachute jumping jacks’ for a good warm-up to a parachute lesson.

DEBRIEFING & WRAP-UP

1. Relax your arms, Rotate your hands
2. Ask the students what the important cues are for the push-up. Ask the students what other activities strengthen the same muscles.