Aim

“Today, as a class, we are going to take a camping trip to the top of a mountain. Let’s listen carefully and make sure we stay together.

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

• Everyone, let’s sit down in our boat and begin to row to the little island.” Children sit down and put feet under the parachute and begin a rowing motion lying down and pulling themselves up.
• “There are a few small waves coming and then I see some really big waves.” Children shake the parachute softly and then more vigorously.
• “I see some fish moving under the water, look carefully!” Pick a few children to crawl under the parachute pretending to be fish.
• “We have finally made it to shore just before nightfall, so we must pitch our tent even with the rain and wind coming!” Children make the tent and sit under the parachute and then rock gently back and forth to make wind.
• “I think the storm is now over and we can finally go to sleep, so pull your blankets up.”
• Children get under the parachute with just their heads sticking out as if under a blanket.
• “What a beautiful morning, so let’s go for a hike up the mountains!” While holding the parachute with one hand, children walk in a circle. Then, the class makes 4 separate mountains (or the number of colors on your parachute) and the teacher calls different color groups to crawl onto the mountains.
• “We’ve reached the top and it’s cold so we must make a fire with the dry wood we see about us.”
• The teacher puts balls on the parachute and children start shaking the balls. “The wood is so dry, the fire is cracking and popping.”
• “After a long day of hiking and mountain climbing, let’s return to our boat and row back to the mainland.” Children walk in a circle, sit down and begin to grow again

“What a wonderful adventure!”