Parachute Play on a Winter's Day

We started by laying the parachute out on the floor. I had everyone stand around the parachute by a handle. We started with an opening idea I got from the blog So Tomorrow . I added some verses to extend the song and we ended up singing it twice.

Tune of We Wish You a Merry Christmas:

Let's all do a little clapping, 
Let's all do a little clapping, 
Let's all do a little clapping, 
It's parachute time.

Let's all do a little stomping....it's parachute time.
Let's all pick the parachute up.....it's parachute time.
Let's all do a little shaking.....it's parachute time.
Let's all go around the circle.....it's parachute time.
Let's all reach up to the ceiling.....it's parachute time.
Let's all reach down to the floor now.....it's parachute time.
Let's all do a little shaking.....it's parachute time.

I turned on Jim Gill's My Ups and Downs from Jim Gill Sings Do, Re Mi. We followed along with the song putting the parachute up and down.

We had a Cotton Ball Snowstorm, which was FABULOUS. One mom asked me if she was supposed to be having so much fun! Yes! Mom's can have fun, too. I dumped a bag of large cotton balls out on the parachute. We ended up playing the snowstorm for quite awhile, as the kids were asking for more, more.

Our next activity was a game I found on the Rhythm Express blog.

The Big Red Dragon Will Gobble Me Up 
(to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

The parachute will gobble me up, gobble me up, gobble me up <shake>
The parachute will gobble me up,
All the way up to my knees…. <hold at knees>

The big red dragon….
All the way up to my tummy…. <hold at tummy>

The big red dragon…
All the way up to my shoulders…<hold at shoulders>

The big red dragon…
All the way up to my nose… <hold at nose>

The parachute will gobble me up, gobble me up, gobble me up
The parachute has <pause>
 Gobbled me up! <lift up chute and everyone underneath to hide>

I turned on Greg and Steve's The Freeze and they loved having the free will to interact with the parachute at their own pace.

The next song was from Preschool Education Games to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It. I added some silly activities of my own.

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet.

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet.

When the parachute goes up and it floats up in the sky, 

When the parachute goes up, stomp your feet.

...bend your knees

...wiggle your bottom

...lift one leg

...shake the chute

...shout hooray

We took a few minutes and the adults held the parachute up while the children danced around underneath to some random music.

We had one last snowstorm, then it was time to say goodbye.

I close my storytimes with this is the way we say goodbye, so I tweaked it to include some parachute actions. 

This is the way we pass the chute, pass the chute, pass the chute. This is the way we pass the chute when it's time to go.

....shake the chute.

....reach up high. Add what you want!

This is the way we pass the chute, pass the chute, pass the chute. This is the way we pass the chute, then we lay it down.

Then we sang the storytime goodbye song:

This is the way we wave goodbye, wave goodbye, wave goodbye. This is the way we wave goodbye. Goodbye until next time!