Colors Trade Houses
When the parachute rises like a balloon, children on the color the teacher calls run underneath and trade places with another child of the same color. It works on running with changes of direction, timing and attention.
How to play
- Each child stands on a section; the teacher checks that every color has children on opposite sides of the circle (2 min).
- Practice the balloon: on three, everyone lifts the fabric at once and lowers it slowly (2 min).
- The teacher calls a color as the fabric goes up: those children let go, walk underneath and take the empty spot on the other side (3 min).
- Now they cross in other ways: running, crawling, hopping like frogs (3 min).
- On the drum beat, "Everybody move!": all colors cross at once while the teacher holds a long stretch of the edge (2 min).
Rules
- Only the called color crosses.
- Look ahead as you cross so you don't bump.
- If the fabric comes down before you're across, crouch and wait for it to go back up.
- On the other side, grab the empty spot.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, they walk across, one color at a time, with the teacher in the middle showing the way.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, change the way of crossing and call colors one after another.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, two colors cross at once and must dodge each other underneath.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair crosses with an adult's help while the group lifts the fabric higher and longer.
- Autism: the child can wear a scarf of their color on the wrist and choose to cross or stay holding the fabric.
- Hearing impairment: the teacher shows a colored card as well as saying the color.
Learning goals
- Cross the space using different ways of moving.
- Judge the time to cross while the fabric is up.
- Respect each color's turn.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Rainbow parachute: 1
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
The hardest part is everyone letting go and the fabric dropping, so call the color right when it reaches the top. During "Everybody move!", hold a long piece of the edge yourself.
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