"El Patio de Mi Casa" Parachute Song
Children sing the traditional Spanish ring song "El patio de mi casa" while circling with the parachute and lowering it to the ground on "agáchate" (squat down). It builds rhythm, matching actions to lyrics and enjoyment of traditional games.
How to play
- Sitting by the fabric, the teacher sings "El patio de mi casa" (a Spanish circle song about a courtyard where children squat down and pop back up) and everyone repeats it line by line (2 min).
- Standing, we circle holding the parachute with one hand while we sing the first part (2 min).
- On "agáchate y vuélvete a agachar" (squat down and squat again), everyone squats with both hands and the fabric touches the ground, then we stand and lift it high (2 min).
- On "chocolate, molinillo" we make quick ripples, and on "estirar, estirar" (stretch, stretch) we step back until the fabric is tight (2 min).
- Sing the whole song twice in a row, faster the second time (2 min).
Rules
- We sing and move at the same time.
- On "agáchate," the fabric touches the ground.
- Everyone circles the same way.
- Stretch without yanking.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, just circle and squat; for the rest of the song we sit and listen with the fabric on our knees.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add the ripples and the stretch.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, they sing on their own and a child chooses a new move for the ending.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a child in a wheelchair sings and lowers the fabric to their lap on "agáchate"; the group circles slowly to stay with them.
- Hearing impairment: teach a hand sign for each part (circle, squat, ripples, stretch) and make it big before each change.
- Autism: always sing it the same way and give a heads-up before the fast version.
Learning goals
- Match movement to the rhythm and words of a song.
- Learn and enjoy a traditional circle song.
- Move together with the group.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Rainbow parachute: 1
Teacher tip
Teach the song without the parachute first; with the fabric in hand they get distracted and stop singing. If your class doesn't know Spanish, "Ring Around the Rosie" works with the same squat-down idea.
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