PatioLab
Home › Activity library › Warm-ups for Elementary › Parachute Activation

Parachute Activation

Parachute warm-up: waves, place swaps and the mushroom to activate arms, legs and attention.

PhaseWarm-up
Duration8 min
Ages6–11
SpaceGym or classroom
EquipmentPlay parachute
IntensityModerate

How to play

  1. The whole group holds the parachute with both hands.
  2. Waves: small, medium and big following the teacher's voice.
  3. Place swap: call a color and students holding that color run underneath while others lift the parachute.
  4. Mushroom: everyone lifts it together, steps in and sits on the edge inside.

Rules

Variations

Easier

Waves and swaps in pairs only.

Standard

Waves, swaps and mushroom.

Harder

Keep a ball rolling around the edge during the waves.

Adaptations

Learning goals

Add this activity to your lesson

PatioLab has "Parachute Activation" and 599 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.

More warm-ups for Elementary

Active Blind Man's Bluff

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 6–10📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: Blindfold

Active "Blind Man's Bluff": a partner guides a blindfolded classmate by voice so they can tag the others.

Orienteering Moderate intensity

Active Corners

⏱ 8 min👥 Ages 7–12📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: cones

Active corners: each corner of the area has an exercise; students run to the corner called and do that exercise.

Activation Moderate intensity

Animal Races

⏱ 7 min👥 Ages 6–9📍 Any space
Equipment: No equipment

Animal races: students move like different animals across the space — a fun way to warm up all major muscle groups.

Imitation Moderate intensity

Around the World

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 7–12📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: No equipment

Around the world: each area of the playground is a continent and students travel between them doing different moves.

Orienteering Low intensity

Balance Pose Challenge

⏱ 6 min👥 Ages 8–12📍 Gym or classroom
Equipment: No equipment

Balance pose challenge: students hold balance poses alone, in pairs and in small groups, improving stability and body control.

Balance Low intensity

Body Echo

⏱ 5 min👥 Ages 6–11📍 Gym or classroom
Equipment: No equipment

Body echo: the teacher makes a sound or rhythm with the body (claps, stomps) and students repeat it like an echo.

Focus Low intensity