Parachute Shark and Lifeguards

Sitting with their legs under the parachute, students make waves while a hidden shark tries to tag their feet and two lifeguards race to rescue anyone who calls for help. The game builds focus, reaction time and helping others.

How to play

1. Everyone sits around the parachute with legs stretched under the canopy, holding the edge (1 min).
2. Choose one shark, who crawls underneath, and two lifeguards in pinnies, who walk around the outside. Everyone else makes nonstop waves (1 min).
3. The shark taps someone's feet with a hand. That student raises an arm and yells 'Help!', and the group counts to five while a lifeguard runs to tap their shoulder (3 min).
4. If the lifeguard arrives before five, the student stays put; if not, they switch roles with the shark. Nobody is ever out.
5. Every minute the lifeguards hand their pinnies to the classmate on their right. Play 4-minute rounds with a new shark (8 min).
6. Final round with two sharks and three lifeguards, then finish with one big wave that floats down slowly (3 min).

Rules

• The shark only taps with a hand: no pulling legs.
• Lifeguards run outside the circle, always in the same direction, to avoid collisions.
• The waves never stop during a round.
• The count to five is slow and done together.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student is the lighthouse lookout, pointing lifeguards to whoever calls for help.
• Fear of the canopy or autism: the student can stay a lifeguard and never be the shark.
• Fitness level: pair a fast lifeguard with a slower one in each rotation.

Learning goals

• Stay focused and react to a touch signal.
• Follow safe-contact rules.
• Help classmates who call for help.

Equipment for a class of 25

• play parachute: 1
• pinnies: 3

Teacher tip

Before starting, stress that the shark only taps and never pulls; it is the key safety rule. If a child gets scared under the canopy, raise the parachute a bit to let in more light.

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