Lovely fun singing game with a parachute developed by Lena Leon. particularly for young children (KS2).
Probably works best with a smaller (approx 2.5 meter (8′-9′)) well-built parachute, and you’ll need 10 pupils and/or adults (or more) for it to be effective, considering the physical stresses that are going to be placed on the parachute.
With the parachute spread out, one child is chosen to sit in the centre. All the other children and adults space themselves evenly around the outside and hold the edge of the parachute off the floor at waist level. Singing the following rhyme and carrying out the accompanying movements. The child in the middle remains seated and still. During this, the parachute twists and steadily wraps them up – until the very end.
- Roly poly, roly poly, [All walk anti-clockwise holding the parachute]
- Up, up, up. [stop walking and lift the edge slightly higher on each ‘up’]
- Roly poly, roly poly, [bring the edge back to waist height and walk anti-clockwise again while chanting]
- Down, down, down. [stop walking and bring the edges to the floor step-wise until on the last ‘down’ the edges touch the floor]
- Roly poly, roly poly, [bring the edge back to waist height and walk anti-clockwise again while chanting]
- Wait, wait, wait. [Everybody stops moving and stays still]
- Roly poly, roly poly…. [walk anti-clockwise again while chanting]
- OUT! [Everybody pulls outwards forcing the parachute to unravel and the child in the middle to be spun around]
Repeat for all those that want to have a go (or you have time for… :-))
Lena recommends that during the wrapping stage, children learn to stop when the parachute has reached shoulder level.
Lena’s video of some children engaged in the Roly-Poly singing game.
If you have your own chanting song or know of one. Let us know and we’ll be very happy to add it to the archive of games and activities.
