What else can I do in storytime? Parachute!

I'm always looking for new non-reading activities to include in my storytimes, so this is the first post in a series of my favorite activities and resources for more ideas.

Parachute games
We generally sing a few songs that involve different parachute movements:

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round (Turn the parachute around in a circle)
The kids on the bus go up and down (Lift the parachute up and down)
The door on the bus goes open and shut (Everyone walks into the middle and then back out)

If you're happy and you know it, shake the chute...
If you're happy and you know it, lift the chute...
If you're happy and you know it, spin the chute...

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill (raise the chute)
And he marched them down again (lower)
And when they're up, they're up (raise)
And when they're down, they're down (lower),
And when they're only half-way up, (raise half-way)
They're neither up nor down (raise, lower).

I also have a set of 5 Little Monkeys puppets so we can do toss them on the parachute and do "Five Little Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed."

There are lots of other ideas in Parachute Play by Liz and Dick Wilmes. When we're done singing, we let the kids run under the parachute and sit underneath while it floats to the ground. I'd love to hear some of your favorite parachute activities, so please love a comment!

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