The Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade
Canopy (or Parachute) Games
Merry Go Round – everyone hold the canopy with the right hand and begin to walk in a clockwise direction, then jog, then stop, switch to the left hand, then walk and jog in the opposite direction.
Mushroom – from the floor, raise the canopy to its highest point and pull down to the floor again.
Tent – raise the canopy to Mushroom, pull down, walk in pulling the canopy under your bottom and sit on its edge. (Children could dance or sing a short song/nursery rhyme while under the canopy.)
Spider – raise the canopy to Mushroom, pull down the edge round the neck and lie flat on tummies, all but the head extended outwards from the canopy, kicking both feet.
Washing Machine – one child sits cross-legged in the centre and all the others move in a clockwise direction, all the time moving closer to the centre. The canopy should be kept under the legs of the child at the centre. When everyone is close to the centre, all move outwards quickly together so that the child at the centre spins. A young child could sit between the legs of an older child.
Change Places – number the children so that everyone has a partner on the opposite side of the canopy, ie fourteen children would be numbered 1 to 7 and 1 to 7. Raise the canopy to Mushroom calling out a number. Each pair should run under the canopy to the other side. When the canopy has reached its highest point all the others pull the canopy down on those underneath.
Fruits – a variation of the above. Children are divided in equal numbers into oranges, lemons, bananas, etc. Raise the canopy to Mushroom calling out a fruit. Children run under the canopy and change places with one of the others. (Could use cars – Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, etc.)
Sharks and Lifeguards – children sit with their legs under the canopy. A shark swims below the canopy and tries to pull the other children by their feet in with them. The lifeguard tries to save the children who are being pulled under. A child who has been pulled under also becomes a shark.
Cat and Mouse – one child (the mouse) is under the canopy. The others shake the canopy to cause waves. The mouse moves under the canopy, staying as flat as they can, so as to avoid capture by the cat. The cat is on its hands and knees above the canopy trying to find the mouse.
Ball Overboard–The canopy is divided into two halves (across a colour is a good idea). A light plastic ball (or balls) are thrown onto the canopy. Everyone shakes the canopy and tries to get the ball off the canopy on their opposite side. A score is kept. (Note – it may be necessary to try out different balls as some work better than others.)