Summer Dance Lesson 5

Resources for Summer Dance Lesson 5: Father’s Day Two
Activity: ‘Swing Me Over the Water’ (traditional)
“Let’s use the parachute to make a giant swing!” Sing the song acapella as you move the ‘imaginary parachute’ from side to side to the pulse then lift it up high as you say ‘Whee!’ Repeat using the real parachute. Place your small teddy on top and repeat again. “Teddy is feeling a bit lonely on the swings.” Add another soft toy on top, so there are now two, and repeat again. “I think someone else wants to join in.” Add another soft toy on top, so there are now three, and repeat.
Swing me over the water,
Swing me over the sea.
Swing me over the garden wall,
And swing me home for tea. WHEE!
Social Distancing Alterations
If you are unable to conduct parachute play due to social distancing, try the following ideas:
- Make sure the children are well spaced out. They hold their arms out to the side and sway left then right (like they are a see saw) to the pulse and then jump up high at the end.
- Each child holds their own small soft toy. They move it side to side to the pulse and then
lift it up high at the end.
- For parents at home with their children: you hold two corners of a scarf (or other piece of
material) and your child holds the other two corners (so it’ horizontal like a play parachute). The scarf is the swing and you move it side to side to the pulse then lift it up high at the end. Next, place a small soft toy on top and repeat, so the toy is tossed up high into the air as you say “Whee”.
EYFS aims
PSED (MR)
To work cooperatively, make good eye contact and move in sync with the parachute
CL (LA)
To develop listening and attention through the use of props (parachute and soft toys) and playfulness (making toys jump on the parachute)
CL (LA) & (S)
To develop listening, attention and speech through song and rhyme
M (N)
To count how many toys are placed on the parachute
M (SSM), L (R) & CL (LA) & (S)
To pre-empt and join in with the lyrics which follow a repetitive structure/pattern
PD (MH)
To develop fine motor skills through gripping onto the parachute and gross motor skills through manipulating it to move side to side and up high at the end
© 2020 Lucy Sparkles LTD