WOW Game Title: Ocean Exploration 1
Physical Education Game: Parachute Exploration
Content Area: Science
TEKS Focus: Forces Change the Earth
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
MARE
Physical Education Unit: Cooperation, Muscular Strength & Flexibility
Grade: 5
Resource: www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/ocean/Waves.html
Parachute Ocean Exploration 1 by Pam Atkins
Equipment/Materials: 1-20’or 24’ parachute; drum and mallet (may use whistle)
Set Up: Prior to activity, teacher discusses with students “What causes ocean waves?”
The winds cause waves on the surface of the ocean (and on lakes.) The wind transfers some
of its energy to the water, through friction between the air molecules and the water
molecules. Stronger winds (like storm surges) cause larger waves. Waves of water do not
move horizontally, they only move up and down (a wave does not represent a flow of water.)
You can see a demonstration of this by watching a floating buoy bob up and down with a
wave; it does not, however, move horizontally with the wave.
Activity:
Lay parachute on ground with students evenly distributed around parachute. Prior to students
touching parachute, teach students drum beat cues: 1 beat = hands on parachute and stand
up; 2 beats = put parachute on ground, students sit down and hands in lap; fast repetitive
drum beats = students stand up holding edge of parachute and shake parachute creating
“small ocean waves”; slow repetitive drum beats = students stand up holding edge of
parachute and extend arms up and then bend at waist and knees taking arms all the way down
in slow motion creating “giant ocean waves.”
After students are taught the drum beat cues, then teacher beats cues and takes class
through an “ocean wave exploration.” During this exploration, teacher may designate which
students are permitted to go “under the ocean.” When going under students should lay on
abdominals with head down on forearms. Students will experience the wind creating the
waves!
Variations:
 When students go “under the ocean” this is a great time for teacher to pull in “What
Do You See?” The teacher can review what sea life has been taught in the classroom,
what species are on the ocean floor, etc.
Review Questions:
Skill Focus: Which muscles did we strengthen while working with the parachute?
Academic Focus: How can waves change the earth?