WOW Game Title: Ocean Exploration 1
Physical Education Game: Parachute Exploration
Content Area: Math
TEKS Focus: Addition and Subtraction Number Sense
Multiplying to Solve Problems
Fractions and Decimals
Equivalent Fractions
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, whistle can be used.
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:
 There are numerous ways to designate which students go under the parachute.
One way is to assign each student a number. Teacher may choose to call out
numbers at random, even numbers, odd numbers, multiples, etc. For upper grades,
teacher may choose to call out math equations. The student which is assigned the
answer number may go under the parachute. For example, 2x8, 9 divided by 3,
etc.

Fraction concepts and decimals may also be integrated into the lesson. Utilize
parachute divided segments, giving each segment a specific value, to make this a
visual learning experience.
Review Questions:
Skill Focus: Which muscles did we strengthen while working with the parachute?
Academic Focus: What mathematic equations did you get correct or incorrect?