Active School Week is always one of the most anticipated weeks of our school year! Children take part in a range of activities throughout the week such as soccer, basketball, athletics, tag rugby, playground games, parachute games, orienteering, GAA, pilates and Dance classes. 5th and 6th class students work incredibly hard all week, helping to coordinate and run the various activities throughout the week. They also organise class specific orienteering events for the whole school, working in groups to draw clues/write riddles for each class group. The organisational skills our senior students display each year during Active Week is testament to how much the Active School process has nurtured their leadership qualities.
Active School Week 2022
Ideas for Parachute Games
- WAVES: While holding the parachute tightly, participants move their arms up and down to make small and large waves.
- TREASURE UNDER THE SEA: Place a variety of ‘treasures’ (anything you want) into a treasure box under the parachute. Make waves (above) as if in a Sea Storm. Send divers to retrieve called out items one by one from the box.
- NUMBER SWITCH: Give each child a number. Example: 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5, etc.
Call a number such as “3” and all the “3’s” switch places by running under the chute. - SHOE SHUFFLE: Give each child a number. All the number one children remove a shoe and throw it under the parachute.
On the third lift–all those missing a shoe go into the middle, retrieve their shoe and return to their place.
Continue with the other numbers. - SHAKE HANDS: Have all the players hold the parachute way up high above their heads. Call out two names and have these two players run underneath the parachute, shake hands, then run back out before the parachute comes down. Continue doing this until all the players have had a chance to run under the parachute.
- FRUIT SALAD: Each player is given the name of a fruit such as pear, apple, or strawberry. When teacher calls out the name of a fruit, everyone with that fruit name changes places by running under the parachute. When fruit salad is called out, everyone must swap places with the players on the other side.
- NAME GAME: As the song is sung, have children raise the parachute above their heads.
When a child’s name is called— they run under the parachute. The parachute is slowly lowered in an attempt to trap the child. Play until all children that would like to try– have had a turn. Sung to: Row, Row, Row your Boat
Down, down, down it comes
If your name is——- (put in a child’s name)
Now’s your turn to run
Jigsaw Relay: Divide the children into teams of 4/5. Each child runs out, picks up a jigsaw piece and runs back. The first team to have their jigsaw completed are the winners!
Fill the Water Relay: Divide the children into teams of 4/5. Each child runs out, fills their jug with water from the bucket, runs back and empties the water into their basin. The first team to reach the marked line wins!
Peg Game: Give each child two pegs to clip onto their back. The aim of the game is to protect your own pegs while taking everyone else’s. The last person with a peg wins. Encourage them to take other pegs as well as protecting their own!
Active Week 2023
*Wake Up Shake Up in Yard each morning
*Run Around Ireland Challenge
*Active Movement Breaks throughout the Week
*Make use of walkway for Mindfulness Walks each day
*Run Around Ireland Challenge
*Active Movement Breaks throughout the Week
*Make use of walkway for Mindfulness Walks each day
