Popcorn Pop

Name and Purpose

• Popcorn Pop turns the parachute into a giant popcorn maker with bouncing balls.
• Players practise coordination, timing, and playful competition while working as a group.

a.k.a.

• Ball Bounce, Parachute Popcorn

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 7-12 | 10-30 players | 10-15 minutes | Large flat open space, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• One large parachute with a centre hole
• 20 or more lightweight plastic bouncing balls (one per player)
• Numbered stickers or labels for balls

Quick-Run Card

1. Number each ball and assign one to each player.
2. Each player places their numbered ball on the parachute.
3. All players grab the edge and lift with both hands.
4. Everyone pumps the parachute up and down to bounce balls toward the hole.
5. Player whose ball stays on the parachute longest wins the round.

Setup and Boundaries

• Lay parachute flat and check that the centre hole is clear before adding balls.
• Clear a wide area around the parachute for balls that fly off the edge.
• Signal: one short whistle to pause; two to stop.
• Staff position: one staff member outside the circle to retrieve errant balls.

How to Play

1. Number each ball and note which number belongs to which player.
2. Each player places their numbered ball on the parachute near the centre.
3. All players grab the parachute edge with both hands and lift.
4. On staff cue, everyone pumps the parachute up and down in rhythm.
5. Balls bounce and gradually fall through the centre hole or fly off the edge.
6. The player whose ball stays on the parachute longest is the winner of that round.
7. Collect all balls, redistribute, and play again. Try different pumping rhythms.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Pump hard and try to be the last ball standing.
• S (Support): Pump in a steady rhythm to help the group stay together.
• Q (Quiet): Hold and pump gently, focusing on keeping timing with the group.
• O (Observer): Watch from the side and track whose ball is still on; join holding the edge on the next round.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who cannot grip the edge strongly can hold a knotted rope handle attached to the edge.
• Players seated in a wheelchair can hold the edge at their height; parachute can be used at a lower lift.

Stewardship Moment

• Each player collects their own numbered ball after each round to keep the play space tidy.
• Reflection: ‘Bouncing balls together is easy; bouncing them with a purpose takes coordination. What does that remind you of?’

Consent

• Pre-brief: ‘This game involves pumping the parachute up and down. For those not comfortable with the full pumping motion, holding the edge steady is another way to play.’
• Mid-game check: After two rounds, pause and ask for a thumbs up, sideways, or down.
• Opt-out/re-entry: Players can step back from the edge at any time. Rejoin by picking up the edge before the next round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Balls bouncing off the parachute and hitting players: clear a wide zone around the parachute; staff retrieve stray balls.
• Players gripping too tightly and straining: remind players to hold with a relaxed grip.
• Slipping on balls that land underfoot: staff sweep stray balls from the play zone between rounds.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Rhythm pump: practice lifting and lowering the parachute in a four-count rhythm without balls.
• Name the ball: each player announces their number before placing their ball.

Debrief Questions

• What? ‘What happened when everyone pumped at a different speed?’
• So What? ‘What made one rhythm work better than another?’
• Now What? ‘When does your group need to find a shared rhythm to get something done?’

Cleanup and Reset

• All players collect their numbered balls.
• Fold parachute together as a group.
• Check play space for stray balls before leaving.