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INTRODUCTION

ParaStrips are a wonderful addition to any movement or physical education program. ParaStrips are designed to work similar to parachutes with only two to six people needed to manipulate them. Whether they are used individually or in mass they will make an outstanding class activity or parent organization presentation. They are 4' wide and 12' long, made of the same strong rip-stop nylon that Sportime parachutes are made of. Each ParaStrip has a strong PVC dowel at each end for easy grasping.

ParaStrips add a wide range of movement experiences to your classes. ParaStrips can be used to teach concepts like rising and sinking, meeting and parting. When using ParaStrips with groups of students, concepts of "over," "under," "around" and even "through" can be explored. For example, have one or two students hold the ends of the ParaStrip. Other students can be instructed about the concept of "over". The holding students lower the ParaStrip and the other students then walk over it. When asked to go "around," the students holding the ends turn them vertical with the ParaStrips now forming a wall for the students to go around. When asked to go "through," the two holders come together to form a tunnel as the others go through.

Because ParaStrips are so versatile, they add zest to many lessons. When used with balls, they add another manipulation skill for the students to work on. The students can roll the ball back and forth or use the ParaStrip like a FLING-IT® to toss and catch on the same ParaStrip or pass it to others on their ParaStrip.

ACTIVITIES
ParaStrips can be used by two to six students. Students hold onto the end of the ParaStrip allowing them to do a variety of movement skills and concepts. For example, like a full size parachute, the ParaStrip can be pulled up and down to create waves, a ball can be put on top and made to move from one end to the other. ParaStrip can be used with creative dance. ParaStrip can even be tied to your game standards to make an exciting and innovative "net".

Creative dance is very interesting and exciting with ParaStrips. Your students from third grade and up will be able to develop their own routines and will not usually need much help from you.

Ask your students questions like:

How will you begin your routine?
Will it be close together with the ParaStrip down low?
Will it be with the ParaStrip stretched tight between you?
Will you be touching the ParaStrip or will it be laying on the floor ready for you?
What will you do next?
Will you come together and let it billow high above your heads?
Will you use a locomotor action and travel around?
Will you come together and trade places?
Will you roll under or on top of the ParaStrip?
How many times will you repeat this sequence?
How will this routine end?
Like the beginning?
Will you wrap yourself up in it?
Will you raise it high and put the ends on the floor and float down with it?

Fitness elements can also be incorporated into the program with ParaStrips. Students can do partner sit-ups at the end of each ParaStrip. Even the not-so-fit will be able to do this exercise because the students at the other end will be able to give them a pull. Muscular strength will also be developed in the shoulders, arms and wrist when the ParaStrips are used in a routine.

ParaStrips truly are one of those items in the equipment room that are limited only by a teacher�s or student�s imagination.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE
SKILL THEME: Creative dance ParaStrips.
OBJECTIVE: Students will work on creating a dance sequence with the use of ParaStrips and with the aid of music.
EQUIPMENT: ParaStrips and very slow music.
FITNESS ELEMENT: Stretching and some aerobic work with the use of the drum and review of pathways.

TASK	CUE/Coaching
Travel moving in the different pathways. Use different drumbeats for each pathway.
Travel in the different pathways and with a loud drumbeat jump high into the air.	Talk about good landings, bending at the knees and ankles.
Find a group of people you can work with.	2-4 people work well.
Using ParaStrips, find ways to change the relationships you have with people in your group. For example, if you start close together you could move apart. If you start down you could rise.	Work in relationships is a pre-requisite skill for this lesson.
Explore the possibilities and then begin to put together 4-6 different changes in the relationships. Make this a repeatable work.	Repeatable � make sure they can remember their sequence. For some groups 3 different movements will be all they can handle. At this point, start using very slow music. Fast music may be incorporated later, depending on the progress of your group(s).
If you would like to share your routine with us you will have a chance to do that.	Let the students practice for a few minutes and then invite them to share their work with the class.
If you do not want to show the class, I will want to see it.	If the students are not willing to share with the group, they must share it with you.

ParaStrip is great for the differently-abled students. The light weight of the ParaStrip allows the students to manipulate the ParaStrip easily. Students of many abilities can manipulate ParaStrips at the same time. The music used during the activities helps make this experience enjoyable by all populations.

SAFETY
Safety is usually not a problem with ParaStrip. Any activity should be supervised by a qualified instructor.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For additional resources please refer to a great article that appeared in the January 1989 JOPERD entitled, CHUTE THE WORKS - Motivating for Fitness and Movement, by Nancy L. Carleton.