Official Veggie Ambassador Games

Larry Boy Beans and Chutes

This is a second in my series showcasing the computer animated series of Veggie Tales. This is a series of games that utilize beanbags and parachutes that teach cooperation, coordination and fun.  It can be played with kid’s two to twelve.  So if you are looking for cooperative games to play with your children try Larry Boy games.

Materials: Beanbags balloon and parachutes

Laura Toss and Count

Give each player a beanbag.  On the teacher’s signal have the children toss and catch their own beanbags to their partner.  After thirty seconds stop the game and count the number of times you tossed and catch the beanbags.  Players can also play the game themselves counting the number of beanbag tosses and catches they have successfully completed.  The player or team that throws the most times without it falling to the ground wins.

Bob and Larry Toss and Walk Relay

Use tape to mark a start line, mark a goal line about 10 feet away.  Group students into equal teams and have them form relay lines behind the starting line.  Give a beanbag which represents Bob or Larry to the first child on each team.  At your signal, the first child on each team walks to the goal line, then turns around and walks back to the start, tossing and catching her beanbag as she walks.  When she reaches her team, she hands the beanbag to the next team player then sits down at the end of the line.  The first team that finishes first wins! 

 Archibald Over and Under Relay

Group students into equal teams and have them form relay lines.  Give a beanbag to the first child on each team.  At the teacher’s signal, the first child on each team passes the beanbag between her legs to the second child.  The second child passes the beanbag between her legs to the third child.  Continue playing until the beanbag reaches the last person on the team.  Reverse directions for the next round.  You can vary the movements with left side, right side, one handed, two handed over and under etc.  You can also choose other players from the Veggie Tales to toss over, under, right and left side as well.

 Larry Boy Balancing Acts

Give each child a beanbag and have them copy the movements playing the game Larry Boy says.  Start with easy movements and make them gradually more difficult.  Balance the beanbag on your head, then shoulder, raised knee, elbow, ankle. Etc.  After they children have played a round with the teacher let them direct the game with assistance with the teacher.

Hot Pizza

Have the children standing in a circle, spaced about arms length’s apart.  Explain that the beanbag is a hot pizza.   When the child gets it, he should toss the beanbag to the person that is next to him.  When the music stops the person with the beanbag has to take the beanbag and be a delivery person and give the beanbag pizza to another person in the circle.

Don’t break the Veggie

Have children find partner and take a beanbag or a soft veggie tale toy and face each other about three feet apart.  Have each child toss and throw the beanbag/veggie to each other.  Progressively step back as you toss them back and forth to make it more difficult.  The group that successfully goes the farthest is the winner.

Catch the Veggie

Have the children kneel and hold the chute a few feet off the ground.  Name a few of the children and have them lie on their stomachs and crawl under the chute.  Name one more child.  He is it.  He lies on his stomach at the edge of the chute.  When you say go the child who is it begins chasing all the others.  When a child is tagged he becomes it also.  Now the two children chase the others.  Play until everyone has been tagged.  Play again with other children.

 Junior Ripples and Waves

Use an overhead grip.  Shake the parachute gently making only ripples.  Gradually let your ripples get bigger until the parachute makes little waves.  Now, let those waves get bigger and bigger.  Shake the parachute until the group instructor tells you to freeze.  The Ripples and Waves activity teaches self-control and how to follow directions.  Students use their full upper body for this workout.

 Mr. Lunt Merry Go Round

Hold the parachute edge overhead and choose a leader to perform different movements like skipping, hopping, running, etc.  All children perform the chosen movement together while holding the parachute edge and circling clockwise and then counterclockwise as instructed.  The Merry Go Round activity teaches problem-solving and following directions while using the shoulders and upper arm extensors and flexors. 

Stretch Madame Blueberry

Hold the edge of the parachute overhead.  On the signal, stretch and gently pull the parachute tight for five seconds.  Relax; let the parachute go limp and then stretch it again. Stretch Madame Blueberry teaches strength, agility, and coordination using the serratus anterior, hand flexors and extensors.

Veggie Dome

Start with one knee on the ground and hold the parachute’s edge overhead.  On the signal, all players stand up quickly.  Raise the parachute above all heads and return to the starting position on the ground.  This traps air under the chute and creates a dome.  The Veggie Dome activity teaches cooperation, working together, and following directions while employing the front and back deltoids.

Veggie Go Round

Hold the parachute edge overhead and choose a leader to perform different movements like skipping, hopping, running, etc.  All children perform the chosen movement together while holding the parachute edge and circling clockwise and then counterclockwise as instructed.  The Veggie Go Round activity teaches problem-solving and following directions while using the shoulders and upper arm extensors and flexors. 

Larry Boy Float

Hold the parachute edge overhead.  Put balloons in the middle and gently wave the chute.  Ask students what happens to the balloons when they are shaken off the chute.  Pull the parachute taut and, as you shake the balloons; ask what will happen as you shake them higher and higher.  The Balloon Float is a great activity to do as an extension of Mr. Chute.  It works the biceps, triceps, and the lattisimus dorsi.

Veggie Copy Cat

Hold the parachute’s edge with an overhand grip.  Have the children stand around the bunched up chute and grip it, thumbs-down.  Have them think of an exercise that the group can do while holding onto the chute.  Quickly go around the chute and have each child whisper his exercise to you.  Walk the chute out and have the children hold the chute above their heads.  One child ducks under the chute to demonstrate his exercise—such as jumping up and down four times—and then runs back out.  Lower the chute to waist high once again while everyone imitates the activity.  Raise the chute for another child to demonstrate an exercise.  Continue with several more children.  The Copy Cat activity teaches children to use creativity, take turns, and follow directions.  Both the upper and lower body muscles can be used in this activity- depending on the exercises the children select.

Veggie New Places

Lower the chute to the ground and ask the children to stand in a larger circle around the chute and hold hands.  Move in a circle, doing several large body movements such as sliding, galloping, taking giant steps, etc.  At the last movement, bring the children close to the parachute so they can pull it out.  You could ask them to tiptoe toward the chute, hold it with thumbs up and walk backwards until it is stretched out.  Call a child’s name and a movement, such as twirl.  Have the other children raise the chute above their heads.  The named child releases the chute and quickly twirls to a new place on the chute.  After he has grabbed the chute in his new place, everyone lowers the chute.  Call on another child and continue playing.  New Places teaches spatial awareness while working all the back muscles and the wrist extensors and flexors.