Supplies:
pumpkins
knives
spoons
newspaper or plastic
tea lights (candles)
matches
Get some pumpkins, either one per person or just a few and assign a small group to each one. If there isn't a budget for pumpkins, ask everyone to bring one for themselves (which generally works better for people, so they get to pick exactly the one that they want for the project they have in mind). Lay out newspapers or plastic to protect your work area. Distribute knives and spoons, and let everyone clean out and carve their pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns.
Everyone can do their own thing, or you can have a theme (celebrity, animal, scary things). You can pick a winner for best pumpkin. When they're all finished, put a candle in each one and light them.
This could turn into a service activity by delivering the finished jack-o'-lanterns to friends, family, teachers or ward members.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Water Ballon Battleship
This game is best played outside in the grass.
Divide everyone into 2 teams and have each team on either side of a divider that's at least 4 or 5 feet high. (The divider can be made out of sheets/tarps draped over a volleyball net. The point is that the people on one side will not be able to see the people on the other side when everyone is crouched low or lying down.)
Each person on each team is given a water balloon. They duck down low and move to a place on their side of the divider where they lie down, and have to stay.
When everyone is in position, the organizer/referee yells "Fire!" and each team lobs their water balloons over the divider with the goal of hitting someone on the other side (having no knowledge of where their opponents are positioned on the floor). Everyone who is hit is out. The remaining players get a new water balloon.
Repeat the game until everyone on one team is out.
Tip: Keep pretty small boundaries for the game; water balloon are small enough and get used quickly enough that you want there to be a fair chance of people getting hit. Also, don't let anyone lie within 6 feet of the divider in the middle -- it's too hard for people to throw a balloon so that it makes it over the divider and lands close to it on the other side. People in that area would almost certainly not get hit, and where's the fun in that?
Make sure everyone knows they will probably get wet playing, so they can dress accordingly.
Supplies:
filled water balloons
volleyball setup (poles and rope, anyway)
sheets or tarps
Divide everyone into 2 teams and have each team on either side of a divider that's at least 4 or 5 feet high. (The divider can be made out of sheets/tarps draped over a volleyball net. The point is that the people on one side will not be able to see the people on the other side when everyone is crouched low or lying down.)
Each person on each team is given a water balloon. They duck down low and move to a place on their side of the divider where they lie down, and have to stay.
When everyone is in position, the organizer/referee yells "Fire!" and each team lobs their water balloons over the divider with the goal of hitting someone on the other side (having no knowledge of where their opponents are positioned on the floor). Everyone who is hit is out. The remaining players get a new water balloon.
Repeat the game until everyone on one team is out.
Tip: Keep pretty small boundaries for the game; water balloon are small enough and get used quickly enough that you want there to be a fair chance of people getting hit. Also, don't let anyone lie within 6 feet of the divider in the middle -- it's too hard for people to throw a balloon so that it makes it over the divider and lands close to it on the other side. People in that area would almost certainly not get hit, and where's the fun in that?
Make sure everyone knows they will probably get wet playing, so they can dress accordingly.
Supplies:
filled water balloons
volleyball setup (poles and rope, anyway)
sheets or tarps
Monday, October 3, 2011
Tie-Dyeing
Tie-dyeing is a popular activity that many people haven't done but have always wanted to (or at least, that was the case with me).
Purchase a tie-dye kit (or multiple kits, depending on the size of your group). In small groups or where there is not allotted budget, have everyone pitch in a couple of dollars to help cover the cost of supplies.
Have every person bring a t-shirt, apron, sock, bandana, or whatever fabric thing they want to tie-dye. Depending on the directions in the kit you choose, the items may need to be pre-washed and dried.
Follow the directions on your tie-dye kit.
Make sure everyone is aware that the activity can be messy and that the dye will stain clothing, so they can dress accordingly in clothing they won't mind possibly getting stained.
Supplies:
Tie-dye kit (should have instructions, dyes, chemicals, bottles and rubber bands)
Pots and water
Plastic to protect your workspace
Fabric items to tie-dye (white cotton works best)
Purchase a tie-dye kit (or multiple kits, depending on the size of your group). In small groups or where there is not allotted budget, have everyone pitch in a couple of dollars to help cover the cost of supplies.
Have every person bring a t-shirt, apron, sock, bandana, or whatever fabric thing they want to tie-dye. Depending on the directions in the kit you choose, the items may need to be pre-washed and dried.
Follow the directions on your tie-dye kit.
Make sure everyone is aware that the activity can be messy and that the dye will stain clothing, so they can dress accordingly in clothing they won't mind possibly getting stained.
Supplies:
Tie-dye kit (should have instructions, dyes, chemicals, bottles and rubber bands)
Pots and water
Plastic to protect your workspace
Fabric items to tie-dye (white cotton works best)
Fugitive / Cops and Robbers
Group Size: Large
This game is best when it's dark outside. Divide your group into "cops" and "robbers." You need to have many more robbers than cops. The robbers will be trying to get from a point A to a point B without being caught by the cops. Point A and Point B could be different group members' homes, campus buildings, public parks, church buildings.
This game can be played two ways: with everyone on foot or with the cops in cars (depending on how big you want your game to be, how many players, and how far your robbers are willing to run).
Decide what the cops will need to do to "catch" someone. When we play with the cops in cars (works best in a small town, where there are many streets but not too much traffic), they have flashlights and just need to shine the light on a "robber" and shout (something like "You're under arrest!" or "Hey you! Stop!" or "Gotcha!" works well). When everyone is playing on foot, the cops may have to run after and tag the robbers. Captured robbers become cops, and the game goes until either all the robbers have been intercepted or all the robbers have made it to point B.
To start the game, the cops close their eyes or turn away or somehow sequester themselves for at least 30 seconds to give the robbers a head start. Then the chase begins!
When the game ends, choose new cops and play again!
This is a game where it's good for everyone playing to have a cell phone, so you'll know when everyone has made it to point B. Also since it's played at night and involves running around in the dark (and driving cars around searching for people), be extra aware and alert so nobody gets lost or hurt.
Supplies:
cars (optional)
flashlights (optional)
cell phones (recommended)
This game is best when it's dark outside. Divide your group into "cops" and "robbers." You need to have many more robbers than cops. The robbers will be trying to get from a point A to a point B without being caught by the cops. Point A and Point B could be different group members' homes, campus buildings, public parks, church buildings.
This game can be played two ways: with everyone on foot or with the cops in cars (depending on how big you want your game to be, how many players, and how far your robbers are willing to run).
Decide what the cops will need to do to "catch" someone. When we play with the cops in cars (works best in a small town, where there are many streets but not too much traffic), they have flashlights and just need to shine the light on a "robber" and shout (something like "You're under arrest!" or "Hey you! Stop!" or "Gotcha!" works well). When everyone is playing on foot, the cops may have to run after and tag the robbers. Captured robbers become cops, and the game goes until either all the robbers have been intercepted or all the robbers have made it to point B.
To start the game, the cops close their eyes or turn away or somehow sequester themselves for at least 30 seconds to give the robbers a head start. Then the chase begins!
When the game ends, choose new cops and play again!
This is a game where it's good for everyone playing to have a cell phone, so you'll know when everyone has made it to point B. Also since it's played at night and involves running around in the dark (and driving cars around searching for people), be extra aware and alert so nobody gets lost or hurt.
Supplies:
cars (optional)
flashlights (optional)
cell phones (recommended)
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