Beaches
There are plenty of activities to participate in at the beach, including: sandcastle building, sand sculptures, swimming (in patrolled areas), paddling, skim boarding, surfing, digging for water, beach cricket, volleyball, soccer etc., walking, running. You can also practise cartwheels, look for creatures in rock pools, look for shells, take photographs, write messages on wet sand, watch the shore-birds going fishing, or where it is safe, you can fly a kite!
Team Building
Team building is especially important in group situations. Games and activities can help in ‘getting to know you’ and ‘socializing’. Team building exercises especially ‘active group song games’ can be very effective at getting the blood flowing and creates a good warm up activity.
Banana Song
Get in a circle and copy one person that sings the song and does the actions.
Start with...
Saying loudly: All of the bananas of the world unite. At the same time bringing hands up above your head and clap once Now start singing
Get in a circle and copy one person that sings the song and does the actions.
Start with...
Saying loudly: All of the bananas of the world unite. At the same time bringing hands up above your head and clap once Now start singing
1. “Pick banana pick banana pick banana pick” repeat. At the same time do a picking action until finished this part of the song.
2. “Peel banana peel banana peel banana peel ” repeat. Make a banana peel action at the same time.
3. “Mash banana mash banana mash banana mash” then repeat. Whilst holding hands in fists and placing one on top of the other on top of the other on top of the other until finished this part of the song.
4. “Chop banana chop banana chop banana chop”. This time hands flat, crossing them over whilst slowly getting closer to the ground in a crouching position.
5. “Plant banana plant banana plant banana plant” at a quieter tone whist still crouching make a throwing seed action
6. “Grow banana grow banana grow banana grow” getting louder. Then loud “GROW BANANA GROW BANANA GROW BANANA GROW”
7. All the bananas of the world unite. Finishing bringing hands up above head and clapping once.
- Hannah Chubb from OEG Swinburne Tafe (outdoor guiding education Grampians)
Stretches
Before bush walking it is important to stretch. With a large group this could be quite fun.
In a group make a circle
Then take it in turns to chose and act out a stretch
Everyone involved must copy the person acting out the stretches
Take each move in turns without repeating.
Remember to hold each move for 15seconds for best results
- Hannah Chubb (Eco Tourism Alice Springs – Lara Pinta Trail 2009 Morning Stretches)
Compass and Map reading
This can be done anywhere you are with a map and a compass (maps throughout Australia can be found at the following website http://www.orienteering.asn.au/newcomers/themap/)
To begin, how do you find out where you are?
There are many methods so let’s start with the first.
Starting in an area that is easily distinguishable like the entrance at the park, or camping area. Find yourself on the map by looking and reading the key (the key is the maps reference to areas such as lakes, contours and entrances).
Crafts
Paper Plate Porthole
This project, adapted from the well known Paper Plate Aquarium, is a unique and fun way for kids to create their own world under the sea. If making this as a classroom project, line the wall with gray paper and line up your portholes for all to see.
What you'll need:
- 2 paper plates
- Silver craft paint (recommended: Rich Art Tempera Metallic Washable Paint in Metallic Silver)
- 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
- Fish-shaped crackers
- Silk plant leaves
- Sea shells (recommended: Value Pack Sea Shells)
- Sand
- White craft glue
- Blue cellophane
- Wax paper
- Scissors (recommended: Crayola Pointed Tip Scissors)
How to make it:
- Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
- On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
- Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
- Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
- On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
- Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
- Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
- Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
- Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
- Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
- Turn silver plate upside down.
- Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
- Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
- You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.
Tips:
- You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.
- Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.
- If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.
