Emergency Prep activity

This month in our ward we are focusing on Emergency Preparedness, including holding an emergency simulation camp where all families have been encouraged to prepare 72 hour kits and then attend the camp to practice its use.   To help the kids be a little more prepared we invited one of Emergency Prep specialists to bring along a few tents and teach the kids important things to remember when building their tents - he included looking after the gear.  The kids in teams then put up their tents.   We used the stage in the cultural hall because we were able to change the lighting using spotlights to simulate the sun going down as we put up tents.  We also then started packing our tents in the dark (as close to dark as we could while still being safe).  The kids worked great together and had a lot of problem solving to do in their groups.
We then tried an experiment of boiling water in a plastic bag over a camp cooker.
The take home for the night were some game packs for each of the kids to put in their own 72 hour kits.  Each game kit included:
- Printable games like battle ship, checkers board, hangman, snakes and ladders - all printed on two laminated sheets.
- 1 dice
- counters - enough for checkers (we used buttons in two different colours)
- mini pick up sticks (we used coloured craft match sticks)
-whiteboard marker

It was a fun way to talk about Emergency preparedness and  also give some practical experience.  It was also a great team building exercise.

Easter Story Eggs and hot cross buns

This week we made "cheat" Hot cross buns and created a FHE lesson the kids could share with their families for Easter.  
For their FHE lesson we used this video as inspiration - I loved the revolving hearts in this tutorial, and decided to use Easter Eggs instead of the hearts to tell the story of how the colours of Easter Eggs can remind us of Jesus Christ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNUtoW3pW6k
Our Egg cards turned out pretty cute and as the eggs revolve the next scripture to read is revealed

We used a slightly revised script for the FHE lesson based on this cute lesson for Easter.  Each child has their script and their visual aide to share with their family this Easter.  http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/Easter-eggs-object-lesson.html

We also made Hot Cross Buns or a cheats version to make it within our Activity time frame - no yeast or rising required and they tasted pretty good.... and the kids loved the hands on element to it.

We used this recipe
http://www.withablast.net/2016/03/no-yeast-hot-cross-buns.html

Pen pals: based on Flat Stanley

A couple of years ago my daughter and I helped a friend with her Flat Stanley project. We created a blog for her flat Stanley adventures here... http://flatsheanz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/flat-shea-has-arrived-in-new-zealand.html?m=1 
I would love to do this with my activity day kids. Such a fun way to have a pen pal.

Article of Faith revision game - CUPS

As part of Activity days we will be trying to include an Article of Faith revision component each time we meet together.  This weeks revision activity was a Cup stacking game using key words of the 13 AOF.
NEED:

• 13 Plastic Cups
• One key word from each of the 13 AOF
• Sharpie.
• F.I.G books if the kids need extra help

Simply write one key word on each cup, mix up the order of the cups and instruct the children to try and put the cups in order of the A.O.F they represent. Our kids tried doing as many as they could without help first and then when allowed them to use their books to fill in the blanks. This first time was quite challenging for the kids, but we will use it again in future weeks and test how much easier it becomes as they become more familier with the A.O.F.    We allowed them to work in teams this time but in the future we may try having individuals compete against each other or do timed races.

Faith in God book covers

To protect our Faith in God books we have used DVD covers to use as a case for all our FIG related items.  We are using a "treasure Seekers" theme as a motivator for our children so thats refelcted in the cover. (Each child will colour their own covers to personalize).   Inside the kids can keep their FIG books, handouts, and challenges and our Treasure seeker motivator map. (Reward system for learing AOF, attending FIG activities, completing challenges)

 

Developing talents- Enviro Art Challenge

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a school trip with my daughter where we spent the day in the bush and at the beach Creating art with Nature as our Pallette and our Canvas.  We took inspiration from the beautiful artworks of Andy Goldsworthy Andy Goldsworthy - Nature artist.    The children were all challenged to look at the shapes, colours and textures found in nature and think of ways that they could add to, take away from, change, or enhance what they could see to create something new in that environment.  They were shown Andy Goldworthy example peices to show them that his designs could be very simple or very ellaborate, but all created interest to the viewer.
The children all loved the challenge and came up with some wonderful examples.   Part of this challenge was to photograph their designs, and to think about how light, shadow, composition etc would create interest in recording their artworks  (the photograph being particularly important because thier artworks in nature would eventually dissapear)  

Ive been thinking about how this could be a great activity for Activity Days  to accomplish the challenge in Developing Talents to make an item and display it for others to see.   Im adding it to my calendar for this year for sure.

Here are some examples of the Enviro art the children created.

Its Great to Be 12 PARTY

We had a few children turning 12 in the month that we became Activity day leaders. We decided to throw a fun "its great to be 12" party including Party games that would help revise some of the things we learn up to the age of 12.  It was  fun night for all.

Some of the games we played:
Gospel Charades/ Pictionary : two teams compete against each other to act/sculpt or draw words or themes from AOF or Family Proclamation

I love to see the temple (Version of Pin the tale on the donkey) : Large temple Picture - Pin in a picture of a child ----- aim to pin the child to the door of the temple -" Im going there someday"

AOF Balloon and Picture Match: Balloons Placed on wall numbered 1-13.  Child takes turn at using slappy hand to "grab" a balloon... they then have to match the balloon to the correct picture on the other wall of the matching AOF - We used some LDS clipart pictures for this. (some were pretty tricky) If the child could not match in time limit, the other team had a turn.... whoever matched first got the point.

We handed out goody bags and hooters, decorated with streamers and had a lovely cake decorated for our 12 year olds.