I'm trying something new Behind the Blue Doors - a newsletter of sorts that is focused on special events and tidbits of interest for after school programs. I've created this as an image so it's super easy to save and to add to your planning boards at Pinterest.
Objective: Youth learn to set long-term goals and plan paths to their futures.
Target Age Group: Teens 13-15 years
Time to Complete: 2-45 minute rotations (1.5 hours total)
Materials Needed: Pencils, pens, construction paper, makers, computers
Skills Taught: Goal Setting
Instructions:
Have members write their names at the top of sheet of construction paper. Ask them to think of a dream job or a long-term goal for their future. What would they like to do or be when they get older? Have them write this goal at the bottom of the page.
Then, have members use the Internet to research things they would need to do in order to reach this goal (e.g. finish high school, go to college, save money). If necessary, help members break these down into more short-term goals (e.g. work hard in school, get good grades, graduate from high school).
Instruct youth to write these short term goals on the paper, scattering them around the middle of the page. Ask them to draw a line showing the "path" to the treasure, from their name through the short term goals to the big dream at the bottom of the page.
Allow time for youth to decorate their maps so they look like maps that lead to a hidden treasure.
When working with kids, one of the things I've quickly discovered is that they love a good party. While it would be more chaos than I could cover to celebrate every single day, that doesn't mean that there isn't something worth celebrating everyday so that you can easily find what works best for you and your kiddos.
International Pirate Month
Family Fun Month
American Adventures Month
American Art Appreciation Month
National Language Month
Summer Sun Safety Month
Dog Days of Summer (July 3 - August 11)
Family Portraits is one of my favorite activities because it lets the kids get some of their sillies out while also expanding some thinking about what the term family can encompass. This activity can be done at any level of drama skill. It can be conducted outside, in a gym space, or anywhere that the kiddos have plenty of space to move around.
Target Area: Any large open space
Objective: To incorporate drama into your daily Club activity programs by having Club members work in groups, take chances, and lessen inhibitions
Target Age Group: Ages 9-12 years
Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes
Skills Taught: Creativity; Public performance
Materials Needed: None
Instructions:
Split members into groups of three to five people. One group starts out by standing facing the rest of the group. Chose a member from a different group to be the "photographer". The photographer shouts out a type of family for the group to pose as in a family portrait. The group cannot talk about how they are going to pose; they just have to get into a position that captures the assigned character and freeze. Encourage the photographer to come up with creative and unusual types of families. Here are some examples:
Pirate Family
Cowboy Family
Athletic Family
Wizard Family
Superhero Family
Clipart used in this post was purchased from Creative Clips
As If is another great back pocket game that requires no staff prep or extra supplies. While the time frame is listed as a 45 minute rotation, you can easily do this as a movement break or as a time filler for transitions.
Target Area: Any
Objective: To incorporate physical fitness activities in a small area of the Club.
Target Age Group: Ages 6-9
Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation
Materials Needed: None
Instructions:
Have all of the members stand up and act out the following scenarios for 20-30 seconds each. If using this as a full rotation, invite members come create their own activities to act out choosing a new member each time to share an idea.
Jog in place as if a big scary bear is chasing you.
Walk forward as if you're walking through chocolate pudding.
Jump in place as if you are popcorn popping.
Reach up as if grabbing balloons out of the air.
March in place and play drums as if you are in a marching band.
Swim as if you are in a giant pool of Jell-O.
Reach down and stand up as if you are picking up a very heavy weight.
Are you looking for a fun way to liven up your Healthy Habits or TRAIL programs? This is a fun game to play with the kiddos to help them become more familiar with different fruits. As a bonus, let the kids make their own fruit salads by having a variety of fruits for them to select from to mix into their own salads.
Target Area: Program room with tables and chairs
Objective: Members learn about healthy snack options
Target Age Group: Ages 6-9
Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation
Skills Taught: Healthy Lifestyles
Materials Needed: none for the game, a variety of prewashed bite sized fruits, bowls, and spoons for snack
Instructions:
Have the group sit chairs in a circle. Once person stands in the middle of the circle and does not have a chair. All players are assigned fruit names: apple, orange, pear, plum (use names of fruits you have for the fruit salad if you're doing the snack option with the activity). The middle person calls out one or more fruit names. The called fruits must change chairs. The middle player tries to sit in an empty chair before the fruits do. The middle person may also call "Fruit salad toss up" for which all players must change chairs. The player left without a chair becomes the middle person. Repeat the game as time allows.
Here's a fun activity that serves as a High Yield activity that can be used for Project Learn, STEM, and to meet a badge requirement for Junior Girl Scout Detective Badge and the vintage Brownie Girl Scout Try It Science Wonders.
Target Area: Science Lab, Art Studio, or Cafeteria
Objective: Members learn how chemistry is used practically in real life.
Target Age Group: Tweens Age 10-12 years
Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation
Materials Needed: lemon juice (other safe liquids are optional), paper, heat source (iron or light bulb) and paint brushes or cotton swabs
Instructions:
Ask members how they would pass secret messages if they were spies. After giving them time to share their answers, tell them some stories of spies how used secret ink to pass messages.
FOR STAFF/VOLUNTEER USE: Science Daily Article
Using lemon juice, have members write or paint a short, secret message on a piece of paper. After letting each piece of paper dry, members trade papers and use heat to reveal the words. Lightbulbs and irons are sufficient heat sources to reveal the letters. Be careful not to burn the paper when revealing the letters.
Ask the members why they think this happens. Explain that this is possible due to the chemistry involved. In the case of lemon juice, its acidity makes it easily oxidize (combine with oxygen in the air) when heated, which makes the paper turn browner where the lemon juice has been applied.
Encourage members to experiment with other liquids including milk, soda, juices, and other safe liquids. What can be used for secret writing? (Orange juice, vinegar, and apple juice will react similarly.)
I'm trying something new Behind the Blue Doors - a newsletter of sorts that is focused on special events and tidbits of interest for af...
