Back Pocket games are something I've been using since my Girl Scout days (which began over twenty years ago, oh my!) Basically, they are something you can pull out of your back pocket and use at a moment's notice because they need no additional supplies. This game, Zip, Zap, Zop, is multifunctional. You can play it as a round robin game where you just go around the circle or it can be used as an elimination game where the person who drops the rhythm is out. Another suggestion is to use it as a vocal warm up for your performing arts programs.
Target Area: Gym (or on stage if performing arts or in homeroom if a time filler)
Age Group: Any and all
Time to Complete: 15 minutes
Materials Needed: None
Instructions:
Invite all members to stand in a circle. Start out by pointing to one person (it's a good idea to make eye contact so they know you're pointing at them) and saying Zip. That person points to someone else and says Zap. That person then points to a third and says Zop. Keep going and pick up speed as you go.
Rules to Share:
No pausing allowed. Keep it moving! Pay attention! You have to watch the game to know when it's your turn. Do not point at the person who just pointed to you.
Graphics used in this post are from Thistle Girl Designs, now closed
We're always looking for a fun new way to reach our required numbers in targeted programs without having the kids do the same things over and over. This is a high yield activity adapted from a 2012 resource from national. In that resource, teens used a career launch specific website that is no longer functional but this can easily be replaced with Google (or any other search engine).
Target Club Area: Computer Lab/Tech Center
Core Program Area: Character & Leadership Development
Objective: Teens gain knowledge about various careers, and the types of training and education needed to pursue them.
Age Group: Teens 13-15 years
Time to Complete: 45 minute rotation
Materials Needed: Computers or tablets with search feature, paper, pens/pencils
Skills Taught: Career Exploration
Instructions:
Tell teens to write at least one career that starts with each letter of the alphabet (e.g. A=astronaut). Make it a completion by awarding a prize to the member who can come up with the most career titles in the shortest amount of time. After teen shave completed the activity, discuss the career titles with the entire group.
Extension:
After the teens have completed the alphabet activity, have them circle at least three careers they would like to explore. Have them research to find additional information on their career choices, including the educational requirements, licenses, training, and salary.
Graphics used in this post are from Thistle Girl Designs, now closed Original activity idea found in The Outcome-Driven Club Experience in Action July 2012
December really is the most wonderful time of the year, it seems there is magic surrounding us from the first snowfall to the twinkling lights. December also brings with it so many reasons to celebrate. Each year we try to celebrate at least one lesser known holiday and try out a new cultural experience. I hope this list encourages you to try something new as well.
Monthly Celebrations
Advent - December 3-24
Art & Architecture Month
Handwashing Awareness Month
Learn a Foreign Language Month
Read a New Book Month
Universal Human Rights Month
National Fruitcake Month
Eggnog Month
Weekly Celebrations
National Cookie Cutter Week - 1st week National Handwashing Awareness Week - 1st Week Tolerance Week - 1st Full Week Human Rights Week - 2nd Full Week Hanukkah - December 7-15 Las Posadas - December 16-24 Yule - December 21-January 1 Kwanzaa - December 26-January 1
Daily Celebrations
December 01 - National Christmas Lights Day December 02 - Christmas Parade Day December 03 - Make a Gift Day December 04 - Santa's List Day December 04 - National Cookie Day December 05 - Krampusnacht December 06 - Saint Nicholas Day December 07 - Walt Disney Day December 08 - National Christmas Tree Day December 09 - Christmas Card Day December 10 - Hanukkah Begins December 12 - National Poinsettia Day December 12 - Gingerbread House Day December 13 - National Cocoa Day December 13 - Saint Lucia Day December 14 - Roast Chestnuts Day December 15 - National Cupcake Day December 16 - Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 16 - Las Posadas Begins December 17 - National Maple Syrup Day December 18 - Bake Cookies Day December 18 - National Ugly Sweater Day December 18 - National Twin Day December 19 - Holly Day December 19 - National Hard Candy Day December 19 - Look for an Evergreen Day December 20 - Go Caroling Day December 20 - Games Day December 21 - Winter Solstice December 21 - Yule Begins December 22 - National Cookie Exchange Day December 23 - Christmas Eve Eve December 23 - Pfeffernüsse Day December 24 - Christmas Eve December 25 - Christmas December 26 - Kwanzaa Begins December 26 - Boxing Day December 26 - National Candy Cane Day December 27 - National Fruitcake Day December 27 - Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day December 28 - National Chocolate Candy Day December 29 - Pepper Pot Day December 30 - National Bicarbonate of Soda Day December 30 - Bacon Day December 31 - New Year's Eve
The information gathered in my monthly doings posts comes from a variety of sources. Some of my favorite celebration sources are Punch Bowl, The Spruce, and Apples 4 the Teacher.
Core Program Area: Sports, Fitness, & Recreation Objective: Members practice basic math skills Target Audience: 10-12 years Time to Complete: 45 minutes Materials Needed: 6 dice, paper, and pencil Skills Taught/Reinforced: Math
Activity Summary: A quick, fun, low prep activity that reinforces basic math skills.
Activity Instructions: For this simple game of sequences, members participate in the following steps:
1. Roll the dice and look for sequences starting with one (one-two, one-two-three and so on).
2. Each die that is part of a sequence scores five points (so for a one-two-three sequence the point total is 15).
3. There can be more than one sequence in a roll (for example, if a roll yield a one-two-three sequence, the player could also count a one-two sequence).
4. The first player to earn 100 points wins.
Graphics used in this post are from Thistle Girl Designs, now closed Original game idea found in The Outcome-Driven Club Experience in Action September 2012
Growing up I was aware that I had Native heritage, but culture was something that just wasn't a primary focus (ah the 80s when GenX roamed free and parental involvement was next to nil). As my own wildlings were growing up we incorporated learning about many different cultures as we were able to learn more about our own origins. Now that I have the grand wildlings we're lucky enough to know more of our cultural heritage to share with them and they are blessed with a variety of cultural experiences.
Cherokee National Holiday celebrates the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution and there is a large celebration in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. You can learn more about it at their website at The Cherokee Holiday. However, if you're not able to attend festivities you can still teach your wildlings about the Cherokee culture. One of my favorite ways to share culture is to share their stories. One of my favorite stories from the Cherokee culture is The Origin of the Strawberry.
When the first man was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together happily for a long time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the woman left her husband and started off toward the Sun Land, in the east.
The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until Unelanvhi, the great Apportioner (the Sun), took pity on him and asked him if he was still angry with his wife.
He said he was not, and Unelanvhi then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.
So Unelanvhi caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of blackberries, but these she also refused.
Other fruits, one tow, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she still went on until suddenly she saw in front a patch of large, ripe strawberries, the first ever known.
She stooped to gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face to the west, and at once the memory of her husband cam back to her and she found herself unable to go on.
She sat down, but the longer she waited the stronger her desire to return to her husband became. At last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him.
He met her kindly and they went back home together.
I love this story because it models how we can have quarrels with loved ones and still find out way back to them. There is no fault or blame given, just the example of love being stronger than the differences we face.
You can download an activity book featuring this story along with many other activity books from The Cherokee Holiday website here.
If you happen to have local wildlings, there is a large Strawberry Festival in May in Stillwell, Oklahoma that would be a very cool field trip to go along with this story. Of course, there are many other ways to experience the Cherokee culture, hopefully you and your wildlings find something that interest you.
Graphics used in this post are from Phillip Martin and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)
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.
Monthly Observations
Classical Music Month Women of Achievement Month Library Card Sign Up Month Better Breakfast Month Hispanic Heritage Month (Begins September 15)
Weekly Observations
Week 2 National Arts in Education Week
Week 3 National Keep Kids Creative Week National Farm Animals Week Tolkien Week
Week 4 National Fall Foliage Week Banned Books Week
Daily Observations
September 1: Cherokee National Holiday, American Chess Day, College Colors Day
September 2: Calendar Adjustment Day, World Beard Day, National Hummingbird Day
September 3: National Doodle Day, Skyscraper Day
September 4: Labor Day, National Wildlife Day, Newspaper Carrier Day
September 5: National Cheese Pizza Day
September 6: National Read a Book Day
September 7: Grandma Moses Day
September 8: International Literacy Day, Actors Day September 9: Wonderful Weirdos Day, Teddy Bear Day
September 10: Harvest Moon Festival; Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Grandparents' Day
September 11: National Day of Service & Remembrance, Hot Cross Buns Day
September 12: National Video Games Day
September 13: Roald Dahl Day; International Chocolate Day
September 14: National Coloring Day, National Live Creative Day
September 15: Make a Hat Day; Batman Day; Greenpeace Day, Rosh Hashanah begins
September 16: Oktoberfest, National Play-Doh Day, Collect Rocks Day, Mayflower Day
September 17: Constitution Day, Citizenship Day September 18: Smithsonian Day
September 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 20: German World Children's Day, National Fried Rice Day, National IT Professionals Day
September 21: International Day of Peace, National Chai Day, Miniature Golf Day
September 22: Autumnal Equinox, Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day
September 23: National Checkers Day, Native American Day, Redhead Appreciation Day
September 24: World Rivers Day, International Kite Festival
September 25: National Daughters Day, Math Storytelling Day, National Comic Book Day
September 26: Johnny Appleseed Day, National Dumpling Day
September 27: World Tourism Day, Ancestor Appreciation Day
September 28: National Sons Day
September 29: National Coffee Day, Michaelmas, Sukkot begins
September 30: National Ghost Hunting Day, Orange Shirt Day
With so many great options in September there's sure to be lots of ways you and yours can celebrate the season!
Graphics used in this post have been purchased from EduClips and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)
Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated at as time to honor those who work and give them a day of rest. Today, Labor Day is thought of as the last holiday of summer, and many people celebrate with family picnics or other outdoor outings. As part of your celebration, you might wish to set up a corner of the room where the members can look through picture books about community helpers and other workers.
Labor Day Mural (Project Learn, Art)
Set out a variety of kinds of magazines (check with your local library to see if you can collect their discarded magazines from circulation). Let the members look through them and tear out pictures of people at work (a person washing dishes, a truck driver at the wheel, a singer performing on stage, etc.) and the pictures that illustrate different occupations (a police officer in uniform, a doctor in in a white lab coat, a cowhand in western gear, etc.). Have children glue their pictures on a large sheet of bulletin board paper with a title of "People at Work" at the top of the paper and hang it up at the member's eye level. Then talk with the children about the kinds of work that the people in the pictures are doing.
Variation: Let younger children choose from the precut pictures that have been placed in a box. Having problems locating discarded magazines? Try printing clipart that feature different occupations. To add more of an art component, have the members draw their own pictures of people in their careers.
Labor Day Charades (Project Learn, Career Launch)
Provide the members with a box of hats from different occupations (construction worker, fire fighter, chef, baseball player, clown, etc.). Then let them take turns selecting a different hat from the box and acting out what a person who wears that kind of hat does.
Variation: Use clipart to create cards showing different hats or if you have members who are readers you can simply write different careers on cards and have the kids draw the cards out of a hat.
Labor Day Picnic (Healthy Habits, Triple Play)
Let the members pretend they are workers. Make nametags stating their chosen occupation for them to decorate and wear. Then let them enjoy a "rest" from their work by having a Labor Day picnic. Pack snacks such as sandwiches and mini water bottles in paper bags and then take them to a nearby park or to your own playground space where they can play after having their picnic. While you're having your picnic have a discussion with the members about the importance of drinking plenty of water while they are outside playing to keep from being dehydrated.
The easiest way to incorporate Labor Day into your programming is to have visitors in to present a Career Launch segment. One of the most diverse places to find volunteers will likely be your board of directors. Try scheduling one visitor each week to share their careers with the members. Of course, the standard favorites are always a great idea: police officers, fire fighters, mail carriers, librarians, etc. You might also check with the parents in your program. This year we're adding a professional fishing guide, a politician, a pilot, and a college sports coach to our standard favorites.
Clipart used in this post was purchased from Thistle Girl Designs
