Circus capers, 23/06/06

Balancing

See what items the Beaver can balance on the back of their hand, or in the palm of their hand. For the really adventurous, let them use their head. Items include pencils, how many balls can they hold, plastic cups.

Hula hoops

If you can locate one, see if the Beavers can operate hula hoops successfully.

Juggling

Try and teach the Beavers to juggle, very simply using 2 balls or bean bags. Have a spare ball or bean bag to give to the successful Beavers and see how they get on with 3.

Snake tag

The Beavers form two teams in two lines, with the Beavers holding onto the waist of the Beaver in front. The Beaver at the front of each team tries to tag the last Beaver on the other team. When caught, the Beaver joins the other ‘snake’. The

game ends when there is only one snake, or....

Centipedes

Play in lodges. Beavers get down on hands and knees and grab the ankles of the Beaver ahead. Try to move to a given spot without breaking hold.

Low balance beam

Lay a plank of wood on the ground. Ask the Beavers to walk across it. Ask them to go across in different ways - backwards, forwards, sideways, carrying something for balance. See what they find easier. Ask the Beavers to close their eyes and imagine they are walking across a gorge. Talk them over, when they get to the other side ask them to open their eyes. Very important that plank of wood is on the ground. Beaver should be no more than 3-6 cm in the air.

Bean Bag Balance

Requires: Bean bags

Divide the Beavers into teams, and have them in lines behind the start line. Each Beaver has to walk from the start line to the finish line balancing the bean bag on their head without dropping it. If the bean bag is dropped the Beaver must start again First team with all Beavers back, with the bag in front wins.

Other ideas

Egg and Spoon race

Stepping stones

A Turkey Experience

A flock of turkeys had a training meeting. All the turkeys went, and there, the head turkey taught them how to fly. At first they were taught how to make short flights off the fence to the ground. This was certainly new to them, and it was very fun. Then they’d glide from the top of the shed. Wow! That was exciting! Eventually, they learned how to take off from a running start, glide and flap, and slowly lift. They learned how to catch thermal wind currents, soar up and fly high into the sky! And even do some fancy acrobatics. They could look down and see the whole farm in great detail. They could see what was on the other side of hills and woods that had previously blocked their view. They could see vast horizons that they had never known. It was a wonderful and exciting and exhilarating experience. And after the meeting, all the turkeys walked home. Moral of the story: Put to practice the skills that you learn.

Jumping skills, 09/06/06

Long Jump

Try and run outdoors on grass

Have the Beavers compare how far they can jump from a standing start to a running long jump. They should travel further on a running long jump because they possess momentum.

Bunny Hop relay

The Beavers have to crouch on all fours and jump like a rabbit over a marked course.

Ladders

Requires 2 equal sized teams. Number each team from 1 to the highest number in each team. Line the teams opposite each other, with number 1 opposite their counterpart from the other team. They then sit down with legs out in front of

them so that the two number 1’s feet are touching with legs out flat, number 2’s the same and so on to form a ladder down the centre of the hall. The leader then calls a number. The Beavers of the number called have to run down the centre

of the ladder, around the outside when they reach the bottom, and then back down the centre back to their place, without stepping on the other Beavers. Repeat until Beavers have had a few turns.

Low Hurdles

Have a relay race that uses low hurdles. This could either be over a mini-obstacle course or in a straight line.

Lily Pads

Requires: chalk

Draw a line with chalk on the floor as a start line, and another at the end of the hall as the finish line. Draw a series of circles between the 2 lines. The circles should be big enough for a Beaver to stand in and be close enough together so that Beavers can jump from one to the other. Divide the Beavers into 2 teams.

Each Beaver in turn jumps from a standing position into the first circle, then into the second circle and so on. When they reach the finish line, they run back and tags the next Beaver. The team with all Beavers in a quiet straight line at the end

wins. If a Beaver lands on the edge of the circle, or misses the circle, they move back to where they jumped from and try again.

Other Ideas

Hopping games

Have relay races that involve hopping up and down the hall.