Daytime Campfire (& Chippy)

Skill: Jump, Run
Time Required: 30
Activity Type: Creative Art, Physical, Transition
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Classroom (small indoor space), Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Equipment: Craft sticks
Popsicle sticks
Cardboard strips
Markers
Crayons
Cotton ball or little pom-poms
Glue/Tape
Other craft material
Pinnies (red, orange and yellow)
Objective:
Participants decorate their own campfire stick and then sit around the "fire", roasting their "marshmallows". Optional to have a physical activity while the participants are sitting around the fire.
Set up:
Have the sticks and arts and crafts material prepared for the participants.
Step by Step:
1. Participants will take a craft stick, popsicle stick(s) or another form of stick to represent their very own camp fire stick.
2. Participants can glue/tape multiple together to make it a longer stick, and they will decorate their campfire stick however they wish, and using the materials provided.
3. Participants could glue a cotton ball or small pom-pom to the end of their stick to represent the "marshmallow".
4. When all sticks are decorated, the group can sit around a "fire" to roast their marshmallows.
5. Have participants sitting in a circle and place pinnies (red, orange and/or yellow ideally), tissue paper, and other equipment to represent the fire.
6. Participants will be sitting around the fire and roasting their marshmallows.
7. Sing camp songs with the participants.
8. Examples of songs can be found in the activity titled "Group Sing-A-Long with Actions", but they can take out the actions. Or ask participants if they know any popular camp songs for the group to sing ("Do Your Ears Hang Low?", "Alice the Camel").
9. Physical Activity Addition:
10. Select one participant to be Chippy the Chipmunk.
11. They will be behind the participants in the circle.
12 They will go up to a participant and tap their head, left shoulder or right shoulder.
13. If Chippy taps the participant's head, the participant has to say their name. If Chippy taps the participant's left shoulder, they will have to say the name of the participant on their left and the participant on their right for the right shoulder.
14. If they say the correct name before Chippy does 2 jumping jacks, or runs to the fire in the middle, or sits down, then Chippy remains Chippy.
15. If they don't say the name in time, or say the wrong name, then that participant is the new Chippy and the former Chippy takes their place in the circle.
16. Instead of names, could have to say one colour on their shoes, month they were born, last name, favourite animal and so on.
17. Have more than one Chippy at a time.
Variations:
Have participants collect sticks from outside, and they will decorate those.
Use this activity as an icebreaker or as a cool down, end of the day activity. Participants can sit in the circle, and say something they liked about the day, something new they did or discovered, something they would change etc...
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.