Outdoor game for small group of 5th graders

[dedkad]

My Webelos II den wanted to play Capture the Flag at our next den meeting, but we are missing one boy, so there will only be 5 boys there. Too few for a game of Capture the Flag. What other outdoor activity games would be fun for five 5th graders? We have access to a grassy playing field, blacktop, and playground equipment.

 

And I should probably note that one of the boys is on the Spectrum, so games with grey areas like Red Light Green Light don't go over too well.

[qwazse]

Bacci comes to mind. You don't need a regulation set of wooden balls. You could use whatever the playground offers. Have a smaller "target" ball. Each boy gets a larger "shot" ball (or two if you have them). Throw out the target ball. Each boy takes a turn rolling a shot ball. The boy whose ball gets closest to the target without touching ("kissing" -- the translation of the name of the game) it get's to throw the target ball next. What's nice is you don't have to worry about boundaries (although the regulation game is played in a pitch resembling horseshoes), just make sure the target ball is in a safe location.

[ScoutNut]

http://www.macscouter.com/games/index.asp

[Stosh]

We used to play marbles at recess and lunch hour when I was that age. I still have all my marbles, so to speak.

 

Stosh

[moosetracker]

~~Bombs and Shields Activity

 

Instructions:

1. Everyone stands in a defined playing area.

2. Leader explains that there is a bomb that will explode in 2 minutes and the only way to avoid the blast is to have a shield between you and the bomb.

3. Each scout secretly chooses someone else that will be the Bomb and another scout that will be the Shield.

4. On 'Go' signal, every player attempts to move so that his Shield is between himself and his Bomb.

Since everyone has chosen different Bombs and Shields, everyone is constantly moving and no one ever 'wins'.

 

~~Copycat Collection Activity

Location:

This Activity should be done Outside.

Before starting this activity, take a walk around the area and collect about 10 different items, such as rocks, dry grass, twigs, bark, and pinecones. This is your collection. Be careful not to take living items.

To begin the activity, have all patrols gather around to see your collection laid out on the ground. Explain that their job is to exactly duplicate your collection.

For example, if you have a red maple leaf with a bent stem, the patrol that finds a leaf the same size, color, shape, and stem bent in the same direction has the best match.

Set a time limit of 8 to 10 minutes. When time is up, take one of your items and compare it to each patrol's collection. Award points 3, 2, 1 for the three best matches. Continue for every item to determine which patrol has copied your collection the closest

 

 

(2 ideas if your playing in the dark)

 

~~Follow the firefly

For maximum effect, this game should be played with a small pocket torch so that the beam is not too easy to spot. One person is selected to be the firefly and hides outside in the dark, away from the rest of the players. After counting to 20 everyone goes in search of the firefly, who is constantly moving around from hiding spot to hiding spot. Every 60 seconds, the firefly must quickly flick her torch on and off. When she is caught the game is over and a new firefly is appointed. Add extra excitement to the game by giving all players a pocket torch to flick on and off, but cover the firefly’s torch with a layer of colored cellophane. There will be lots of beautiful twinkling torches, but the trick will be to find the colored light of the daring firefly before anyone else.

 

~~Nighttime Scavenger Hunt.

There are so many cool but seldom seen or heard things that come out at night, make a scavenger hunt and tell your kids to use their flashlights, and their eyes and ears. Look and listen for things like owls or other night birds calling or frogs and crickets. Find a salamander, moth, the north star, a blooming night flower, spider, something with glowing eyes, etc (don’t have them pick up the live things, just call out when found, or heard (as in the case of the owl)

 

 

[Stosh]

This can be done anywhere out-of-doors, someone's yard, woods, park, etc.

 

Put out hula hoops and each boy/team inventories everything in their circle. Different grasses, leaves, twigs, animals, insects, rocks, etc.

 

The boy/team with the largest inventory wins. Second winner is the one/team who can identify the most of what they have inventoried. Awards can also be given for finding something unique and not part of anyone else's inventory.

 

LNT - make sure the boy identifies the item or sketches it.

 

Stosh

 

[NeverAnEagle]

 

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

[moosetracker]

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

Seems like traffic cones would resist being knocked over.. Do you deep fry the bird. I never cooked it frozen even for deep fry, how long does it take to cook?

[NeverAnEagle]

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

No idea--I've never done it, just seen a patrol do it at a Klondike.

 

You don't have to knock the traffic cones over; just hit them. Our boys got in on the bowling and smelled the eating later.

[ScoutNut]

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

Yep, traffic cones are to stable to be used as bowling pins. Real bowling pins would be better if you are using a frozen turkey.

 

Gotta say, deep frying a frozen, or even a partially frozen, turkey, is NOT a good idea. Unless, of course, your plan is to actually start a large grease fire and burn down the surrounding woods (not to mention yourself)!

 

Also, it seems like eating a turkey that has been tossed around a frozen lake, or other outside spot, for a number of hours, sounds like a recipe for all sorts of nasty tummy things to happen. After a few hours the packaging will have torn, and the turkey will have partially thawed, leaving you with a dirty, semi-thawed, bird.

 

What council did you say you were in??

[moosetracker]

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

Wondered about the dirty turkey thing, but thought it was me having a girlie reaction, and thought that maybe the frying might burn all that off.. After all I have seen and eaten a ham that was smeared in mustard, then just thrown in the fire without a pot, the ham came out pretty dirty, but they cracked the mustard off, and we ate it.. And it was good..

 

Didn't realize a frozen bird would cause a grease fire though.. Is that because of the water from the ice?

[ScoutNut]

Field Bowling:

You will need a fairly decent hill to keep the bowling balls rolling. We aim for 5 gallon buckets.

 

 

If you have access to a frozen lake: Turkey BOWLING!

Traffic cones make good pins and you use a frozen turkey as the "ball." Afterwards you cook and eat the turkey as a patrol.

Moisture and hot oil are never a good combo. It causes the hot oil to shoot up, and out. Once it goes over the side of the pot, and hits the burner (talking seconds here), you have a giant, flaming, fireball instead of a turkey in a pot!