Snakes'n Things
6-8's and 9-12's
1. Game: Snakes and Ladders, Large Edition
Instructions:
Find a large, empty floor space. Using masking tape, make a large ractangle, comprised of smaller squares (large enough for two kids to stand in it at a time) – like on a snakes and ladders board. Then, use masking or duct tape in parralel lines to make ladders of different sizes and in various places. Using large pieces or rolls of paper (or on the computer) make snakes of various sizes and place them in various positions on the “board”. You can then print off, or write out numbers (as many as there are squares) and put them in order on the board, with one at start. Then, play. Use the die and move the spaces indicated. If you land on the bottom of a ladder, you can move to the top of it. If you land on the top of a snake, you have to run down it. The first one to the end wins.
2. Game: Pass the Rattler
Set up a CD or Ipod player. Have the children sit in a circle. Give one of them a toy snake, or make one previously (using a sock, possibly with a rattly container in it). Play the music and have the children pass the snake around. Stop the music periodically; whichever child has the snake when the music stops, is out. Play until only one child is left.
3. Game: Tangled Liana
This game is a version of the “human knot”. In it, children hold hands to form a tangled liana vine. They then have to disentangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands
Instructions:
1. Everyone stands in a circle (if you have a big group, form two circles).
2. Everyone extends their left hand into the circle, and holds hands with the person across from them.
3. Then, everyone then extends their right hand into the circle, grabs the hand of another participant.
4. The goal of the game is to untangle the group without letting go of each other’s hands. This involves a lot of twisting and turning and squirming around. In the end, everyone should be standing in a big circle, still holding hands.
5. Craft: Book Vine
This simple craft allows children to both make a pretty flower to decorate their library with, and also recommend a good book they’ve read to other participants!
Materials:
A large display board or an available wall
Paper lunch bags
Yellow and orange circles of construction paper (about 10 cm in diameter)
Teardrop-shaped construction paper “petals” (about 15 cm long)
Markers, plus other art supplies to decorate flowers
Glue (white glue or glue sticks)
Tape or a stapler
Instructions:
1. Give each child a paper bag and get them to cut along the seam of each side. They can then twist the bag to make their portion of vine.
2. Each child gets a circle and 8 to 10 petals of different colours. They then arrange and glue the petals to the yellow circle to make a flower.
3. Next, children write their name and the name of a book they like in the middle of the flower. Younger children may need assistance.
4. Children should be encouraged to decorate their flowers as well, if time allows.
5. Once children are finished, tape or staple the finished flower to the paper bag “liana”.
6. Staple everyone's segments together and fasten to a large display board in order to create an attractive display of recommended books.
