1 hour activity for kids grades 6-8

[runrachrunn]

Any thoughts? we are doing a congregational overnight for middleschoolers and I need a 45 minute - 1 hour activity that the kids will be interested in. Please forward ideas as soon as possible as the program is on Saturday night.

Thanks
Rach

[Marzz]

Are you thinking craft or game? Is it boys and girls?

[runrachrunn]

Are you thinking craft or game? Is it boys and girls?

either or and both boys and girls (grades 6-8)

[laurathistle]

When you say Congregational do you mean Church? If so does it need to be a christian based activity?

[runrachrunn]

No, it's non-religious. I just need an activity for middle schoolers that will last 45 minutes - 1 hour.

[triplethreat]

I would go with some sort of group challenge. Kids that age really enjoy doing competitive things.

[laurathistle]

A sort of mini wide game could work well with kids being spilt into 3/4 groups and spending around 15 mins at a different activity before moving on. points could be awarded etc. Would depend on staffing levels and space though.

[Marzz]

I like the challenge games idea. For a "craft" how about hemp bracelets and necklaces with cool beads?

[camper]

hmmm i suggest a big team building-type game of some sort. i'm trying to think of some which do not require any equipment and last a long time...the human knot is a fun one but it won't last for that amount of time.

[triplethreat]

What about random-item olympics? You give them a whole lot of random stuff and then in teams they have to come up with an "event". Once each team has created their event, then the teams compete against each other. You could also have a prize / points for the most inventive event.

This would probably work best if each group is given different stuff, so you don't risk the teams coming up with similar ideas. It requires little set up, other than gathering the materials.

[annknee]

Things that we have done at Guides that last approx an hour are;

Miss World type contest - we split the girls into groups and each group had to make an evening dress, do a question and answer round, talk for a minute about an interest, a group dance and a talent. We arwarde dthe points for each activity and the winner had a prize.

Quiz writing - we got them all to write a 10 question quiz, we also had questions for them as well

Towers - we gave small groups material to build the tallest hat out of newspaper and tape. This probably doesnt take an hour but could be combined with the next one.

Team building Activity - Each group had a packet of spagahtti and a number of marshmallows and was told they had to create the biggest free standing structure - points would be awarded for numbers of marshmallows used and numbers of whole peices of spaghetti. To make it more complicated we gave each team member an individual challenge which had things such as - you can only touch broken peices of spaghetti, you cant tounch pink marshmallows, you cant touch anything, you cant talk etc. A point was deducted everytime they broke a rule.

Mini olympics - split into groups each team had to create a flag and a chant. We then held events such as the javelin (straw) discus (paper plate) cant remember the other but you get the idea!

[Melk]

I went to the AEE heartland confrence a few weeks ago and picked up the book "50 more ways to use your noodle" you should check it out. It's full sweet games!