Adventure 12

On April 19th our class had a group presented on exercise and how it is beneficial for different populations. Before we started the activities that they had planned, we did a short warm-up.
We did some head circles, stretched out our arms, legs and sides. Our first activity that we did was called sheet volleyball. This is where we had to work as a team to catch and throw the ball with our sheet to the other team without it hitting the floor. They made it more challenging by having the two team step further away from each other. This game was a lot of fun but very challenging. I think this game would be great for any populations where team building and social skills are the goals.

After sheet volleyball we played charades, for this game we had two circles. One smaller circle that was inside the larger one. Your partner for this game was in the opposite circle and when the caller would call out a action such as "churning butter", you would have to find your partner and act it out.

for our final game we played humans verse zombies. For this game we had walk around with our eyes closed. The game started out with one zombie and the rest were humans. As a human when you bumped into someone you had to scream, when the zombie bumps into a someone, they did not scream. When only one scream is heard, the other person knows that they turn into a zombie. When two zombies bump into one another, they both turn back into humans. With the right adaptions, I think these games would be wonderful for any population.

kaleidoscope

Activity: Kaleidoscope

Target participant group: kids in homeless shelters

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity helps improve imagination, creativity, following direction, self confidence, social skills and fine motor skills.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? This activity may be beneficial to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, kids of abusive homes or dealing with a terminal illness.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity is not age appropriate for most adults or the elderly.

Activity description: Begin by cutting your mirror card into three strips. Sellotape the three sides together to form a triangular prism. Make sure the shiniest sides face inwards. Push into kitchen roll tube so that the prism is flush at one end. Then Cut two discs of plastic. One disc needs to be totally transparent whilst the other needs to be frosted. If you haven’t got frosted plastic to hand then simply glue a piece of greaseproof paper onto a transparent disc. Put the transparent disc inside the tube so that it rests at the end of the prism. Tape into place. Pour your beads into the end of the tube. Do not overfill. Place the frosted plastic disc onto the end and secure in place with tape. Turn the kaleidoscope over. At this end tape a disc of cardboard with a peephole cut into the center. now decorate as you wish!

Resources needed: For this activity you will need a kitchen roll, Mirror card, Small colourful transparent objects (e.g. beads, sweet wrappers), Three transparent plastic discs, Scissors, Glue stick, Sticky tape, Greaseproof paper disc (optional), Black paper disc (optional) and Paper to decorate (optional)

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity would be a democratic style. As the leader it is important to give clear directions to your participants and to make sure

Where did you find this activity?
This site also has other great craft
http://www.minieco.co.uk/kitchen-roll-kaleidoscope/

Where can others find more information on this activity?
This link is to a site that give instructions on how to make a kaleidoscope from PCP. This may be a nice alternative to the paper roll construction.
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/academics/kaleidoscopehowtomakeakaleidoscope.htm

Disc in one!

Activity: Disc Golf

Target participant group: Inmates in a correction facility

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity can help with gross and fine motor skills, exercise, social and behavior skills, self-esteem and confidence.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? This activity may be of benefit to individuals with physical disabilities, youth at risk, or individuals with weight issues.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity may not be appropriate for the elderly or very young children.

Activity description: The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc. Each onsecutive throw is made from where the disc came to rest after the last throw. Score is determined by counting the number of throws made on each hole plus penalty throws and then summing all holes. The winner is the player who completes the course with the lowest score.

The course consists of a series of holes laid out so that when the player completes one hole he or she proceeds to the beginning of the next until all the holes have been played. The player is provided with a teeing area from which to begin each hole and a target to complete the hole.

Resources needed: Outdoors, Frisbees and the pole hole

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity would be a combination of laissez-faire and democratic. It is important to allow the participant the freedom enjoy this game but at the same time not to wonder off.

Where did you find this activity?

http://www.pdga.com/

Where can others find more information on this activity?
The link below is to a site that develops equipment for the needs of disc golfers. From this site you can by discs, custom discs, pole holes and bags.
http://www.innovadiscs.com/home/about-us.html

Lets get excited about plants!

Activity: Mason Jar Terrairum

Target participant group: Elderly

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity is great because it not only brings the outdoors in, but allows for creativity. It helps improve social skills, patience, and fine motor skills.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? This activity can be of benefit to almost any population with the right adaptation. This could be youth at risk, individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. 

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity is very adaptable, however individuals with severe developmental or physical disabilities may get frustrated if someone needs to fully assist them with this activity.

Activity description: Make sure your mason jar is nice and clean with the labels removed. Add 1" of small stones, pebbles or gravel for drainage. Follow that with a thin layer of charcoal to absorb odors. After that add 3-4" of potting soil. You can create mini-mountains with the soil by mounting up the soil in one area. Add in the plants you desire. Make sure these plants are sutable for the type of terrarium you are making. Once the plants are in cover the rest of the soil with moss. After the moss is placed, you can add decorate as you wish with a variety of rocks as mini boulders, shells, plactic toys or whatever you like. Once done, water your tarrarium lightly.  

Resources needed:  For this activity your going to need a mason jar and lid. depending what kind of terrarium you want, you may also need some of these items: small stones, pebbles or gravel, activated charcoal, potting soil, sheet moss, plants, decorations and skewers or chopsticks.

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity would be a combination of laissez-faire and democratic. as a leader you want to give clear directions to your participants so that their terrariums will be a success, give assistance when needed and allow participants the freedom to be creative.

Where did you find this activity?
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Mason-Jar-Terrarium/786/1

Where can others find more information on this activity?
This site is great because it give you different information. such as what the best plants are to use for a open or closed terrarium.
http://www.terrariums.com/terrariumaccessories/plants.cfm

Crayon Stained Glass

Activity: Crayon Stained Glass

Target participant group: kids with cancer

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity helps improve fine motor skills, social skills, increase attention span and encourages creativity.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? This activity activity would be beneficial for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism. However, this activitiy can really be adapted to a wide range of individuals.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity may not be appropriate for anyone were the safety of burning one self with an iron my be an issue.

Activity description:  For this activity you want to sharpen different colored crayons. Make sure to seperate the different colored shavings. Put the shavings in between 2 peices of wax paper. You want to put like colors togethers otherwise they just all blend in with one another. Iron the top wax paper, this should melt the crayon shavings. Cut out a design in the middle of a black peice of construction paper. Do the same design on another peice of construction paper. Put the wax paper with the melted crazyon shavings in between the 2 peices of construction paper. Voila, you have a stained window!

Resources needed: For this activity your going to need wax paper, crayons, pencil sharpener, iron, and black construction paper

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity would be a combination of laissez-faire and democratic. As a leader you want to make sure that your participants are able to be creative yet safe.

Where did you find this activity?

http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/trapaint.htm

Where can others find more information on this activity?
This website is wonderful because it give you step by step instructions for making the stained glass along with tips. 
http://crafts.kaboose.com/melted-crayon-stained-glass-window.html

Who am I?

Activity: Who am I?

Target participant group: Youth at risk

Therapeutic potential of this activity: This activity is great because it helps improve self esteem, socially appropriate feedback and brings awareness of self and others.

What other groups may benefit from this activity? This activity may be benifical for individuals with eating disorders, depression, mental disorders, dealing with a chronic illness or coming from a abusive situation.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity? This activity can be adapted to a wide range of individuals but it may not be as appropriate for the elderly.

Activity description: Participants lay down on piece of paper that is equal to their body size. Trace their body and have the participant cut it out. (keep in mind that not all participants might feel comfortal having their body traced, in this case just have them draw a body). Ask each participant to write their first name, and draw a picture or write a word that best describes what they feel is their most positive attribute on their outline.  Have the particpants go around the room allowing them to writing something POSITIVE that they feel or know about the others on thier body cut-out.  Also have participants write something positive of what they like about themselves on their body cut-out. Hang the finished Project somewhere to remind them of all their positive qualities everytime they see it.

Resources needed: Roll of paper, scissors and markers.

Best leadership style for this activity: The best leadership style for this activity would be a combination of laissez-faire and democratic. It is important to give clear directive directions but allow individuals the freedom within those directions to express their thoughts and feelings.

Where did you find this activity?
http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txself.htm

Where can others find more information on this activity?
http://books.google.com/books?id=v_UvCUHiYzAC&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=tracing+your+body+activities&source=bl&ots=ZxVCqpzMti&sig=tnFRXpFqfAk6TMLJP28oBy9dO48&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9A6gT9TFL4mq8ASfk9igAQ&ved=0CGMQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=tracing%20your%20body%20activities&f=false