Green Magpie: Winter 2022

The magazine of imaginative play for creative young minds

Outdoor Fun Activities

Winter 2022

RECYCLE * CREATE * PLAY

C ra fts ES P I C RE

ES M GA The

Scrapstore

Birmingham

the green choice for craft resources

Visit the Scrapstore shop!

Scrapstore behind the Blue Door: 8 Manor Park Grove, Northfield, B31 5ER scrapstorebirmingham@gmail.com @scrapstorebirmingham www.facebook.com/birminghamscrapstore

Dear Green Magpie friends,

Creative Videos here

Welcome to the Winter 2022 edition of the magazine for creative young minds!

‘Bring it on Brum!’ is a programme that is helping Birmingham’s children, young people and their families have active, fun-filled and healthy school holidays. Part of the government’s new nationwide Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, ‘Bring it on Brum!’ is the biggest scheme of its kind in the country, and Birmingham City Council in partnership with StreetGames, are really excited to bring it to YOU! The Winter HAF Activity Pack is filled with arts and crafts, cooking ideas and lots of sports and games to ensure a ‘fun-filled and creative time’ for young people that cannot access face-to-face provision over the Winter school holidays. In partnership with Birmingham PlayCare Network the contents of this magazine and pack has been created with their philosophy at the core… championing the child’s right to play!

This magazine will provide you and your child with guidance on how to complete various activities/crafts and provide ideas and games to get creative and make use of the equipment included.

Please enjoy having a go at some of the activities included but REMEMBER small children will need to be supervised and older children might need a little bit of help.

So, this Winter, why not give play a go, try not to worry about what the end product will look like, remember it’s the process children go through that is the most important part of play.

We have also created an online portal packed with free ideas and resources to keep the whole family busy, with indoor and outdoor games, quizzes, dance, nature trails, park activities, food videos and so much more. We believe that everyone deserves a good break and that school holidays are better when there’s a great choice of things to do.

Our website is now ready so read on and check out www.BringitonBrum.co.uk Share your creations and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @BringitonBrum.

#BringitonBrum If you have any questions please get in touch.

Our email address is:

Birminghamholidayactivities@streetgames.org

Recycled bottle penguin Step by step: Step 1: Find a plastic bottle and stuff it with a white plastic bag. Put lid back on.

Step 2: Cut a wide strip of green, sticky-backed felt. Stick around lid for hat. Pinch at the top, to make a bobble hat. Finish with ribbon. Stick a thin strip of black card around lid, for face.

Name your penguin:

Step 3: Cut out some wings, feet, eyes and beak. Stick onto body. Tie some ribbon around wings to decorate.

What you need:

Scan to watch our YouTube tutorial!

Did you know that there are 18 species of penguin, 5 of which live in the Antarctica!

Can you help the penguin find the fish?

Top 10 ‘Minute-to-win-it’ Games ‘Minute-to-win-it’ games are used all over the world and are hugely popular when you need an instant fix of fun.

Why not try one of these top-10 games with your friends and family!

You have exactly 1 minute to complete any of the games below.

Don’t forget to keep score!

1 – Face the Cookie Place a cookie on someone’s forehead. They have to use only their face muscles (no hands) to get it into their mouth.

2 – Defying Gravity Give each player three balloons. They have to keep all three balloons up in the air for a minute.

3 – Bottle to Bottle

4 – Shamrock Shake

Fill one 2-litre bottle with something (Lucky Charms, Jelly Beans, etc.) then tape to another 2-liter bottle – players have to transfer all from one bottle to the other.

Take an empty tissue box and fill with ping pong balls (or balls of foil), then tape around someone’s waist.

They must shake until all the balls fall out.

5 – Wrap It Up A two-player game where one person must wrap the other person in streamers, toilet paper, or something else.

6 – Traffic Yam

7- Cheer Up!

Push a potato across the floor from one side of the room to another with just your nose.

Use chopsticks to stack cheerios on top of each other.

8 – Shake-it Fill a quantity of boxes with different numbers of bells (or something similar that makes noise). Players must shake the boxes and then try and put them in order starting with the box with the fewest through to the box with the most in.

9 – Obstacle Course Set up a themed obstacle course of objects around the room. Players have to go from one end of the room to the other around the obstacle course on a bath mat or towel.

10 – Choosing Cups Set out approximately 25 cups, filling all of them part way with water. Put a sticker on the bottom of some of the cups. Players have to pick one cup at a time, trying to find a sticker.

Use the #BringitonBrum hashtag to share your fun!

And don’t be afraid to create your own ‘minute-to-win-it’ challenge!

Egg box portraits What animal will you create?

Where do they live, what do they eat? Who are their friends?

Step by step: What you need:

Step 2: Paint your animal’s head.

Scan to watch our YouTube tutorial!

Step 1: Cut the egg box to the shape of your animal’s head.

Step 3: Glue scraps of paper, ribbon and wool onto a piece of card to create your background. Glue on your animal head last.

Tip: Use up your scraps from other crafts to make an abstract design.

You could draw a frame on a separate piece of paper and stick it on after.

Salt Dough Creatures and Snail-trail Game

1. Use your home-made snail as your player.

2. Roll a dice and move that number of places.

3. Answer the questions as you go.

4. Winner is first to reach the middle and answer correctly.

e 3 at m h Na als t ter im wa an in e liv

Nam e that 5 anim als hav e fu r..

Name 3 animals that can jump…

Go back to the start!

Na an me th im 3 at al h ho av s rn e s

t ha t s al u! nim n yo a 5 ha me ger t a N big are How many

Go back to the start!

legs does a spider have?

Nam e anim one al t h at hibe rnat es

Name 2 animals that DON’T have legs!

Na an me th im 3 ou at c als t a om tn e igh t

MAKE:

START

Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl – use your hands, it’s fun!

Saltdough recipe: 1 cup flour

tumeric

1 cup salt ½ cup of water

coffee

paprika Beetroot juice

Tip: add things to colour your dough instead of painting…..

Make your snail body shape and use a conker for the shell (conker can go in oven too). Poke holes in the head for antenna.

Cook in centre of oven on baking tray for 10 mins (180 degrees / gas mark 4). Take out and allow to cool.

You could paint your snail! Glue in small sticks for antennae. You’re ready to play!

Get your game on!

Did you know that games can provide a 25% gain in educational outcomes over traditional learning – regular participation in games can increase school grades by two levels!

So what are you waiting for…? Get your family together and try out some of these popular games!

Ideas: Movies q Top Gun q Forest Gump q Doctor Strange q Harry Potter q Joker

Action q Cycling q Watching TV q Swimming q Running q Flying in a plane q Sleeping People q Flipping pancakes q Adele q Listening to music q Tom Jones q Driving a car q Ed Sheeran q Writing a letter q Dua Lipa q Skiing q Coldplay q Haircut q Typing TV Shows q Stranger Things q Eating q Big Bang Theory q Snowball fight q Playing the guitar q Brooklyn 99 q Surfing q Friends

Loved by all, this has been a family favourite for decades!

1.

Split up into two teams and have a person from each team act out something - a movie, a person, television show or action (see list of ideas) - for their teammates to guess.

2. If you want, write down a number of prompts beforehand and place them into a hat or bowl for participants to pick from.

3. Whichever team has the most correct guesses, wins.

Ideas: This game is all about getting your team to guess a word without using the word itself to describe it.

1.

Start by selecting two teams and form a wide range of words to pick from (see list of ideas).

2. The team with the most correct answers wins.

3. This game can move fast, so make sure you have a wide variety of words to pick from.

q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

Lawn Double Tragedy Arrest Educate Myth Measurement Prescription Makeup Grave Hunt Surgeon Minimum Sacred Cash

q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

Warrior Retired Survey Corruption Hook Ankle Bubble Jaw Workout Chew Fragile Crowd Spit Dinosaur Sip Nun

q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q

Lottery Hammer Coconut Click Pyjamas Toast Barefoot Donkey Barber Blizzard Grill Drummer Hen Adult Wink Nappy

This high-risk, high-reward game is lots of fun, even for the largest of families.

This game requires only one dice and has one goal: ‘Make it to 100 points’ 1.

Take it in turns to roll the dice. On your turn, roll the dice and tally up the number of points shown, assuming you don’t roll a one (see below!).

2. You can then continue to roll and accumulate points or voluntarily end your turn.

3. Here’s the catch: As soon as you roll a one, your turn is not only over, but you lose all points scored on that turn.

You will need: q 3+ people q Spoons (one per participant, minus one) q Deck of 52 playing cards

You will need: q 2+ people q 1 Dice q Paper & pen/pencil to keep score

Try not to throw a 1!

One of the oldest family games!

1.

Set up the game by placing in the middle of your game area, one less spoon than the number of players, with the spoon handles pointing outward.

2. Using a standard 52-card deck, deal four cards facedown to each player.

3. The first player draws a card from the deck and either discards it or exchanges it with a card in their hand – placing the discarded card, facing up, next to the deck (waste pile) 4. The next player can either pick up a new card from the deck or from the waste pile, discarding one of their cards back onto the waste pile.

5. When a player has four cards of a kind (for example, four aces or four queens), they shout ‘spoon’ and take a spoon from the middle.

6. The rest of the players then race to grab the rest of the spoons, leaving one player without - the game’s loser!

Who can create the best aerodynamic aeroplane?

1.

2. Then give all the aircraft a test flight down a long, open stretch of your house.

Hand out some A4 sheets of 3. The plane that goes the furthest paper and have everyone distance wins! Although, it’s always worth fold together their best tweaking your design to see if the plane paper aeroplane. flies any further. .

Top Tip: Check out your Mindfulness Crafts section of this book!

You will need: q 2+ people q A4 Paper q Long, open stretch of your house

Recycle cardboard tubes and scrap paper Share your creations with us at #BringitonBrum

Decorate some cardboard tubes and stand them up outside. Stand back, aim with your sling-shot and fire!

How many can you knock down?

Canon

Candle

Scan for video tutorials

Santa

Step by step: Canon Sling-shot Step 1: making the ‘grip’ You will need 2 cardboard tubes, one smaller than the other so they fit inside each other.

Take the big one and cut 2 slits as shown.

Slip an elastic band between slits. Repeat on the other side.

Decorate your tube.

Step 2: making the ‘plunger’ Take the small tube and poke a hole in both sides, about a finger’s width from the bottom. Pass a small pencil or stick through.

Tape up the other end.

Step 3: get ready to launch Slide the small tube into the big one and hook each elastic band around a pencil end.

Load the sling-shot with a scrunched up ball of paper, or tinfoil.

Hold the ‘grip’ (big tube) and pull back the pencil (plunger) to stretch the elastic bands.

Release the plunger to launch!

Paper bird bunting

Step by step: Step by step: Cut some strips of paper.

Fold each one as shown:

Cut the templates out or draw your own. Fold into a concertina. fold

fold

Loop paper through … like tying a knot

Decorate your pages using crayons, magazines, leaves, flowers, paper, drawings etc.

Cut a tail and head shape and decorate your birds Slot one side into card holder.

Pass ribbon through the back of the bird to form bunting!

Scan to watch our YouTube tutorial!

Scan to watch our YouTube tutorial!

Let’s go exploring!

Remember!

Don’t forget to wear your Pedometer fitness bracelet (if you have one). If not, take a smartphone with you to log your steps!

Did you know that sunshine, fresh air and physical activities all encourage good moods.

First challenge: Search & Find Bike Ride or Walk Go solo, or cycle in teams!

Ride around your local area and take pictures of objects found on this list. After you return, showcase your photos and gain ‘points’ for the best evidence found.

Materials Needed q Bikes and bike helmets (or feet!) q Digital cameras/ Phones (one per team) q Directions /rules

Search & Find Clue List 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Something yellow Something with a lid Wooden, not new New but used Something out of the ordinary Something little Big, but not hairy Something pretty Something that you envy Timeless and useful Red, but not dangerous

Dir

ections Agree on a retu rn time.

2. Each tea m gets a clues list (similar to th and a mobile ph e one on the le one/camera. ft) 3. Teams mus t use the clue lis t and photogra item they belie ph the location ve is correct. or 4. When ever yone returns, a sk someone to each team's ca review the phot mera to see ho os on w m a ny cl ues they fulfille 5. Photogra d. phs of correct locations or item artistic quality s will be judged fo as well as accur r acy.

6. Award po ints in different categories – for instance; - most clues fo und, - most location s identified, - most artistic picture, etc.

1.

Follow-on Activity: Why not create a slideshow of your digital photos from the adventure, or make an album or scrapbook of the printed images.

Safety note: Make sure everyone participating wears a bike helmet and understands bicycle safety rules.

Also, we do not recommend undertaking this activity in low-light such as at dusk, at night, or in bad weather.

What is a Geocache?

Second Challenge: Geocaching Geocaching is an exciting outdoor adventure.

It’s a treasure hunt for the digital generation, where you can enjoy the freedom of being outside and discovering new places.

All you need is a handheld GPS device and a sense of fun.

A geocache or ‘cache’ is a small waterproof treasure box hidden outdoors.

What do Geocachers do?

Geocachers seek out these hidden goodies guided by a GPS enabled device which uses coordinates, or ‘waypoints’ downloaded from the geocaching.com website or you can download a free geocaching app for Android or iPhone.

Materials Needed q q q q q

Outdoor weather gear Sun protection GPS device Geocaching account Trinket & Pen

Getting started

What will you

discover?

So, once you’ve found the treasu re box, what will you fi nd inside?

Most caches ha ve a logbook for you to leave a m the satisfaction essage in and of finding the bo x is a reward in itself.

But often you w ill also find a stra nge array of tr inkets that people have left to swap.

If you take a tr easure out of th e box, you should leave another trinket in its pla ce, so go prepa red.

q You will need a GPS device (such as a smart phone) q Find a cache near you on geocaching.com (you will need to sign up) q Choose a cache and enter the coordinates into your GPS q Follow your GPS towards the spot - then use your wits to find it q Fill out the logbook and return the cache to its hiding place q Swap out a trinket if you have one! q Log your find on opencaching.com and pick your next one!

Link – go on, give it a go! https://www.geocaching.com/play

Did you know…

Whether on the side of a windswept mountain or on an expanse of beach, there are geocaches hidden all across the UK.

in a G t u p n a c you 9 Trinkets Item

eocache

Collectable 1.

Mini Puzzle 2.

Coins 3.

Jewellery 4.

Ponchos sable Rain o p is D 5.

Small Toy 6.

Badge Keyring or 7. one Painted St 8. he #Geocac pass Small Com 9.

Safety note: Make sure everyone participating wears safety gear and follows set health & safety rules..

Also, we do not recommend undertaking this activity in low-light such as at dusk, at night, or in bad weather.

Hedgehog picture Step by step: Step 1: Draw around your hand on a piece of cardboard and add a nose as shown.

Then cut out.

Step 2: Break up some sticks and glue them to your hedgehog to make him spiky. Tape one full stick to the back.

Step 3: Colour the picture opposite. Collect some leaves and glue them to your hedgehog’s winter home. Cover your picture in Sticky-back plastic.

A

Step 4: Cut a strip of card, the width of the long edge of your picture. Cut out and glue on some green paper to make grass. Staple the grass to your picture at points A and B only.

Slot your hedgehog puppet between the grass and picture.

Holding onto the bottom of the stick, move your hedgehog into his warm winter home.

Scan for video tutorial….

B

What is hibernation?

Hibernation is a way that some animals deal with the harsh conditions of winter, including cold temperatures and lack of food. These animals find a safe place to remain inactive until the winter ends.

These animals eat vast amounts of food before they hibernate in order to keep them alive during months of inactivity.

Fun facts During hibernation: A black bear can go for up to 100 days without eating or drinking.

Bats slow their breathing to as few as 5 breaths per minute!

Bees are unable to fly when the temperature drops below 10 degrees. Honeybees huddle together in their hive for warmth.

WORD SEARCH

W S R H O B B A T I A U E C A V E R E O B E A R V L I S B O B D S N O W Find the following words in the grid above….

BEAR HIVE COLD SNOW BAT BURROW BEE CAVE

A

Your grass strip will go here

to make your hedgehog home

Stick your leaves here

B

Colour us in