Help! (Nothing to do with IC)

***ICNDonna*** · 11-03-2005, 12:26 PM

I am helping with a Winter Reading Program at our small local library. We had planned for the fire department to present a program this coming Saturday morning, but just got the word yesterday that they will not be available.

The other person who is working with the program will take the small children and read to them and help them with a game. I am taking the older ones, age about 9 to 11 (4 to 6 children) and am desperately looking for some sort of skit they could work on this week, then present the following Saturday for the little ones, at the party celebrating the end of the winter program.

Does anyone have any skit ideas suitable for this age group. I can't go for a Christian one because we have Jewish and Budha children in the group.

I need your help ---- please.......

Donna

**jaime15** · 11-03-2005, 12:41 PM

What about some other city or county department besides the fire department? The police department could send over their officer with his/her canine partner.........??? I don't know Donna...........have you tried googling games for that age group? I wish you luck........it's terribly hard to entertain kids of any age.....especially in a group.

**traceann** · 11-03-2005, 12:43 PM

I personally don't have any ideas, lol, BUT I do know that one of my girlfriends who's a boyscout leader does these things at different camps and jamborees with the same age group. Maybe a scouting site might have some ideas? I think that's the type of site she get's hers from....I am sure that's the kind of place she gets her "projects" for the weekly meeting night!

Good luck! Someone's got to have something!!!

Hugs!

**Katrina** · 11-03-2005, 12:57 PM

I think some teacher and education sites may have searches that could have some skits. If all else I know we have a lot of teachers that are members maybe put "calling all teachers" in the subjects may bring those experts here. Good Luck!

**dancemomof2** · 11-03-2005, 01:04 PM

Do you have a DARE officer with any of you police departments that can help. That is about the age when they come into the schools here and educate kids, and give out book, coloring books, crayons etc....

Maybe a craft store employee could come and do a small book craft of some kind........

**tigger_gal** · 11-03-2005, 01:13 PM

hope this helps.. I am at a loss here.
http://www.arepublish.com/BPP.html

**Bianchi** · 11-03-2005, 01:58 PM

Hi Donna, my DIL is a girl scout leader. They recently did a skit about the environment. She found it on google under "skits about the environment for kids". Hope that helps.
Bianchi

***ICNDonna*** · 11-03-2005, 04:24 PM

More years ago than I like to think about I was a Girl Scout leader. I think what I may do is something on safety since that can include everything from fire to bicycle riding. I did that on a scout camp-out and the girls really liked it.

Donna

**Cheries** · 11-03-2005, 04:41 PM

Donna, I'm a Drama teacher and teach ages 10-12. There are a number of things you could do. One easy thing is the 5 "W's assignment in which you talk about the elements of a story, who, what, when, where, why etc. You might take a simple example, like Cinderella etc. Fill in the above "W'"s and then ask the kids to change one of them or create a new ending. They can bring some props or hats or a suggestion of a cotume if they want.

Another idea that has to do with creating emotion is to have the kids stand up. Ask them to say an emotion like it sounds. (This is a little hard to explain here but I will try, ) For example, "Scared" or "Happy" etc. You could then ask them to pick an emotion out of a hat and create a short scene in which that emotion is displayed.

The best thing to do for this age group is allow them to create their own original ideas or skits. Right now I have a Christmas show going on in which my 6th graders have completely written and produced their own show. We have "Fear Factor Christmas" and "Frosty's Angels" (a take-off on Charlie's Angels) "Ghostbuster Christmas" etc. etc. Kids are much more creative than we are!!

Pantomime is also fun for them if you know anything about that. They can make-up their own pantomime based on a winter tradition of their choosing for example. If you give them a basic outline (who are your characters, where are you, what are the steps of the story, etc.) they can usually follow it just fine.

In addition, if you are looking for outside help you may want to contact a university near you and ask if a student teacher would be interested. They are often looking for opportunities to work on things etc.

If you would prefer some references I can give you my work email, just private message me. You can also look up Creative Drama online. (One word of caution, always plan for more than you think you will need! )

Good luck!

**traceann** · 11-04-2005, 02:24 AM

Wow Cheries, great ideas! Made me want to go out and gather up some kids to play with!! LOL!!

**hoping4acure** · 11-04-2005, 02:47 AM

I have no idea's...just want to say traceann you just crack me up

...love your sense of humor!!

**traceann** · 11-04-2005, 04:14 AM

Thanks need2heal, you got me laughing at that compliment, lol!! Then I got the mental picture of me running around our little town looking for kids to play with, knocking on doors "can so and so come out to play??" LMAO!

I have a feeling people would have me taken away by the men in little white coats before the end of the day....

hugs!

**traceann** · 11-04-2005, 04:15 AM

Oh Donna, have you come up with a plan yet????

***ICNDonna*** · 11-04-2005, 05:01 AM

I have the beginnings of a plan and will make a trip to an excellent children's book store this morning. This would have been easy if there had been more planning time, but this is a last minute thing. The fire fighter who does this kind of thing had to take her husband to the hospital and he's in intensive care right now so I "volunteered" to take it on. If somebody else shows up from the fire department, I won't have to do it, but I plan to be prepared just in case.

Thanks!

Donna