Get Moving - Group activities to introduce the World Thinking Day theme

Draw the Change

Prepare a list of simple actions we can do to save energy, such as stop using plastic bags. Divide the group into teams and give one person in each team paper and pencil, and whisper an action to them. When the leader shouts “Go” the person with pencil and paper should try to draw, without talking or writing words, the action. As soon as the team guesses correctly they shout “Stop” and their team wins a point. Keep going until all actions have been tried, with team members taking it in turns to draw.

Sustainable Chase

This game works best outside over a large area. Prepare a pot of tokens such as small squares of card or painted pebbles. Divide your group into three groups; two equally sized teams (the green team and the brown team) and a smaller team of chasers. Mark two large circles as far apart as possible; the start and finish points. Put two pots in the finishing circle, one marked green and one marked brown. Station a leader in each circle. The chasers should spread out between the two circles.

Gather the green and brown teams in the starting circle and give everyone a token. When you shout “Go”, they try to run to the finishing circle without being caught and drop their token into their team’s pot, then return to the start and do it again. If a chaser catches someone from the green team, they should take them back to the starting circle. The green team member can then try again. However, if a chaser catches someone from the brown team, their token is taken away and they become a chaser. Over time the brown team will lose its members whilst the green team can keep running.

Stop the game after a set time and count up the tokens. Who won? Discuss the rules with the players; was it easier for the brown team or the green team, and why? Introduce the idea of sustainability and show how the rules made the green team sustainable, whilst when the brown team ran out of players, it could no longer succeed. Discuss how the concept of sustainability could be applied to the environment.

Which to Switch

Ask everyone to write a “which to switch” question on a piece of paper. It should give two green ideas, such as “Which to switch, walk to school or turn down the heating?” Collect in the ideas then mark two bases, one at each end of the room. Gather everyone in the middle of the room and tell them that, when you read out a “which to switch”, they should run to the first base if they would prefer to put the first idea into action or to the second base if they would prefer to put the second idea into action. Go through all the questions. Was it easy to decide which to switch?

Good and Bad

Stand in a circle. The first person describes an action that is energy-saving and shows an action to illustrate this. For example “I use energy-saving light bulbs” mimes screwing in the light bulb. Everyone repeats the phrase and action. The next person says an energy-wasting action with a mime, such as. “But I take a bath not a shower”. Everyone repeats both phrases and actions. This continues with energy-saving phrases beginning with “and…”, and energy-wasting phrases with “but…” until everyone in the circle has said something and all the phrases have been strung together.

Can You Do Better?

Divide the group into teams of four or five. Groups should spread out around the meeting place. Each group is given an environmental situation then each group member makes up a character who might care about the situation. Two group members start to debate the issue, acting in character. At any point, other group members can shout “Freeze” and the two actors should freeze in their current pose. The person who shouted should then tap either actor on the shoulder and take up their pose (the previous actor goes and sits down) then start the conversation again from the freeze point, but acting as their new character.

For example, the town is planning a rock festival in the local park. Some people can’t wait, others are worried it will attract lots of cars, causing pollution, and will cause litter and damage to the park. Characters could include a teenager, dog walker, rockstar, local shopkeeper and doctor.

Air, Water, Fire, EARTH!

Begin by deciding on a quick action or pose to represent each element. The group walks around in the room until the leader calls “Begin” and you must pair up with the person closest to you. Decide which element you will be, without telling your partner. The lead should count out loud, “One, Two, Three, Go!” On “Go” everyone should strike a pose. Air beats water; water puts out fire; fire grows with air and therefore beats it. The winners continue to move around the room and the losers have to sit out. However, if the leader shouts “Earth” instead of “Go”, all players should lie down as quickly as they can. The pair that lies down last must sit out. Keep going until only one player is left. Discuss why each element is essential for life.

Four Corner Quiz

Prepare a quiz with an environmental theme and multiple choice answers. Label each corner of the meeting place A, B, C or D. Ask the group to run to the corner which represents their answer. Sometimes, give them a chance to change their minds when they see how others have answered. Turn around slowly to build up the tension before revealing the answer by pointing to the relevant corner!

In Balance

With an even number of people, stand in a circle and hold hands. Give everyone a number. Ask all odd numbers to lean in and even numbers to lean out on the count of three. They should keep their bodies straight, leaning from their ankles and remain holding hands. If done correctly, the circle should remain static, not pulling in one direction or another. Afterwards, discuss what the activity shows us about relying on each other. What happens if someone were to break the chain?

Whose Habitat?

Stand in a circle with one person in the middle. This caller points to someone and calls ‘Earth’, ‘Water’ or ‘Air’. The person must respond by saying the name of a living thing that lives in the named habitat, eg. ‘Earth’ is called and the response might be ‘Lion’. If the player hesitates, she/he must stand in the middle and become the caller. Run the activity until everyone had played, or stop after a set time.