Global Warming and Climate Change Wave

Global Warming and Climate Change Wave

-(Nature Game, More ESD Activities)-

Needs: more than 8 people, paper sign to show participants role

1. At the beginning of the game, the facilitator asked the participants:
- What do they know about global warming.
- What are the characteristics of global warming.
- Local phenomenon around them that indicate the occurrence of global warming and climate change.

2. 8 people the role of the participants were divided into:
- (Expansion of) Factory / Industrial
- Forests / Plants (degradation)
- Carbon in the air
- Temperature
- Ice in the polar
- Mainland
- Animals and plants
- Mankind
If the number of participants exceeds 8 role, then two or three participants may play same role. For example 2 people can play the role of "industry" or 2 people can play a role "in the polar ice". You may do other variation too.

3. Participants were given an explanation about the natural balance of the system, what is happening today in the world, namely in the event of increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the air:

The number of factories and industrial expansion led to reduction in forest area on earth (relate it with land use or enery resources), also resulted in reduction in the number of animals and plants that inhabit the forest. If the forest is gone, while the industry still pollute the air, so the result is high concentration of carbondioxide in the air.

Increasing the amount of carbon in the air causes the air in the earth is getting hotter (if the participant had not understood, then the facilitator can provide the parable about the heat in the car that bronzed sun; carbon gases which can be described as heat-trapping gases in the earth) and cause the melting of ice (in the pole), and sea water expand (because of heat - remember that objects expand when heated - including water).

Rising water temperatures and rising sea levels caused the sinking of small islands, off the coral reefs, and cause the death of the fish, animal or immigration. Many animals and plants die from this cause.
In the end, this loss will also be experienced by mankind, in connection reduced food sources, crop failure, natural disasters (drought, heavy rain - caused drastic changes in season, etc.).

4. The facilitator collects the participants in the form of the line sideways. They old hand together (see picture for example). Increasing is symbolized by raising the position of the hand, and declining is symbolized by lowering the position of the hand.

5. Each participant acted as their respective roles. Example, when A (acting as the expansion of the industry) raises his hand, then one hand is holding onto B with A (acting as forests) will go up. One hand B is holding hands with C (carbon in the air) will go down, while one hand is holding hands with C D (warming of the earth) will rise, and so on ...

This illustrates increasing of some roles will influence other roles.

6. Simulate this game. The facilitator will serve as a starter. The trick is to raise or lower the hands of a particular role (as a good start, start from the role of "industrial expansion" for all participants to catch the message).

7. Then play the game. The facilitator can help to explain or explore the opinions of the participants who were carrying out its role. Ask some key questions:
- Why did they raise or lower the arm?
- In addition to increase participants awareness , ask participants to tell other cause / effect from his role. For example, when Budi (carbon in the air) raised his hand, ask - about how if participants live in a place of high air pollution? ; Or other questions: do you also feel that it happened in your place? How it can be like that? You may do some variation for your question.

8. If all participant understand clearly about first step, the facilitator can connect the initial role (industrial expansion) with the role of the end (mankind). Explain that in extreme situations, the human race can be reduced in number due to a major disaster, which then would affect the industrial expansion (decline).

9. Give good feedback that development needs to consider the effects of development on the environment. Development needs to consider the sustainability of life itself.

10. Ask their opinion, what businesses can do to reduce or prevent global warming that has occurred at this time.

Glass Marble Method

Glass Marble Method

-(Communication, Encourage Children, Nature Game)-

This is my personal experience using Glass Marble Method, to deal with children. Glass Marble Method is a reward and consequence technique that I learned from "Nanny 911" show. I modified some of this method to make it more interesting. Just enjoy your own modified method and make sure that it works. Play with peanut, bean, hazelnut rather than use marble, so you can explain more about environment.

The basic idea of this method is by giving one marble after your children doing something right, not giving any marble if the situation is neutral, and take one marble if your children doing something wrong.

I have two transparent jar. One is bigger than the other one. I use the small one to collect marbles for one month, and then transfer it into the big one once a month (I assume that the big jar is enough to collect all marbles for 6-12 months).

I put all the jar in a place where they can see it, but having difficulty to touch it. Rule number 2: you must make this marbles is "sacred". It means that you should have discussion with your children how to treat this jar and marbles with respect.

What really happened in real situation when we start to do this activity?
- First, she start to complain about the number of the marble she think she deserved when she do "right" things, and said that she don't want to play this game if she only get one marble.
- After a conversation, she said "allright then..." where we must put this jar?
- Day one-three, I put a marble everyday, to encourage her to do right thing, and yes-she helped a friend, ask for apologize to her mom (cos she said something bad before)...
-Day four, no marble... cos she get angry in the night, although s he helped a friend in the school before.
- Day five, no marble... cos she play with pen in my T Shirt, talking bad with her mom. I think she start to wonder... why I don't get any marble this day. She start to be more careful...
-...and life goes on ^_^ , que sera sera...

Hints:
- Don't stick to much with the rule. You also should know your time when you put one extra marble, or to take two marble at once.
- Use silver, white marble; or replace normal size marble with a bigger one. Just like my first hint, you should know the time.
- Discuss with kids, in the night-why you put or take marble(s). It's an important stage that you should do in this activity. Sometimes you get new informations from your kids, and you will understand better about their behaviour.
- Discuss with your partner, about this game. (S)he can give you another perspective how to deal with your boy/girl.
-  IMPORTANT: don't threat - like say : "I will take your marbles if you don't say you're sorry!" Just be calm and take the marble in the night. You should explain to your kid nicely without shouting :)

Picture taken from http://mypassporttostyle.blogspot.com

Estafet Story Telling

Estafet Story Telling

-(Nature Game, Language Game)-

This is a game we can use to learn about language, especially when we try to encourage children to tell a story. I give some modification so we also can use it to learn about environment a little. Thanks for Mr Paul, my English teacher from TBI-The British Institute, Bogor who show this method to me in his English Club yesterday.

Needs

Paper and questions

First , give instructions to children to write down these questions into one page of paper. I think 10 questions is enough plus you always can modify these questions into another topic...

Mention that everybody can answer the questions freely.

QUESTIONS

1. Who is this man (name, work?)
...............................
2. If he likes to grow / plant something, what kind of vegetables he likes to grow?
.......................
3. From which country did these vegetables come originally?
...............................
4. Which seasoning is better to make this vegetable taste better?
...............................
5. What animal eat this vegetable?
...............................
6. Mention the use of this vegetable for human health?
...............................
7. Today scientist found new varian of this vegetable that looks interesting. Why this varian is interesting for them?
................................
8. The man tries to cultivate the vegetable. Is he failed or not - why?
...............................
9. Scientist said something related with this vegetable. What did they say?
...........................
10. Is the vegetable available in the market now? Why?
...............................

This is a fun game. My teacher used it and everybody laugh in the class. Although in Indonesia we use this game to practice English (story telling) but I hope the fun atmosphere also work when we use it to learn environment. And the bonus is that we can learn English and environment in one packet.

The idea is very simple. Write all this questions in one page. Give some space so they can write the answer below each question.

First kid answer question number one, than they fold the paper so number one question and answer is hidden. Then the kid assists / gives the paper into the one who sit beside him/her. The second kid answer the number two question and fold the paper again. He / she give it to the other and so on.

Basically it likes make a story composed many sources (by answering the questions) - without know every previous answer. So yes, the story sometimes become silly and funny.

Read the paper after all question has been answered. To learn about conversation, it will train the kids to make a story by read and relate all answer into one interesting story (try to make a good story with all this mess ^_^ ).

To relate it into environment issues, tell children that after all this activity to find the right story about these vegetables (the vegetables species in question number two is as main idea, and they may check all answer (right or wrong) by using internet and other sources. Don't worry - maybe they cannot find all answer but by doing this they will know about species diversity and adaptation...

Searching activity can be used as homework if you have limited time to learn.

Five Wind Directions

Five Wind Directions
-(Nature Game, More ESD Activities, Facilitation Technique, Discussion, Communication, Enhancing Group Dynamics, Improve Listening and Observation, Analysis )-

This is a very interesting game we played about a year ago in ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) training in Bogor. This is a method that we can play again and again for many topics because its flexibility with issues.

Mr. M Saleh from JPL (Jaringan Pendidikan Lingkungan) / Indonesian Environment Education Network show us this game and we do a lot of discussion in this game regarding some hot issues.

This "Five Wind Direction" (sorry, I rename this game cos I don't know its real name) I think is one of the game that very effective to share information between participants.

There is no conclusion in this game since the goal of this game is to collect information and to brainstorm participants

Needs
About 15-50 participants (advance level)

First you must tell a story, and ask questions. Let say:
"In Bogor (where they lived), particularly in Pamoyanan village (where most of them have school), there is a plan about building a big factory complex. Many people feel happy cos they think it will open many opportunities for people who seek job, and the other thinks the opposite: it will pollute the river, destroy the small forest near the village and damage water reservement"

Ask participants
- Who agree (>75%) with factory complex build stand in north point
- Who disagree (<25%)>
- Who "kind of agree" (>50%) with factory complex build stand in west point
- Who "kind of disagree" (<50%)>

After first step ask someone who wants to give opinion about their stand. Facilitate other participants to give other opinion and let them exchange information and discussion.

Participants can move and stand in other direction after some opinions (let say, after every 5 opinions given, or every 3 minutes).
You will see that there is some change about their stand after some opinions being talked.

As facilitator you can give some new information while the discussion happened. Ask key questions to participants when they give opinion.

Don't worry... yes, maybe it can be a hot discussion between participants... keep be a good facilitator ^^ ! Don't forget to do some hand shake between participants after this game...

Ah yes, why I name this game: five wind direction, because sometimes there are participants who become extremely poled, or a participant who didn't choose any direction (always moving every time) - that's the fifth wind direction: extreme pole, or as a wanderer (joke ^^)

ESD Cryptology

ESD Cryptology
-(Nature Game, Math Game, More ESD Activities)-

We did a Treasure Hunting Game a couple days ago in Bogor Botanical Garden. This is what we do in first stop for the groups that compete each other: to solve secret information (related with environment-history issues) with mathematic equation.

In another modification, we also can relate topics such as social, biology, history, language to this game. It was fun and I bet that your kids will pay serious attention to mathematic

This is an example: we ask when the Bogor Botanical Garden officially recognized as Botanical Garden. The answer included the exact date-month-year; but for this case I present only mathematic equation to solve date only:

Needs
Paper and pen

In the paper there are some questions to be solved:

No	TASK :
1	Summarize all this number to the right, then you get A
	27	14	31	64	18
2	For B, multiply A with 312
3	B - 51678 = C
4	Reverse all C number from the right to the left, then you get D
5	Divide D with 15, then you get E
6	Asume that all the digit in D are independent from each other
	Summarize all this number to the right, then you get F
7	(F - 18) X 6 = G (final answer)

Correct Answer
A	246
B	76752
C	25074
D	47052
E	3,136.8
F	21
G	18

The final answer is 18 (date number from 18 May 1817).

We make 3 task to the groups because the group is large (10 kids) so everybody get busy. 1 task for date, 1 task for month, 1 task to guess year.

This game is good to get attention from kids about small issues but you must be prepared to expand the issues by do more activity.

We play this game as a part of Treasure Hunting activity, under the tree, but in the school maybe you can do this activity as a kind of homework, after the class finish, to relate it with another subject tomorrow.

Don't stick only with this writing. I know you can modify it to open discussion in language, biology, social issues.

Special example (for expert level): how to convert answer into alphabet
In alphabetical order asume that 23 is (d), G answer is (i)
(I reverse the alphabet from behind, so 1 = z, 26 = a)
Then translate this number into alphabet
4	26	7	22	9
ANSWER : WATER

Answer and Grouping

Answer and Grouping
-(Nature Game, Facilitation Technique, Ice Breaker, Grouping, More ESD Activities)-

This is a game that we can use again and again, with only small modification- as an introduction games, ice breaker or energizing game, I prefer to modify, relate it with environment issues. But sure, you can also modify it into mathematic, biology, social science, language game, etc.

Needs
Pencils, papers, questions

Give papers and pencils to participants. The idea is simple: we give
questions (multiple choices are better). The children answer it by
writing answer in paper, and then in count 3 they must find a group
who write same answer with them (by moving,asking).

Purpose - to know each other / environment issues. Questions (sample):
- Which one is your favorite pet: dog, cat, turtle, fish, bird,
reptile?
- Which one is your favorite recreation place: beach, mountain,
forest, garden, lake-river, sea?
- Which one is your favorite social-environment friendly actor / artist: John Lennon, U2, Anggun, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sting, Elizabeth Taylor?

Purpose - to test environment / biology knowledge. Questions (sample):
- Which one doing photosynthesis: zooplankton, phytoplankton, mushroom, fungi, bacteria, and virus?

Purpose - to test language knowledge. Questions (sample):
- What Sundanese (traditional) language is having same meaning with "sit”: diuk, ulin, sare, lumpat?

And more...

Hints:
- Remember, for competition game, add some modification like squat / squat-walking for group who give false answer - until another question offered.
- Don’t forget to tell them to shake hand every time they do grouping,
with other group member. It will cheer the atmosphere.
- Remember, this is only an opening game. Prepare a discussion related with the topic you play.

Animal in the Backyard

Animal in the Backyard
-(Nature Game)-

This is a simple game in my mind when I think about garden, a small forest near my house, or a pond near the bridge. What we need is just a simple place to learn. Even we can use our classroom to do this game. Although it is simple and designed for children, we still can do some modification for older age.

Needs
- A small group of children

First, they have to mimic a grasshoper (or other small animals). The main idea of this game is to do some observation in different kind point of view (from small animal point of view). So the participant must act as a grasshoper, they must crawl or in sleep position so their eyes is in the same altitude with the grass or the bush

Let or help the children to find their own spot. Then tell the children to observe with the postion we agreed before.

Ask them this question, and let them answer (as a grasshoper):
- Can you find any food there? Is it many? Which one is your food?
- Can you find any shelter there? Which one is that?
- Do you see any potential predator there? Who is it?
- Is that place is suitable for living? Why?
- Is there any other threaten for you in that place? Mention it...
- Another questions that relevant to describe habitat.

Then in count of 3, let the children pick new spot (with jumping, like a grasshoper). Then repeat the questions again.

If you feel that this game need some modification, try round number 3 or 5 with mimic different kind of animal (frog, chicken, turtle,...).

For older age, you can make some question for reflection:
- After they doin this, how is their feeling?
- What is their opinion regarding biodiversity?
- Why this place is good / bad for the animals?
- How human activity give impact to animal life?
- ...

Picture taken from http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/hd_high-dam-077.jpg

Estafet Run

Estafet Run
-(Nature Game)-

This is a nature game designed for children, or for grown up who still love fun game and needs sweat. You can play this nature game outdoor or indoor, while modify it to explain many topics (biodiversity, many type of minerals, waste management, etc)

The purpose of the game is to introduce many kind of plant species regarding character of its leaves.

Needs
- A lot of leaves (from 3-5 species). If you don't have leaves you can replace it by seeds, stones or rocks
- Some containers (multiply the number of plant species with number of existing groups, so you got the number needed)
- group(s) of children

First divide children into groups. If you have only some children, lets play with time limited game (single competition).

Divide a groups into player number 1, 2, 3 and so on. Number 1 is as picker. And the last number will be as filter. The other player must be placed at some point (a post). The range of every post must be managed according to participants stamina.

The rule are simple :
1. First everybody must be ready in their post (just imagine estafet run)
2. Place a bucket full with leaves in start line.
3. Picker will pick the leaves, give it to player number 2. Player number 2 give it to player number 3 and so on.
4. Filter (the last kid) will put the leaves in the basket. What he/she must do is to collect same kind of leaves (species) in one basket, while use other basket for another species.
5. The winner is the group who collect more leaves.

Modification :
- To teach children about value, you can give different points for every leaves species. You can relate it with economic value of the leaves or give more endangered species higher point, or just play with colorhig (some color are higher than others).
- If you play with rule number one, change also the range for buckets. Higher value must be placed in more far buckets.
- Play with minerals, seeds, or with garbage (to teach children about organic, anorganic waste), etc

Notes:
- Divide participants into fair composition.
- Use fallen leaves. It's better rather than the fresh one.
- After the game, you better discuss about the topic immedietly. Show them picture, video, or tell them a story. Use the object (leaves, etc) and make them touch and feel the object.

Picture taken from http://www.thewe.cc

Search the Mineral

Search the Mineral
-(Nature Game)-

Basicly, this game is the same with "Guess the Peanut Number" game - the game I have already posted a couple months ago. This is a specific game that we can used to introduce mineral to participants. Sometimes we found difficulties to learn mineralogy - but why we don't speak in different language? Everybody love a game and with warm atmosphere, we should learn easier don't you think ^^?

Needs
Handkerchief

While do some walking in the field, garden, forest, or beach; try to encourage children to collect some small stone, rock, coral, sand or soil. You can divide children into groups. While one groups collecting stone, the other groups can collect rock, sand or something else...

After finish walking, gather and sit in a circle, you can start the game:
1. Children look the mineral with full attention
2. They can touch the mineral if they like
3. Close their eyes with handkerchief
4. You can give him/her one sample of mineral
5. After 30 - 60 seconds you can take the stone /rock back
6. The kid must recognize the mineral he/she already touch
Hints : for harder level of game you can give children similar shape / type of stone / rocks

What you can discuss:
- How can they recognize the mineral they touch?
- Is there any similarity between those kind of minerals?
- Give children information about geology, and how the minerals formed... (geology process)
- Why you can only found some types of minerals in certain area only?
- And many questions... you can relate it with different use of stone / rocks, economic value of minerals, and talking about mining and environment problem...

Robot-Robotan or Balantrok

Robot-Robotan or "Balantrok"
-(Traditional Game, Nature Game)-

Robot-robotan or "Balantrok" is a traditional game in my place (West Java). But I think many variation of this game also being played by children all around the world. This is a fun activity to develop children creativity, and it also teach children to re-use and to re-cycle.

Needs
For this game we need 2 milk/biscuit can (larger is better) or 2 coconut shell (cut the shell into two, bigger is better), a small diameter of plastic rope (or you can use another rope as replacement), nail.

Make two hole in each can. The range between each hole is about 10 cm. If you choose coconut shell you can make only one hole.

Then tie a rope in both hole. You maybe need about 2 meters rope for each can (it will become 1 meter length after you divide it into both hole). For coconut shell, you need 1-1,3 meter rope. Place your feet in each can, and use your hand to control the rope, so you can step easily.

And now you can start the game. Play a competition game between children at the same age. This game is better if we can use used can / rope or get the stuff from nature e.q. rope from banyan tree hanging root.

Modification :
- Playing soccer with robot-robotan
- Playing run competition with robot-robotan
- Playing adventure / treasure hunting with robot-robotan

Bentengan / Cingbenteng

Bentengan / Cingbenteng
-(Traditional Game)-

Bentengan or cingbenteng is a traditional game from Indonesia. I found some similarity and modification when I check "capture the flag" game, and some other game in Asia country. Bentengan means base, and cingbenteng (Sundanese words) means base game.

Rule
Participants are divided into two teams with equal number of team members. The object of the game is for one team to try & capture the base of the other by reaching the other's home base first & tagging a pre-decided item (e.g., a tree trunk, a rock, etc) symbolizing the opposite team - without getting tagged by the defending members of the opposite team.

The base will function as a power charger. Participants who tag their base earlier is lose from an opponent who tag their own base later (if they catch each other), and it works for all participants. To get more power, then he/she has to get back to their base to re-charge the power

POW
A member of an opposing team who go first can be chased & tagged by the member of other team who go after his/her. If the attacker gets tagged before he/she manages to get back to his/her home base, he/she becomes a prisoner (POW) of the opposite team. He/she can be rescued by his/her teammates if one of his/her teammates manage to get close to the base & tag the POW without getting tagged himself/herself by the guard or one of the defenders in the opposing team.

POW place is about 3-5 meters from the base. We can mark the POW place by placing stone, tree trunk, or else. If there are more than one prisoner, they do hand in hand from the POW point, to make the line longer, make some distances from the enemy base. In this line form, if one prisoner rescued, so the other will be free.

The game ends when a member of an opposing team manages to tag the symbol of the other team or when all the members of one team are captured by the other leaving their homebase free for the opposite team to attack and capture.

What you can discuss and relate it into issues:
- animal topics - hunting and preying. Relate the team work with animal (like wolf, hyena, wild dog) team work. Which one is more effective : individual or team hunting ? After discussion, start to tell them how important is to have kind of hunter / top predator in environment, to maintain nature balance...
- or maybe you got better ideas ? I think you also can relate it with social hierarchy in animal kingdom ^^ ... goodluck then !

Galasin, A Story about Mangrove

Galasin, A Story about Mangrove
-(Nature Game)-

This is a traditional Indonesian game. We call it : gobak sodor, galasin, or maybe in another kampung (village), children play a same game with another technical term.

The rules different in every kampung. It show some modification, but basicly it have some basic rule:

GUARD
Children who guard the line must catch the attacker by touching part of the body by hand. The guard feet must always step in the line.

ATTACKER
Children who try to cross the line. They need to avoid being catch by the guard

LINE
There are some lines, according how much the kids are.

PICTURE - RULES

To help children understand about the concept of mangrove ecosystem in preventing the wave destruction we need to modified the secondary rules about this game.

We will discuss about :
- Use of mangrove tree to prevent damage by strong wave / current in the shore
- Different kind of mangrove tree characteristic, or maybe if you like this kind of activity you always can discuss more : relation between land - mangrove - coral - open sea ecosystem...

Needs
A line (plastic, or by drawing)

First divide children into 2 groups. For this game, I assume you have about 20 participants, divided into 2 groups.

NORMAL ROUND :
Play normal. One team try to go back and forth. To win the round, all the team must succes cross the line and go back to the start point. If there is any participants being catched, the team switch: the one who play as guardian then play as attacker.

MANGROVE ROUND:
Play as a normal game, but put 2 guards in one line (generally, in back line to make it more difficult). Notes: yes, so it will be an empty guard in one or two line.

MORE MODIFICATION:
- Extend the line to make it easier to play
- The length of the line is must not always be the same
- Make vertical line. In Indonesian game, we call it "geledek" or as lightning. It is a suplement line to hit the attacker

Notes:
Play normal round for about 30-60 minutes. Then you can play MANGROVE ROUND because they already used to play with normal rules
For facilitator: seek information about mangrove and don't forget to arrange discussion method... ^^

Reflection:
- If the guards are mangrove tree, you should show that mangrove tree also have different characteristic (which one is fast and big, small and slow to catch the wave? Try to relate with different kind of mangrove tree, and the size of tree
- In nature, a small tree always find difficulties to adaptate with big wave, so what must we do to make the survival rate higher ( placing kind of fence, water breaker, plant with bigger tree, placement strategy, and more)
- What happened if the mangrove trees being cut? Are there any options to show the people that economy and ecology can work together, to support life ?

Nature Color 2

Nature Color 2
-(Nature Game, Improve Listening and Observation)-

The idea is to collect something from environment that can describe color gradation from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, to purple. This rainbow color is just for example: the idea is not to stick just for this rainbow color, let the kid decide what is beautiful for them.

They things they collected must be a wood, rock, sand, leaves, seed, flower or something natural (not plastic or other artificial things).

Read "Nature Color game" in this site and you will more understand how it work.

Needs
Hard paper, glue or double sided tape

In this activity, we can bring the children to the garden or outdoor environment. Give them 30 minutes to one hour to collect things and arrange it to show color gradation.

Hints
- Don't stay in basic rules, just to fill box with rainbow color. I think the box in the paper is not necessary at all. I only show you because it make you easier to imagine. It is good to see there are pale brown, oak brown, light brown, dark brown, chocolate brown and more...
- Or you can make a topic : like one group collecting red and green, and other group collecting grey and purple things.

Discussion
- Discuss about the things they foung, like seeds and tree biology, geology (if they found sand and rocks), economy (if they found some plant/fruit that being use to be a natural color for some handicraft)
- Talk about how they should pay more attention to the nature if they want to become an artist, because they can get a lot of inspiration from the nature ^^

Star Trek Game 2: Micro Seed Collector

Star Trek Game Edition 2 :
Micro Seed Collector
-(Nature Game)-

"OK Lt Data, it's time to us to go to the planet. The Federation request us to collect some rare seeds in this planet. Because its small size, we need to be very carefull and look at for it with full attention !"

Needs
- About 10x20 cm hard paper. Put some glue or two sided tape on it. Children will use this hard paper to stick some seeds on it
- A map for the journey

2 kids will be a partner on this adventure. They will be Lt. Data and First Officer William Riker. After Enterprise send them to the planet, they must follow a route from the map. In this journey they must collect as many seed they can afford in this time limited journey

Rules
- Collect only small size seeds. We don't count a seed bigger than 2 cm length
- Time limited journey. Everybody who doesn't come in time is failed. I think 1 hour is acceptable for this game?
- The winner is they who found the most kind of species (species)

Hints
- Don't forget to draw a map for the kids
- Kind of small seeds they can get (example only): paddy, grass, coffee, carrot, many wild flower seeds, etc
- In the end, don't forget to ask kind of seeds they bring, so then you can discuss more about environment issues

Issues
- Learning about scientist activity, aware and attention
- Species diversity, adaptation to environment and survival tactics for the plant (reproduction issues)

Picture taken from www.hopeseeds.org

Two Little Bear Dancing

Two Littlle Bear Dancing
-(Nature Game, Ice Breaker, Grouping, )-

This is a fun game, an energizing game - make me sweat a lot too. I modified this game to become more "nature game" from a game call "Pancoran Statue" , an energizing management skill training game (I got it from my friend M. Yasin in RMI).

To make it become more "natural", I choose to change the orders. This is a simply refreshing game and when I try to did it, children and adults always love it. It become my favorite game too.

Needs
Nothing, about 20 people or more

First, make a circle from people. Tell them to :
1. Make a solo when the teacher say "CHICKEN". They have to mimic a chicken with its sound : pek - pek - pek
2. When the teacher say "DANCING BEAR", they have to dance in two, mimic a dancing bear with its sound : na - na - na - na


3. When the teacher say "FLYING BEE", they have to make a tiny circle, in three with its sound : bzzzz - bzzzz - bzzzz. Don't forget, they have to "fly" in circle
4. When the teacher say "FLOWER", they have to make a flower formation in four. The children will hand in hand together. When the flower blossom, they will say "BLOSSOM". When the flower is in KUNCUP, they will say "KUNCUP" - it's a kind of open and close formation, like a flower blossoming.
5. When the teacher say "T", they must make a T letter in five man formation.

For the first 1-2 minutes, they will begin to train the move and the formation. After 3 minutes, you can begin the game. Everybody who is being kicked out from the game are they who is to slow to build the formation (means that in this game, speed is important).


The order can be this way:
First round : DANCING BEAR
SECOND ROUND : FLOWER
Third round : CHICKEN
FOURTH ROUND : BLOSSOM
Fifth Round : FLYING BEE
Seventh round : CHICKEN
Eight round : BLOSSOM
Ninth round : CHICKEN
Tenth round : T
You go on, as long as possible... ^^

Hints:
- Use order CHICKEN (solo) to divide team after some formation to distract them
- If the circle is broken (to many children play in the same area), please rebuild the circle again
- It is management game about change-happened around us, and how people must be ready for any change happened, but for a nature game, we also can discuss something like : - a topic related with an order (like : OK - now we will discuss about bee...); or who can tell me about chicken?
- You go on... I think your ideas are unlimited...

Guess the Peanut Number!

Guess the Peanut Number!
-(Nature Game)-

It is a simple game that we can play with 2 to 5 children. This game is good for increasing children imagination and to develop right and left brain. They need to use imagination, calculation and feel to win this game

Needs
Some peanuts (or another kind of seed in a same size)
-If we play in 5, maybe we need about 100 peanuts
Some bigger size of seed (for example, walnut)
-If we play in 5, maybe we need about 15 walnut

First, make a circle from 5 children. Divide peanuts and walnut into same number. If you play this game in 20 or 50, just make about 4 to 10 groups.

So, everybody will get about 20 peanuts and 3 walnut.

Then you say that we will need to practice. Everybody will hide peanuts in one or two of their hands, and after that everybody will show their hand(s) closed. And than everybody must guess the total number of peanuts in all hands.

The one who guess correctly will get all peanuts in everybody hands. If two kids guess the same number and win, their peanuts wil be divided by two.

Another rules:
- All empty hand(s) is forbidden, but it's OK to show one hand empty and the other is fill by some peanuts
- Use walnut to fill the hand and it will looks bigger (and the your friend will guess a big number)
- Hide all your peanuts in a closed bag or box, so nobody know your "ammunitions" number
- We can play time limit game, or a competition between groups if there are a lot of groups here

Relate it with environment issues
- Why this seed is different in size (peanut vs walnut)? And then you can talk about evolution, adaptation, species, even genetic differentation between same species
- Economic value of this products (peanut and walnut)
- The use of peanut and walnut in cooking, use for handicraft, farming, ...
- Use of peanut in organic farming (soil enrichment with N)
- The life cycle of peanut and walnut plant
- Or you can show them pictures, many kind of peanut and walnut varian in the world and relate it with geography module about country... ^^
.

Pick An Alphabet

Pick An Alphabet
-(Nature Game, More ESD Activities, Language Game)-

Well, I don't know if this game is a kind of nature game or not - but in my opinion if we can play this game in our garden, at least it is fair enough to call it as a nature game.

I develop this game to Ms Sita Rani in RMI. She said that she need some game to help her do teaching activity. She is a teacher for alternative school in Cimande village, and her specialization is English (and after this writing hopefuly she will help me to edit this site because my English need some works ^^)

Needs
A lot of card (you may use paper for this). About 200-300 is enough I think if we play in a small groups

First, write an alphabet in each card from A to Z as many as you can (if you are a teacher, maybe some students may help you do it). You can add more card to write A, I, U, E, O alphabets.

The game is very simple. You may use garden, wood, near a river, or in a paddy fields. A room also acceptable for this game if there are some stuff in it.

Place all card alphabet in the ground. In five or ten minutes (your decision) one or two children must pick one alphabet each time and put it in an object, until it become a word that explain the object.

A "T, R, E, E" alphabet must be put under a tree
A "S, O, I, L" alphabet must be put in the ground
A "B, O, Y" alphabet must be put under a boy... and etc

If I assume that only one kid will do this game, in my opinion he will do some sports there. After he finish with one object, he can move to another object and repeat the steps.

If we play this game with 2 to 5 kids, I think they can cooperate together, and after some alphabets are gone, they must decide another objects which don't need that missing alphabets.

We also can use this game to learn another languages (including local language). Good luck ! In bigger groups, we can make a competition between groups...

Message In a Row

Message In a Row
-(Nature Game, Improve Listening and Observation, Communication)-

Message in a row is is a communication skill game, that can be modified into "a more nature game". The game is quite fun and easy to play too. I got the old version from my friend M. Yasin in RMI, and I modified it to discuss about reproduction, genetics, mutation and environment issues.

Needs
Nothing, 10 participants or more (better)

The game is simple. We must send a message from behind to the front of our group by tapping in our friend back / shoulder. No words are saying or we will get disqualified. For the front man, they will tell the message saying by do some move (we will learn the move later).

For 20 participants or more, we can make a competition between groups. Divide participants into groups of 10 people.

After children / adults make a fine row, they will face to the front. For a competition game, make a distance between groups. Then you tell them the orders (remember the move! Demonstrate the move )

3 taps : front man will do a sit up
4 taps : front man will shout "HEY !!!" loudly (to one of their opponents if this is a competition game)
5 taps : front man will stand in a chair and do salute (you also provide a chair in front of the front man)
6 taps : front man will do attack mode (like ULTRAMAN attack mode, you decide what it's like)
7 taps : front man will stand up in a chair and pose like a body building model ( ^_^)

After they repeat the order by themselves (so they will remember the move), the game will begin. First, you go to the back, tell the last man the number by writing (then you go to the front again, and in your order, let the game begin). Don't forget to tell them, there are no sound beside the clap sound.

After the first man (the man in the first row) do a move you are agree with, you ask to the group, is the message correct? Do some rounds (5 to 8 round) to look is there any change in their strategy. For the competition game, speed and correct answer will decide which group is the winner.

To relate this game to environment topics (well, beside communication we also can relate it to other topics) you can ask :
- If the process describe us about living creature reproduction (breeding, etc) and genetic's, try to relate it with mutation...
- What is mutation ?
- Try to find nature factors that can increase mutation probability
- Try to discuss evolution and mutation topics
- What is the benefit and disadvantage of the genetic code modification by human?
- You go on... try to relate it with another issues...

Picture taken from http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Star Trek Game 1 : Planet Exploration

STar Trek Game 1 : Planet Exploration
-(Nature Game)-

This game dedicated for my favorite science fiction movie : Star Trek.

First we must write a strong plot for this story. You had to empower children imagination. Tell a story first when we start this game. We need a briefing "officer!" We have to explore this planet to find kind of living creature live here!

Mission : find, search and collect sample from living creature

Who will go to the planet surface:
1. First Officer: William Riker (Human)
2. Lt. Commander : Data (Android)
3. Chief of Security, Lt Sgt : Worf (Klingon)
4. Head of Engineer, Lt Sgt : Geordi La Forge (Human)
5. Observer : Spock (Vulcan) - you as a teacher

Tell the children they need to mimic the person they played. As Riker, they need to be "just human". Riker is the man who control the expedition. So you need to lead your team. Data is a robot / android. So you must speak more polite and discipline. Worf is powerful and he is a chief of security. You know what it's mean ! And La Forge is expert in engineer. We need him to make sure our tools are OK. Spock is an observer that suggest his best opinion about the situation.

Before this game, place some marks for the plant / living creature they need to collect (so you go explore the place first). You can mark the things by put an X, a bright spot, just an instruction or anything (including instruction like : collect all plants that is flowering,..). For advance, just tell them like this: we need a leaves from manggo, rambutan, banana, chocolate and coffee plant - that will make them think creatively.

Make a route: like from A to B then to C (a map would be interesting). This is a kind of route they will played.

Then start the exploration. Mr. Spock (as observer) will give his opinion only in an emergency situation / when they need it.

Rules:
1. Walk in this NORMAL position when in normal move (Riker leading)
2. Walk in this DEFEND position when there are threat (Worf leading)
3. When the team observe, only Data who only can touch the thing (Data is an android which is not sensitive to plant poison)
4. La Forge always carry a box / container to collect the plant without touching it. He also bring a note to simply writing about the plant location, condition, quality and quantity, or some ecosystem review.



Hints:
- Compete with other team. Which one explore better?
- Try different route, location and planet
- Explain about plant biology, ecosystem, economy value, and relation with social culture in the native tribe... when they are arrive...
- Use "tricorder, phaser, technological box" and more to support the journey
- Make the exploration tougher - cross the river and more
- Make more threat by the "Ferengi, Romulans and Borg" or the beast in this planet ^_^
- Conclusion : is this place is OK for human colonization? why?


Geordi picture taken from : http://uss-france.strangewc.com, Data and Worf picture taken fromhttp:// ex-astris-scientia.org, Spock picture taken from http://web.mit.edu, Riker picture taken from http://members.aol.com