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OLYMPICS ARE A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP, UNITY AND PEACE... If you are planning an "Olympic Themed Day, Week or Month" convey to children in your program-- that this is an opportunity for Fun and Games, but most importantly, the activities are A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP, UNITY AND PEACE...
SUMMER OLYMPICS: The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from July 27 to August 12 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9...
_____________First a little FYI...WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE OLYMPIC RINGS?
SUMMER OLYMPICS: The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from July 27 to August 12 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9...
The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions, used alone, in one or in five different colors, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. (See more below in making an Olympic Flag)
WHAT EVENTS are played at the SUMMER Olympics? Impress the kids with how much you know! (Crafts and Activities follow this list)
• ARCHERY There are both individual and team events in which archers battle in a seeded knockout tournament, firing arrows at a target from 70 metres.
• AQUATICS Aquatics consists of a range of sports including swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo. Open water swimming is included for the first time this year.
• ATHLETICS There are 47 different athletics events at the Olympics, 24 for men and 23 for women. There is no 50km road walk for women, who also compete in the heptathlon rather than the decathlon, but otherwise the men's and women's events mirror each other.
• BADMINTON There are five Olympic tournaments in the world's fastest racquet sport: men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. All are straight elimination events.
• BASEBALL Two teams take turns batting and fielding and the object is to score the most runs in nine innings. Baseball will disappear from the Olympics in 2012.
• BASKETBALL Each game consists of four periods of 10 minutes with five minutes overtime allowed if a match is tied. Olympic basketball gold medals have ended up in American hands more often than not.
• BOXING There are 11 weight categories contested in Olympic boxing - from light-flyweight (under 48kg) to super heavyweight (over 91kg). Only amateur boxers between the ages of 17 and 34 are allowed to enter.
• CANOE/KAYAK Men race in both canoes and kayaks, while women compete only in the kayaks. Flatwater canoe and kayak racing was first seen at the Olympics with a demonstration competition in 1924, before it gained full medal status in 1936.
• CYCLING Men and women compete in all forms of cycling at the Olympics, although a handful of track events are only open to men. Road races take place in two forms - straight races and time trials.
• EQUESTRIAN The three equestrian disciplines - show jumping, dressage and three-day eventing, which have been part of the Olympic Games since 1912, are the only Games which allow men and women to compete on the same terms.
• FENCING Fencing is split into three disciplines defined by the type of weapon used. Epee events use a heavier blade, foil events use a lighter blade in which only the torso is a target, while the sabre is a light blade used to cut and thrust.
• FOOTBALL The Olympic football competition is effectively an under-23 World Cup with 16 teams competing in the men's tournament and 12 in the women's. Professionals are allowed to participate, but in the men's tournament each nation is restricted to only three players over 23 years of age.
• GYMNASTICS Olympic gymnastics consists of three disciplines; artistic, rhythmic and trampoline. Both men and women compete in gymnastics, although each discipline differs greatly with individual and team medals also competed for.
• HANDBALL Two teams of seven compete on indoor courts to score more goals than the other by throwing the ball into the opposing net. Halves last 30 minutes, with a 10-minute break in between.
• HOCKEY Field hockey is a 70-minute game split into two 35-minute halves, while extra time and a penalty stroke competition may be played in the event of a tie. Both sides field 10 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
• JUDO Judo is a traditional Japanese wrestling sport that dates back to the 1880s and means "the gentle way". Men and women compete in all seven weight classes, with men contesting bouts of five minutes and women four.
• MODERN PENTATHLON Modern pentathlon contains five sports - shooting, fencing, swimming, equestrian and running - which competitors undertake in the course of a day. It is the only event which was created specifically for the modern Olympic Games.
• ROWING There are 14 medal events in the Olympics with women competing in six of these.The competition is made up of heats with the winner progressing to a semi final or sometimes straight to a six-boat final.
• SAILING All 11 classes are sailed in a fleet racing format, whereby contestants will race in a group around a course of buoys. Each boat earns a score equal to its finishing position, with the eventual winner having the lowest score.
• SHOOTING The Olympics have 15 shooting events, six for women and nine for men. For the rifle and pistol categories competitors shoot at targets on the shooting range. The shotgun category sees competitors shoot at clay targets.
• SOFTBALL Softball is the sole women-only sport in the Olympics. The game is similar to baseball, with some key differences. Women's fast-pitch, the variation used is played over seven innings rather than nine, with a larger ball and pitching is underarm.
• TABLE TENNIS Table tennis lays claim to the title of the world's largest participation sport - a fact attributed to its immense popularity in the Far East. There are four Olympic table tennis tournaments - singles and doubles for both men and women.
• TAEKWONDO Taekwondo is one of many Korean martial art forms dating back to the early 20th century. Men and women each compete in four different weight classes ranging From 80kg and above in men to below 49kg in women.
• TENNIS All Olympic tennis competitions are decided on a knockout basis. Each nation may enter a maximum of six singles players and four doubles teams, who are put in different sections of the draw. For the singles competition 16 players are seeded, while the doubles draw includes eight seeded teams.
• TRIATHLON The Olympic triathlon, a continuous distance race consisting of swimming, cycling and running, is contested by men and women in individual races. The event is made up of a 1.5km swim followed by a 40km cycle and ending in a 10km run.
• VOLLEYBALL Indoor volleyball is played by teams of six over a maximum of five sets, with the first four won by the team who reaches 25 and the fifth by the team who reaches 15, though they must have a two-point advantage. The beach variety takes place on a smaller court with teams of two players.
• WEIGHTLIFTING There are two techniques in Olympic weightlifting - the snatch and the clean and jerk - both performed by each athlete. There are eight weight categories in the men's event, ranging from 56kg to over 105kg. In the women's there are seven, starting at 48kg and going through to the over 75kg category.
• WRESTLING Men's wrestling is contested in seven weight categories from bantamweight to super heavyweight. All seven are contested in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. For the women there is no Greco-Roman .
FYI... The five colored rings on a white field form the Olympic Flag. The flag was adopted in 1914, but the first Games at which it was flown were Antwerp, 1920. It is hoisted at each celebration of the Games._______ MAKE AN OLYMPICS FLAG (or flags) to have at your events or decorate your room. Explain to the children: 1. The five rings (circles) are interlocking on a white background.
The white background symbolizes peace. The colors of red, blue, green, yellow, and black, were chosen because each nation has at least one of these colors in its national flag. 2. The 5 rings represent the five major land areas of the world - (show this land areas on a map or globe). The five interlocking rings represent the continents of Africa, Australia, Europe, The Americas, and Asia. The rings are interlocked to show friendship among the nations. ______________________
ACTIVITY MAKE FLAGS OF THE COUNTRIES REPRESENTED... Decorate the room with the flags. You can also PUT UP A WORLD MAP with the continents of Africa, Australia, Europe, The Americas, and Asia
Materials:Paper plates (five) Scissors Steak Knife (optional) Markers Stapler Hole punch String 1. Cut out the center of five paper plates. It's easier to use a knife or scissors to make a slit in the center of the plate, then use scissors to finish cutting out the inner circle. 2. Use markers or paint to color each plate the color of the Olympic rings. (Color one plate blue, one black, one red, one yellow and one green.) 3. Arrange the plates in the order the Olympic rings are in the Olympic symbol. The Olympic rings on the upper row are, from left to right, blue, black and red. The Olympic rings on the lower row are yellow and green. 4. Staple the plates together to create an Olympic rings decoration.
5. If you want to hang your Olympic rings as a decoration, use a hole punch to create two holes in the top and hang it with string.
Cut five large ring shapes out of sturdy paper. Have children work together to color or paint each ring one of these colors: red, green, black, yellow, and blue. Arrange the rings on a plain white sheet of butcher paper and hang it up for closing ceremonies or a room decoration.
Materials: An empty plastic small drink bottle Aluminum foil Scissors Red/yellow/orange paper Sticky tape. Sand paper Cut the bottom from the drinks bottle and discard. You may need to smooth the edges for young children. Wrap the bottle in aluminum foil, tape down any loose edges. This is the torch...
To make the FLAME... Cut flame shaped pieces from the paper and tape to the inside of the torch. Start with small pieces at the edge that get bigger as you work in.
The TORCH PART can also be made from paper towel roll tubes--and covered in tin-foil...
You will need: Green construction paper Glue stick Sticky tape Scissors Cut a strip of paper about 1 1/2 inches wide. Measure it around the child's head and cut to size. Cut out MANY leaf shapes and glue them along the length of the strip---leaving a couple of inches at either end. Tape the two ends of the band together.
FYI: The first Olympic games were held in 776 BC. The olive tree played a crucial role in this event. The OLYMPIC Winners were awarded with a crown woven from olive branches...The first Olympic torch was a burning olive branch.
Materials: Pipe cleaners, masking tape, crayons, markers or paint.Make a leaf template; trace and cut out the needed number of leaves- Use a string to measure your head. 1. Color the leaves on both sides green. 2. Tape a leaf to the end of the pipe cleaner and secure it with tape. Tape leaves half way down one pipe cleaner. 3. Take another pipe cleaner and place a leaf on its end. Then twist it together with the other pipe cleaner. 4. Add leaves half way down the pipe cleaner. Use the string to measure the pipe cleaners. When the pipe cleaners length matches the string length add a leaf at the end. Twist the pipe cleaner to make a circle and secure with tape.
MAKE AN OLYMPIC GAME MASCOT ( To the left are Wenlock and Mandeville~ mascots for the 2012 Olympics starting July 27 in London--)
MAKE AN OLYMPIC GAME MASCOT ( To the left are Wenlock and Mandeville~ mascots for the 2012 Olympics starting July 27 in London--)
Materials for your own class/school/program mascots...
Put out assorted art materials such as: Styrofoam shapes, pipe cleaners, toilet paper tubes, tin foil, google eyes, paint, spangles, scraps of material, etc. Possibilities are endless) With the children make a list of the qualities a mascot should have. (See the FYI-list the end of this entry)
• Have children design and make Olympic mascots for you school or program. • Make your character so it has all of the qualities of an Olympic mascot. • Use a variety of art materials to make the mascots unique. • Give the mascot a name. • Display the mascots in your room.
FYI: OLYMPIC MASCOT HISTORY Since the first mascot in Olympic history made its appearance at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Olympic Mascots have become a main element of the Olympic image. As a unique and popular image full of vitality, a mascot is able to materialize the Olympic spirit, communicate the concepts of each Olympic Games, promote the history and culture of the host city and create a festive atmosphere for the Games. Mascots act as a significant vehicle for communicating the Olympic spirit to the general public, especially children and youth. Whatever shapes they have, they fundamentally share a creative rationale, that is, the mascots must be able to convey the theme of the Olympic Games, showcase the distinctive geographical features, history and culture unique to the host city. (Click here to learn the symbolism of this years mascots-you will be taken off of KidActivities site)
THEMED PAPER PONCHOS (Good for Pre-K to about grade 2)
1. Take a large piece of butcher or roll paper. Fold it in half, and cut out a neck hole along the fold to make a poncho! 2. Next decorate the ponchos in interesting designs---or to go with a THEMED day/week or party! 3. Example: Decorate your poncho with an American Flag or red, white and blue for a Patriotic or Olympic theme!
ORGANIZE TEAMS FOR PLAYBEFORE THE BIG DAY........ 1. Plan the Olympic Games for the children. (Lots of games on KidActivities!!!)2. Decide how many teams you will have. 3. Divide the kids into the teams. 4. Have each group decorate a banner with their team name and symbol. 5. Meet with staff members regarding who is to do what.
________________OLYMPICS DAY HAVE AN OPENING CEREMONY AND OR PARADE--This will kick off the whole event.
• Explain what games will be involved in the competitions, how competitors are expected to win and lose graciously, and point out how much fun the day will be. • Organize the children to march around an area holding their banners. Play the Olympic theme or the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Post the rules of the games and review the rules with the children and place signs where events are located.
__________________ HOLD A CLOSING CEREMONY: Everyone's a winner! Call each child's name, and pass out medals, certificates, and prizes
LET THE GAMES BEGIN Part 1! Some ideas to consider...
Set up a COLORED RING TOSS
____________ HAVE a HULA-HOOP CONTEST _____________ A HAMMER THROW Need: Small paper bag, newspaper, string
Stuff a small paper bag with newspaper. Tie it off with a 12" long string. Hold the end of the string. Spin around 3 times. Let go. Watch how far the hammer travels. Record distances. The longest distance wins. ____________ JAVELIN THROW Need: soda straws, waste paper basket, tape Tape 4 straws together end to end. Mark a starting line behind which all players must stand. Place a wastepaper basket 5 feet from the starting line. Throw straws into the wastebasket. Give each player 5 turns. The winner is the child who gets the straws into the basket the most times. __________ STANDING BROAD STRETCH Mark a starting line with tape. Start with the toes behind the line. Take one giant step. Measure the step. The winner is the one who took the biggest step. ____________ SHOT PUT FOR DISTANCE Make a ball out of aluminum foil. Hold the ball in the palm of one hand. Instruct children to place that hand next to their ear and then push the shot into the air extending their arms. They can not move their feet. Record distances; the longest distance wins. ____________ DISCUS THROW Use a Frisbee to play discus...or... Tape two heavy foam plates together. Hold the "discus" like a flying disk. Throw away from the waist. Record distances. The longest distance wins ____________
PLAY BADMINTON You can have competitions involving pairs and singles. You will need a judge to determine if shots are in or out in the event there is a question. Use the official badminton rules or make your own that are consistent for every team. ___________ SOCCER Set goals at least 15 feet apart. Goals can be as simple as a rope anchored in the ground. Play the best two out of three games. Keep scores for medals and prizes. _________________________
Can you play any of the games mentioned above such as: SOFTBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, HANDBALL, HOCKEY, TENNIS OR VOLLEYBALL? They're all summer Olympic Games!!! ______________
TIP:In preparation for YOUR Summer Olympics you will need: • Stop watches • Tape measures • Whistles for the game officials • Equipment that each game requires
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Part 2
Check out the great ideas in the RACES, RELAYS, BALLOONS & BEANBAG Category...All great games for an Olympics type theme! There are more than 45 games in that Category!
Also look at ideas in the OUTDOOR WATER PLAY CATEGORY. Towards the page bottom is a description of a WATER THEMED FIELD DAY!
Submitted by Doreen Z from Mi./FlaOn rainy days have kids MAKE RIBBONS FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS for the summer or end of school year. Use permanent markers or fabric paint to make ribbons for events/games such as: Best waterballoon maker, 1st in water relay, Big drip award, Little dripper award, etc.
At the end of the day when the kids are drying off and after clean up--pass out the awards. See how many they can collect during camp, field day, or the school year.
Every four years the world celebrates as the athletes take an oath... In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.
Have your kids put up their right hand and say an oath/promise at the beginning of your games... A simplified version for the kids to say before THEIR events is...
"I promise follow the rules of the games... To be fair... To be a good sport... and honor my teams! I'll remember to play for fun!
This is a good time to gather the children with their Olympic flags and medals and make a group picture or individual pictures before and at the closing ceremony after the games. Make sure someone has a camera and video camera during the events!
Need: Five Home-made or purchased "ring" cookies (round cookies with a hole in the center) per child. "Writing frosting" in red, green, black, blue and yellow or add food coloring to white frosting.
Decorate each cookie with a different color frosting. Lay out the cookies on a plate in the pattern of the Olympic rings. Enjoy and Eat!
#1. Have each child bring in a half cup of their favorite snack (You can offer parents suggestion at this point: cereal, raisins, crackers, etc) When you get all of the snacks--- mix them all in a huge bowl and serve them for snack.
Talk about how DIFFERENT THINGS GO TOGETHER to make something very good. This helps get the ideas of diversity, sharing, cooperation, and trying new things across.________
#2. Do the same as above, however,USE FRUIT instead of snack mixes. 1. Have each child bring in one can or piece of fresh fruit2. talk about how different things go together,to make something very good. This helps get the ideas of diversity, sharing, cooperation, and trying new things across. 3. Donate any left-over cans to a shelter
TIPCHECK OUT THE 'PATRIOTIC-RED/WHITE & BLUE CATEGORY' Many ideas can be used for promoting 'Spirit' in your program Olympics Day or Theme...
Use caution when it's hot outside, especially for active kids. In high temperatures, kids don't sweat as much as adults do, so it's harder for them to cool off. This makes them more at risk for dehydration and heat exhaustion.
WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE and kids are playing sports-or even just actively playing-head off problems by making sure they DRINK FLUIDS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER ACTIVITY. As a guideline, encourage AT LEAST 4 ounces of fluid EVERY 15-20 minutes, or whenever there's a break or time-out. Tip: One ounce equals about one "gulp'--therefor 4 gulps are needed for eveery 15 to 20 minutes!
Updated June, 2013
This category is filled with ideas for RED, WHITE & BLUE DAYS! Crafts, Art, Games, and more! (Red, White & Blue Food is on Page 2)Consider some of these activities for themes of: Patriotic, Uncle Sam, USA Olympics, Flag Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Fireworks, Labor Day or the Last Week of School or Good Old USA Days!
STAR-STUDDED LEIS Need: Craft foam Sharpened pencil Elastic cording Red-and-white striped straws or drink stirrers Time needed: About 1 Hour 1. Cut out craft foam stars and use a shapened pencil to poke a hole in the middle of each one. 2. String them onto a length of elastic cording, alternating the stars with sections of straw or drink stirrer. Knot and wear.
FELT AMERICAN FLAG Materials: Felt paper in red, white, and blue, white star stickers, dowel stick, glue, and scissors. Give each child a large rectangle piece of white felt. Students (or the teacher) will cut out a blue square and 7 red strips. Glue onto white felt rectangle to resemble flag. Once dry, have students place white star stickers onto blue felt square. Glue the edge of the flag to the dowel stick and let dry (it may be best to use a glue gun). Let dry.
RIBBON STREAMERS Kids will have fun at parades and other celebrations with these hand held ribbon streamers. With just a few strands of ribbon you can create an accessory that looks cool when kids run or dance with it. What you'll need: Paper towel roll tube Tacky glue Scissors Roll of red ribbon Roll of blue ribbon Roll of white ribbon Roll of striped red, white, and blue ribbon Hole punch Measuring tape, ruler, or yardstick 1. Wrap the striped red, white, and blue ribbon around the paper towel tube, applying tacky glue under the ribbon as you work. You can wrap the ribbon at an angle or horizontally, whatever you prefer. 2. After ribbon is applied and glue has dried, punch 9 holes in the bottom of the paper towel tube with the hole punch. 3. Cut three strips of red ribbon that are 46 inches long. Cut three strips of blue ribbon that are 46 inches long. Cut three strips of white ribbon that are 46 inches long. 4. Tie a knot in the top of each strip of ribbon. 5. Pull each of the strips through the holes so the knot is on the inside of the tube. If you can't find striped red, white, and blue ribbon, you can wrap around individual strips of red, white, and blue ribbon.
AMERICAN FLAG WINDSOCK... This project is a FUN way to decorate for any patriotic holiday, or to show your USA pride all year-round! American Flag Windsocks are easy to make and perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July.
Hang windsock from porch, window or a tree!
Hang windsock from porch, window or a tree!
TIP: 'USA UNCLE SAM WINDSOCK'...All Windsocks can be decorated to any theme such as this photo example. For this windsock, it is suggested to start painting/decorating from the top and work your way down.
POM POMS 1. Cover toilet tissue tubes with red or blue construction paper and have children decorate them with silver star stickers. 2. Cut red, white and blue crepe-paper streams --into long and narrow strips. Have children glue the strips to one end of their tubes to make pompoms for shaking.
DECORATE WITH RED-WHITE AND BLUE TWIRLERS! A fun craft and nice decoration
Hang from a window frame, tree, ceiling or porch! Materials: Plastic coffee can lids (Lids come in a variety of colors), Marker, Scissors, String
HEAD BAND Cut stars out of red, white and blue construction paper. Make a head band out of white construction paper (make it long enough to fit around the child's head). Glue stars on the band. Red, white and blue stickers can also be added. Allow the glue to dry. Place band around child's head to get the size right. Staple the band to make a circle.
RED, WHITE, & BLUE WREATH Materials: Paper plate, white tissue paper, red tissue paper, blue tissue paper silver streamers or ribbon, silver of white pipe cleaner, glue, stapler Directions:1. Start by cutting out the center of a paper plate - discard the center. 2. Cut tissue into 6"x6" squares. Scrunch a piece of tissue up and dab it into the glue and place on the plate. 3. Continue doing this and alternating colors until the plate rim is filled all the way up. 4. Add a little sparkle by adding some silver streamers or ribbon here and there. 5. Staple a pipe cleaner to the back of the wreath to make a hanger.
MAKE CELEBRATION FRISBEES Materials: Red plastic plates (two for each Frisbee) Scissors Steak Knife (optional) Large Ziploc baggie Red, white and blue or multi-colored sequins Stapler 1. Cut out the center of two red plastic plates. (Create a slit in the plastic plates with a knife. Next have children cut the rest of the center out with a pair of scissors.) 2. Fill the large plastic bag with colored sequins. (The Frisbee works better if you don't put in too many sequins. 3. Place the plastic bag filled with sequins in between the two plates. 4. Staple the two plates together around the edges with the plastic bag in between. (It helps to have one person hold the plastic bag on each end so it's taut, while the other person staples the plates together.) 5. Trim the parts of the plastic bag that hang outside the edge of the plates. 6. Go outside and throw the new Frisbee!
PATRIOTIC STAR Materials: Starfish (Real starfish) Red Acrylic Paint Blue Acrylic Paint White Acrylic Paint 1) Paint red stripes on star fish leaving the upper left quadrant blank. 2) Paint blue in the upper left quadrant. 3) Allow to dry. 4) Paint small white stars in the blue painted section.
Don't forget to put out the red, white and blue pony beads to have the children create necklaces and bracelets. Additionally...
Put out red, white, and blue embroidery floss for 'FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS!
Don't forget to put out the red, white and blue pony beads to have the children create necklaces and bracelets. Additionally...
Put out red, white, and blue embroidery floss for 'FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS!
MAKE A STRING OF STARS! Make a decorative string of stars to celebrate any red-white and blue day! Need: Construction paper (red, white and blue) Scissors String or yarn (red, white or blue) A stapler, tape, or glue Star template to trace... 1. Make large star cardboard templates for the kids to trace.2. After stars are traced---Cut them out and decorate it if you like. 3. Fold over one tip of the star and staple, tape, or glue the star to a length of string. 4. Make many stars and attach them to the string. 5. Leave some extra string at the edges for hanging. Now you can decorate any area with a patriotic flair!
NOISELESS NOISEMAKERS Need: Plastic film canisters, popcorn kernels, stickers, glue, glitter, paint markers, red, white, and blue ribbon... 1. Have children fill the film canister halfway with corn kernels and decorate with stickers. 2. Staff members can then poke a hole in the lid of each canister and children can thread some curly ribbon through the hole.3. Knot the ribbon on the underside of the lid and let the rest stream out of the top.
STREAMERS Need: Cardbord tissue tubes and red, white, and blue streamers 1. To make the streamers, have children glue (or have a staff member staple) lengths of crepe paper to the inside of a cardboard tube. 2. Decorate as desired
PARTY CRACKERS (Not the kind you eat…)
UNCLE SAM PIN Materials: White craft foam Scissors Markers Wooden craft spoon Googly eyes Cotton balls Glue Self-adhesive pinback Time needed: Under 1 Hour 1. Cut out a basic Uncle Sam-style hat (about 2 inches tall and 1 inch wide) from white craft foam. 2. Use markers to color the brim blue and to draw red stripes on the top. 3. Glue the hat TO THE HANDLE of a wooden craft spoon iIf necessary, first use scissors to trim the wooden handle so that it's shorter than the hat). 4. Glue on googly eyes and a cotton ball beard, then draw on a small L-shaped nose. 5. Attach a self-adhesive pinback (sold at many craft and bead stores), and your Uncle Sam pin is ready to wear.
PATRIOTIC PLANT POT Supplies: An unglazed terracotta plant pot Red, white and blue acrylic paint Brushes 1. Paint the rim of the flowerpot white and the lower part of the pot blue (or paint the rim blue and the lower part white). 2. Let the paint dry. A second coat may be needed, especially for the white paint. 3. No matter which style you choose...Paint white stars on the blue portion; paint red stripes on the white part.
PATRIOTIC PARADE STICK Whether it's a Parade, Presidents' Day, a 4th of July celebration or any other fun event you attend, this patriotic wand is perfect for showing your pride. You'll need: 1 sheet blue construction paper 24" strip red crepe paper streamer 24" strip white crepe paper streamer Scissors Tape Star shaped stickers
1. Roll blue construction paper into a tight cone and tape closed. 2. Cut each crepe paper strip into 3 parts of equal length. Next, cut strips in half lengthwise, creating two thin strips from each regular strip. You should end up with six strips of each color. 3. Place a small piece of tape at the end of one of the red strips. Press the tape inside the top of the cone. Repeat this step using a white strip. Repeat for remaining strips, alternating between red and white, work your way around the top of the cone so that your streamers are equally distributed. 4. Decorate strips and cone with star stickers.
TIPS: •To make a sturdier parade stick, try using card stock or poster board for the handle. • Get stickers from the dollar store or check the clearance racks at the craft supply or discount department store. • Allow children to be creative by decorating with other items such as gems and glitter glue. Source: Kaboose.com Amanda Formaro
MORE QUICK CRAFT IDEAS With plastic pony beads, ribbons, chenille stems, lanyard and tissue paper, kids can decorate the center and themselves. Ideas:
• Bead HAIR TIES and NECKLACES
• Add red, white and blue star beads to SHOE LACES
• Lace red white and blue bead strands to clip on patio umbrellas. Use a chenille stem to bead stars to add to the ends.
• Make red, white and blue TISSUE FLOWERS. Put in vases/jars or tie them on curling ribbon to decorate the corners of a picnic table. See 'tissue making flower ideas' in the "Flowers Category" of this site.
PATRIOTIC BEAD PATTERNING Gather several packages of red, white, and blue beads and white pipe cleaners. Make a few example patterns with the beads on the pipe cleaners. Set the remaining beads and pipe cleaners on a table and allow the children to copy any of the patterns on their own pipe cleaners.
***Idea: Provide cardboard TP tubes, aluminum foil, craft paper, markers , gift wrap ribbon, tape, glue and scissors to build creative rockets...
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TWO IDEAS TO Create your own FIREWORK PICTURES... IDEA #1 Use dark construction paper, glue and different colors of glitter. These fireworks pictures are great decorations... Supplies: Black or very dark construction paper Glitter White glue Old newspapers A straw (optional) 1. Work on old newspapers. 2. Spread glue on the paper in geometric shapes. If the glue is soft enough, you can put a small blob of glue on the paper, and then blow some air through a straw to spread it into interesting shapes. You can experiment with the consistency of the glue and the angle of the straw. 3. Sprinkle glitter onto the glue. Slide the excess glitter off your picture and back into the glitter container.
IDEA #2 Bursts of PAINT that resemble FIREWORKS in the Sky... Need: Acrylic paint Drinking straw Paintbrush Paper (or card stock) Water Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less...
For each color: In a paper cup--dilute some acrylic paint with water to a runny consistency. Using a paintbrush, drip a few drops of paint onto a piece of paper or card stock (be sure to rinse the brush between colors). Hold a drinking straw directly over each puddle of paint and blow gently to create a spectacular starburst effect.
RED, WHITE AND BLUE PUFFY ART Materials: Flour, Salt, Water, Red and blue food coloring, Empty squeeze bottles (mustard bottles work well), Cardboard Directions: 1. Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water to make the puffy paint. 2. Divide mixture into three different bowls and color one bowl of mixture blue, one bowl red, and leave the last one white. 3. Fill the mustard bottles with the mixture (one color per squeeze bottle). 4. Let the children squeeze the different colors onto the cardboard. 5. When they're dry, the design will be raised and will sparkle!
RED, WHITE AND BLUE Q-TIP COLLAGE Dip the end of a Q-tip in glue and glitter and have children glue them on a black piece of paper in the shape of a star - they look like fireworks!
Pull out the red, white and blue paint. PAINT STARS OR A FLAG on the cheeks/face of the kids!
PAINTING WITH GRASS 1. Gather red, and blue paint---take it outside and paint the grass blade tops! 2. Set 'white' paper on the painted grass. These are lawn prints, but will resemble fireworks on the paper. TIP: You can also use different colors for a non-thematic "quick" activity. This is adapted from an idea by caregiver of autistic children.
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ABSTRACT COLLAGE This actvity is especially good with young children! 1. Put out pre-cut-shapes of the flag ---blue rectangles, red stripes, and sticky stars. 2. Instruct the children to create anything they'd like... Some may look like the American flag and some may look like abstract collages---but all will be patriotic!
CHALK ONE UP IN RED, WHITE & BLUE! Bring out the artistic side of your celebrants by setting out colored chalk and inviting them to draw a RED, WHITE & BLUE HOLIDAY SIDEWALK MURAL. They might try their hand at colorful fireworks, or as a team--create a giant American flag. The bigger kids can sketch the outline and work on the stars, while the younger ones can help with the stripes. If you have a sunny, dry month---your sidewalk show of patriotism could keep the spirit alive for weeks.
QUEEN ANN'S LACE FLOWER ART The finished products resemble brilliant fireworks displays Materials: Several stalks of Queen Anne's Lace, red, yellow and white paint, dark paper. 1. Pour paint into shallow containers. 2. Have the children dip the Queen Anne's Lace blossoms into paint and lightly dab them on their papers.
THREE EASY ART TABLE ACTIVITIES #1. STARS & STRIPES SPONGE ART Red and blue tempera paint, Sponges cut into stars and long strips, White construction paper Let the children make sponge prints on the white paper with the red and blue paint. _____________________ #2. STAR COOKIE CUTTERS Gather a few star-shaped cookie cutters and shallow bowls of red and blue tempera paint. Put out all materials for children to press the cookie cutters into the paint and then onto a piece of construction paper to make star shaped prints ____________________ #3. TEAR PAPER ART Have a flag as a guide for the kids to follow. Tearing strips of red, white and blue paper, have children glue them onto a large sheet of construction paper. Make sure they know what size they should be trying to tear for the stars, stripes, etc. This is a good idea for younger children but the older may also enjoy it.
________________PLAY DOUGH FUN Make your favorite play dough recipe and add RED food coloring, jello or kool-aid to one portion, BLUE to another--- and leave SOME AS IS. (Make it with the children) Put dough out along with 'star shaped' cookie cutters and let children create! (Lots of Play Dough recipes here)
MAKE A TOGETHERNESS FLAG... Materials Needed Red, white and blue paint Paintbrush Paint Trays Sheet of paper 2' x 3' or larger
1. On the large sheet of paper, draw lines for stripes and paint a blue square in the upper left corner. 2. Have the children fill in the bottom stripe by dipping their hands in the red paint and pressing them end to end within the lines of the stripe. Using the white paint, have them make a white stripe just above it the same way. 3. Continue until you have all 13 stripes filled with hand prints. 4. Have the children dip their fingertips in paint and make the "stars" in the blue square. Extension Idea: Have children make our country's very first flag in the same manner and discuss why it looks different from the flag we have today.
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U.S. FLAG RELAY RACE Have the kids make small U.S. flags and place them in red, white, and blue sand pails with sand filler at the bottom. Turn this decoration into a game. 1. Divide the kids into two teams and have them run, grab a flag, and quickly walk back to the team line. 2. The next person must do the same. The team with all of the flags in hand the quickest wins! 3. Be sure to have the kids take the flags home!
RED-WHITE-BLUE EGG SPOON RELAY RACE 1. Boil a dozen eggs and color some red and blue. (Be sure to keep some white!) 2. Divide the kids into two teams, and provide each with a spoon and eggs. 3. The kids balance a colored egg on their spoon and walk quickly from one end of the game area to the other and return. 4. If the egg drops, the team member must begin again. 5. The first team with all members completing the relay race wins!
UNCLE SAM DRESS-UP RELAY RACE Need: Two sets of clothing consisting of: Uncle Sam's hat, a white beard, a blue jacket or shirt, red clip-on bow tie, and a bell. 1. Separate players into two equal lines spaced approximately 6 feet apart. 2. Place a set of clothing at the beginning of each line; then place a bell approximately 15 feet in front of each line.3. On 'go', the first player in line dresses up in the clothing; then MARCHES to the bell. 4. When they reach the bell, they pick it up with their left hand, turn and face their teammates and then ring the bell. 5. They replace the bell and MARCH back to the front of their line--remove the clothing--and go to the end of their line. 6. The next player repeats the process; repeat until the last player finishes. The first team to finish is the winner.
***Click for a great variety of RELAY RACES and picnic games ...(Races, Relays, Balloon and Bean Bag Fun!) You may also like some PARACHUTE GAMES!
Check out the RED, WHITE & BLUE JOKES on KidActivities.net
FUN IDEA → If you're having a party, as a warm-up game write down jokes on individual slips of paper. Half the kids/guests get the Question--and the other half get the Answer! Good fun with kids trying to find their Question and Answer match!
MILK FIREWORKS SCIENCE This is a fun project but NOT a recipe for drinking! You'll Need Whole milk (must be whole milk...project needs the fat!) A baking pan Food coloring Liquid dishwashing soap Directions 1. Pour the milk into the baking pan. 2. Drop several different colors of food coloring all around the milk. 3. Add a "squirt" or two of the dishwashing liquid, and watch the colors burst and swirl. The dishwashing liquid separates the fat from the other liquids in the milk. If the fireworks slow down, just add another squirt of dishwashing liquid.
#1 Idea Make tie-dyed looking red, white and blue carnations. These flowers look great for any red-white & blue theme!. You'll Need: 2 glasses Water Red and blue food coloring White carnations Green thread 1. Pour water into a glass of water. Add 7 to 8 drops of red food coloring to the glass. 2. Pour water into another glass and add 7 to 8 drops of blue food coloring to the glass. 3. Cut the stem of a white carnation lengthwise. This will make the carnation stem into two thin stems. 4. Set the two glasses of colored water together. Put half of the stem of the carnation into the red water and the other half into the blue water. 5. Let the carnation sit for a few hours. The carnation will begin to change gradually into red and blue. 6. Take the flower out of the mixture in just a few hours before the colors can change the white carnation entirely. You want it so that some of the white is still on the carnation. 7. Wrap the stems together with green thread and place the carnation into a clear vase of water. Make several flowers and show off your beautiful red, white and blue flowers in a vase. _______________________________
Idea #2 RED, WHITE & BLUE FLOWERS... Kids will enjoy making these using white flowers such as daisies, mums and carnations. 1. Pour water into a canning jar with several drops of red or blue food coloring. 2. Place the flowers into the jar over night. Don't forget to set some of the white flowers aside to add to the bouquet. 3. In the morning, place all of the flowers into a fresh vase of water and tie red, white and blue ribbon around the top of the jar.
#1 Idea Make tie-dyed looking red, white and blue carnations. These flowers look great for any red-white & blue theme!. You'll Need: 2 glasses Water Red and blue food coloring White carnations Green thread 1. Pour water into a glass of water. Add 7 to 8 drops of red food coloring to the glass. 2. Pour water into another glass and add 7 to 8 drops of blue food coloring to the glass. 3. Cut the stem of a white carnation lengthwise. This will make the carnation stem into two thin stems. 4. Set the two glasses of colored water together. Put half of the stem of the carnation into the red water and the other half into the blue water. 5. Let the carnation sit for a few hours. The carnation will begin to change gradually into red and blue. 6. Take the flower out of the mixture in just a few hours before the colors can change the white carnation entirely. You want it so that some of the white is still on the carnation. 7. Wrap the stems together with green thread and place the carnation into a clear vase of water. Make several flowers and show off your beautiful red, white and blue flowers in a vase. _______________________________
Idea #2 RED, WHITE & BLUE FLOWERS... Kids will enjoy making these using white flowers such as daisies, mums and carnations. 1. Pour water into a canning jar with several drops of red or blue food coloring. 2. Place the flowers into the jar over night. Don't forget to set some of the white flowers aside to add to the bouquet. 3. In the morning, place all of the flowers into a fresh vase of water and tie red, white and blue ribbon around the top of the jar.
MENTOS ERUPTION -- Soda Geyser-- or just Diet Coke and Mentos
(Do this outside) This is a reaction between Mentos candy and cola. The experiment involves dropping several Mentos candies (usually 5–8) into a bottle of diet cola resulting in an eruption occurring because of rapidly expanding carbon dioxide bubbles on the surface of the Mentos.
MENTOS ERUPTION -- Soda Geyser-- or just Diet Coke and Mentos
I tried this experiment with three of my grandsons (Ages 6, 8,11-see photo) They all loved it! We quickly put five mentos into the Coke. The reaction starts immediately-so be quick!
If you want an explanation: There are various theories being debated as to the exact scientific explanation of the phenomenon, many scientists claim that it is a physical reaction and not a chemical one. Water molecules strongly attract each other, linking together to form a tight connection around each bubble of carbon dioxide gas in the soda. To form a new bubble, water molecules must push away from one another. It takes extra energy to break this surface tension. So, in other words, water resists the expansion of bubbles in the soda.
When Mentos are dropped into soda, the gellan gum and gum arabic of the candy dissolves and breaks the surface tension. This disturbs the water connection, so that it takes less work to expand and form new bubbles. Each Mentos candy has thousands of tiny pores over its surface. These tiny pores function as nucleation sites, perfect places for carbon dioxide bubbles to form. As soon as the Mentos enter the soda, bubbles form all over their surface. They quickly sink to the bottom, causing carbon dioxide to be released by the carbonated liquid with which they come into contact along the way. The sudden increase in pressure pushes all of the liquid up and out of the bottle. From: wikipedia.org
_______________________ ALKA-SELTZER ROCKET (Also fun for the 4th!)
....is a model rocket fashioned from a 35mm film canister and propelled by the generation of gas from an effervescent liquid. It is often used in science classes to demonstrate principles of chemistry and physics to students.
1. In the experiment, a film canister is filled with water and an effervescent tablet (commonly Alka-Seltzer) and tightly sealed. 2. After a short time, the evolved carbon dioxide reaches sufficient pressure to cause the body of the canister to be launched into the air with a popping sound. 3. The canister may be elaborated with paper fins to resemble more closely a real rocket.
Lessons based around the Alka-Seltzer rocket can focus on a number of principles. For example, the students are sometimes asked to experiment with the amounts of water and Alka-Seltzer to find the combination which propels the rocket the greatest distance. Alternatively they may derive equations to calculate the speed and velocity of the rocket from the distance it travels. Source: wikipedia.org
Have a child's wagon you're not using? Plan ahead for your 'Patriotic celebration' and fill that wagon with red, white, and blue flowers. Include a sweet alyssum border, geraniums, lobelia, cosmos, begonias, and impatiens. For the finishing touch, add American flags to the mix.
#1 Sung to tune of "Mary had a Little Lamb" Our flag is red, white, & blue red, white & blue red,white & blue Our flag is red, white, & blue in the U.S.A. Our flag has 50 stars, 50 stars, 50 stars, Our flag has 50 stars, in the U.S.A. Our flag has 13 stripes, 13 stripes, 13 stripes, Our flag has 13 stripes, in the U.S.A. _______________________ #2 DOWN AT THE FLAGPOLE "Down By the Station" Down at the flagpole, Early in the morning, We will raise our flag, The red, white, and blue. We stand at attention, It's something that we do. We salute the colors, The red, white, and blue. _________________________ #3 THE RED WHITE AND BLUE "When the Saints Come Marching In" Oh, when the flag comes marching in, Oh, when the flag comes marching in, How I love to see its three colors, The red, white, and blue
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1. Using crepe paper and streamers, have the kids DECORATE THEIR BIKES, scooters, wagons, and younger children's strollers. You can also attach playing cards to the frame so they hit the spokes & sound like a wheel of fortune. 2. Make musical instruments from 'Recycled materials'. See gads of instrument ideas on KidActivities. 3. You could also take shoe boxes and have the children make "themed' floats from them! These could be carried in the parade. 4. Encourage all to wear red, white and blue clothing!
You now have all the makings for a great parade!!!
BEFORE THE EVENT: Plan your parade route and then hand out fliers to alert your potential audience of the event--- which would be your neighborhood and parents. Invite all to watch!
EVENT: You can parade around the school or center block, track or playground. Ride the decorated vehicles, wave banners and march, play the pre-made (and practiced on) instruments, sing, and have a great time!!!
AFTER: Consider having an ICE-CREAM SOCIAL! You can also give out awards ...such as the Best Red, White and Blue Bicycle; Most Original Bicycle; Most Creatively Decorated Bicycle; Most Appealing to Spectators, Smallest, Most Covered, Most Unique, etc. ________________________________
ANOTHER IDEA with bikes... You can also have a "SLOWEST BICYCLE RACE" with decorated bikes... See the Mixing Math and Fun Category (near the bottom of the category page.) Add this to ideas for a 'Red, White & Blue' program parade around the neighborhood!!! We did one with our families last year and it was great fun!!! We're in a quiet neighborhood---advertised for two weeks before---and had all the neighborhood out to watch us! Cassie/Mi.
To keep your lawn chair spectators happy, consider enlisting some of the following: • Families carrying homemade banners pinned across a broomstick. • Pets with red, white and blue ribbons in their leashes or collars. • A parent and kid kazoo band. • In-line skaters wearing red, white and blue T-shirts and helmets, of course. • Bigger kids dribbling red, white and blue basketballs or soccer balls. • A teenage DJ carrying a boom box playing patriotic songs. • Bikes, strollers, wagons and wheelchairs sporting streamers and balloons. • A minuteman marching band featuring kids playing oatmeal-container drums and paper-towel-roll fifes. Band students can chime in with their trumpets and clarinets, and even moms and dads can dust off their old instruments and join the fun. • A clown (a parent dressed in costume) tossing penny candy to the crowd. • Use tape, streamers, flags and balloons to transform a fleet of wagons into patriotic parade floats.
CAN YOU NAME THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES? Have a quiz to see how many the kids can correctly name. You can also have the kids guess in pairs or teams! (You may also be interested in the 'Colonial Theme' for some great ideas)
ANSWER:Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO DESIGNED THE FIRST U.S. FLAG?Betsy Ross --but the answer (according to the experts at the 'Betsy Ross house') is that it was possibly designed by Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The stars on the flag were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported that George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens."
This is page 1, Go to Page 2 ~ Pariotic Red, White & Blue Food
You may also be interested in the 'Cherry Theme'...lots of good ideas that would work with some Red-White-and Blue' Summer Time Fun!
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'Traveling Around the World' is a great theme for multicultural experiences as well as popular for classroom, day camp and childcare programs! Category resources available at this time are:•CHINA •FRANCE •MEXICO •USA-PATRIOTIC •USA-COLONIAL •All Multicultural Diversity Categories
'Traveling Around the World' is a great theme for multicultural experiences as well as popular for classroom, day camp and childcare programs! Category resources available at this time are:•CHINA •FRANCE •MEXICO •USA-PATRIOTIC •USA-COLONIAL •All Multicultural Diversity Categories
Updated January 2013
THE FOLLOWING GAMES ARE GREAT FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY--as well as parties, themes and Red, White and Blue Days! Below are relay and races as well as games that use bean bags, eggs, and balloons!
Updated January 2013
THE FOLLOWING GAMES ARE GREAT FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY--as well as parties, themes and Red, White and Blue Days! Below are relay and races as well as games that use bean bags, eggs, and balloons!
NEWSPAPER RACE Two newspaper sheets required per player. Each player must race to the turning point and back, stepping only on his newspapers. He steps on one, lays the other in front of him steps on it, moves the first forward, and steps on it and so on.
NO HANDS GET UPPlayers run to turning point, stop, lie down on their backs, fold hands across chest and get up without moving their arms, and run back to finish line.
HUMAN HURDLE (Must have at least 10 players)
1. Divide players into 2 teams...with each team laying in a circle.(Be sure there is a wide space between each player and heads are towards the center of the circle.
2. Assign each team member a number. (If there are 6 players on each team, each team player will be number 1 through 6) #1 on each team, gets up and runs over the bodies in the group--until they get back to their own spot.
3. #2 gets up and does the same. The first team to have all runners 'hurdle'--is the winner!
STANDING PRETZEL RACE or RELAY
1. Have kids get into pretzel positions by standing on their left leg.2. Lift the right leg and cross it in front of the left knee. 3. Cross arms in front of the body. 4. On the word "go" hop to the finish line. The "pretzel" who gets to the finish line 1st wins.
TUNNEL RELAY All members in the team stand astride. Runners must first crawl under the legs of all players in the team--run forward to the turn around point --and return to tag the next person of the team who does the same thing as the first player. Play continues...
SKIP AND THROUGHChildren stand in partners in a double circle. The partners skip around the circle. On signal, the inside person stops, folds their arms and puts their legs apart. The outside person runs around the circle, goes through partner's tunnel and sits cross-legged on the inside of the circle.
UNDER BROOM RELAY Lay a broom across two chairs for each team. Form teams and direct them to run from the starting line to the broom, crawl under the broom without knocking it off, and then run back to the starting line where they tag the next guest in line. Continue until each guest has had a turn. The team to finish first wins.
SPIDER RACETeam formation, Players #1 stand facing the goal. Player #2 stands beside him, with his back to the goal. The two players link elbows and on the signal, the pair run to the goal and back. One person runs backward each time. The rest of the players repeat the same action until every person has a turn.
WHEEL BARROWPartners assume the Wheel barrow and pusher position. On the signal, advance to the turning point where they change positions and return to the starting line.
WILD ROLL RELAYNeed several balls and a bat, broom, or yardstick for each team. Put teams in separate lines (rows). First child takes the ball and pushes or bats (whatever you decide) the ball from one end of the room to the other. They then pick up the ball with one hand and drag the broom or stick with the other... and run back to starting line. It can be varied by the kids going backwards while pushing or batting the ball to their teams or the players hopping while going back and forth.
CARTWHEEL RACE - Self explanatory
___________________ CONSEQUETIVE JUMPS - Everyone jumps in predetermined fashion
INSIDE OR OUTSIDE BANANA OLYMPICS (Relay Race)Divide the group into teams of 8-10 players and give each team a banana.
Some ideas for Banana Relays: 1. Place the banana between the knees and hop down the course and back. 2. Two teammates tossing the banana back and forth down the course and back. 3. The banana under your armpit and hopping on one leg down and back. 4. Teammates line up in leapfrog formation and first player hops over players while holding banana and then tosses banana to next player in line to do the same.
Show the players all the relays that they'll have to complete for the Olympics. You may have to write them on a large white board so that all players will know what relay is next. Once a team has completed all these relays someone (or the whole team) on the team must eat the banana and the team that is done first is the winner. Use your own ideas, add to the list or use only a few ideas. You can adjust this game to all types of players including the disabled.
SOCCER RELAY1. Need three or four balls and cones... 2. Partners are placed in file formation. 3. Place cones at the end of the play area. 4. The first two partners have a soccer ball. 5. On signal, they must run, PASSING THE BALL FROM ONE TO THE OTHER... up to.. and around... the cone. 6. They return passing the ball the same way ..and give the ball to the next two in their team. 7. Relay play continues in same manner.
CONTINUOUS HOOP RELAYNeed about five hoops 1. Line up File line... 2. The first player runs up and picks up a hoop. 3. The other team members run up and go through the hoop. 4. When all are through, the leader with the hoop rushes back with the hoop. 5. The leader hands the hoop to the second person who runs up and everyone runs through again. 6. Give everyone the chance to be the leader.
SHOE BOX FOOT RELY RACE Have the children bring two shoe boxes with them. Tape the lids onto the boxes, then cut a one-inch-wide and four-inch long slit in each top.Have the contestants slip their feet into the slits in the boxes and race... The race can be individual--with all youth racing together in a horizontal line--or done as a relay.
PUSH UP RELAY1. Create groups of four or five players in file formation. 2. The teams stand behind a line. 3. TWO PLAYERS FROM EACH TEAM ARE DESIGNATED AS OBSTACLES: one to go under and one to jump over. 4. On signal, the first person in each team runs up and crawls UNDER the first obstacle; This person obstacle does a push up holding the position. 5. The player then jumps OVER the second obstacle and then touches the given line. This player then runs back to tag the next team member to do the same.
JUMP THE CREEK!Need: Two long ropes Divide the children into two teams, on at each end of the play area. On your signal, the two teams run and try to jump the ropes. Keep on widening the ropes each time. If the students land in the creek, they must dry their feet (lie on their back and shake their legs) They then get up and continue the jumps!
COTTON BALL RACE Materials Needed: Lots of cotton balls, Vaseline, 2 or 4 bowls, tissue paper
1. Put a handful of cotton balls in one of the bowls. Put the bowl at one end of a rug or mat that is on the floor (Or just play on floor) Put the other empty bowl on the opposite end of the mat. 2. Rub Vaseline on the child's nose and have them put their nose in the bowl with the cotton balls. 3. The object of the game is to get as many cotton balls as possible on their nose without using their hands. 4. After cotton balls are stuck to their nose—they crawl over to the empty bowl --- and take them off their nose with their hands-- kids then put them in the bowl. Wipe the Vaseline off with a tissue or napkin. 5. If you play with TEAMS set a time limit, and see who moves the most cotton balls from one bowl to the next.
OBSTACLE RELAY (set up two courses) Players run the course from the head of the team to the turning point and back to the head of the team. They follow the course as to whatever you have set-up. The use of hoops, skipping ropes, Indian clubs, mats, low vaulting boxes, basketball hoops, or what-have-you offer an almost endless selection of obstacles.
POPCORN RELAY RACE – All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! The critters can eat what isn't' swept up! (Play in gym if you're brave!)
POPCORN ON THE HEAD RELAY • Split youth into two teams. • Give each team a cup of popcorn. • Have each player take turns walking with the cup of popcorn on their heads, across the room, around a chair and back to their team. • Play for a specified amount of time such as 2 minutes or more. The team that has the most popcorn left in their cup wins!
POPCORN RELAY RACE – All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! The critters can eat what isn't' swept up! (Play in gym if you're brave!)
POPCORN ON THE HEAD RELAY • Split youth into two teams. • Give each team a cup of popcorn. • Have each player take turns walking with the cup of popcorn on their heads, across the room, around a chair and back to their team. • Play for a specified amount of time such as 2 minutes or more. The team that has the most popcorn left in their cup wins!
THE WORM SQUIRM Obstacle Course Game ... Great for a "Pajama or Bug Theme party"! This is an obstacle course made of pillows, boxes etc, ... when it's your turn, you squirm like a worm on your belly to complete the obstacle course
_______________ STUNT RELAY In stunt relays, the runners advance to the turning point--- stops and performs a stunt (that has been pre-determined). They return to tag the next runner on their team. There is virtually no end to the number of stunts which can be performed.
WIGGLE WORM RELAY Form relay lines. 1. Everyone in each line puts their left hand between their legs and the person behind grabs that hand with their right hand. 2. Then they run at a given signal to the other end of the playing area and back. 3. The first team to return 'intact' wins!
THREE LEGGED RACE It's best to play on a grassy area or even a sandy beach. You'll need: Old rags or stockings Cut rags in wide strips ~ 3 feet long. Use old stockings; they are softer and have some give to them. Pair up into partners and stand side by side.
Tie one persons left leg to the other player's right, or vise versa. Practice walking together until you get a rhythm going and then try hopping or running. This can be played as a race or just for active fun. An obstacle course can be created as well. For a real challenge if it is warm -try adding and avoiding an oscillating sprinkler. Be sure to wear swim suits! The kids won't be able to make it without getting wet!
THE 100 INCH DASH! You need: yard stick and tape
SACK RACE If you are lucky enough to have a feed supply store near by, burlap sacks can be purchased inexpensively. If not, old pillow cases will do. A soft grassy park or lawn will prevent scrapes. (I purchased sacks at Oriental Trading) bjs
Each player steps into his/her sack with both feet. Pull the sack high enough to hold the edges. Practice hopping first, until all of the players get the hang of it. Identify the start and finish lines. Blow the whistle and go! Adjust the race with obstacles for more excitement----or if it's summer add sprinklers...
POP A BAG RACE Need: Paper Bags Give each child a small paper bag. With the signal, race to the marker and then blow up the bags. Instruct youth to pop them with their hands and then race back to the line. The first player to pop his/her bag and return to the finish line is the winner.
Tape down or mark a starting and finish line.
To start each child holds a bent drinking straw between their nose and upper lip. (Demonstrate this by curling the lip and holding it tight.)
The first child who reaches the finish line-without loosing the straw is the winner.
Adjust the running distance to the age of the child.
1. If you are playing in a group with more than three players, you start by lining up in single file. 2. The first person in the line takes a few steps forwards and then bends over to make the first frog. 3. The next person in the line then leaps the first frog, carries on for a few steps and then bends over to make the second frog.4. The third person in the line then has to run and leap frogs one and two and then bends over to make the third frog.5. This carries on until all the players have jumped. This can be played with one line or in Teams.
Tape down or mark a starting and finish line.
1. If you are playing in a group with more than three players, you start by lining up in single file. 2. The first person in the line takes a few steps forwards and then bends over to make the first frog. 3. The next person in the line then leaps the first frog, carries on for a few steps and then bends over to make the second frog.4. The third person in the line then has to run and leap frogs one and two and then bends over to make the third frog.5. This carries on until all the players have jumped. This can be played with one line or in Teams.
DISCUS THROW: Use a paper plate SHOT-PUT: Use a balloon TRACK RACE: Each player lines up at the start line and race by placing the heel of one foot against the toe of the next. The first one to the end of the track and back wins. HIGH JUMP: Each contestant takes a deep breath and whistles. The contestant who holds the note the longest wins. HIGH DIVE: Each player stands on a chair (or faces the chair back-rest and then kneels chair seat) with ten clothes pins and drops them into an empty bottle. The player that gets the most wins.
BACKWARD RACE (Good for younger children) As quickly as possible, walk backwards to the finish line. While doing this—try not to bump into each other.
BACKWARD RACE (Good for younger children) As quickly as possible, walk backwards to the finish line. While doing this—try not to bump into each other.
EGG RACES! (They're not only for Easter!)
EGG TOSS You'll need one, hard-boiled egg for each pair of children.Have the children stand across from a partner. They should stand one foot apart.When the leader says, "Go" the children should toss the eggs to their partners. With hard-boiled eggs, everyone can play the whole game because the eggs won't crack. With each toss, the children should back up one step. Play until the eggs are destroyed and before the kids get bored.
_____________________ THE EGG-A-THON This can be played as a race or relay… Use a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg or plastic Easter egg and plastic spoon. Children try to walk fast holding the egg in the spoon to the finish line. It can also be done as a relay and have one child in the middle of the race line waiting. The children transfer the egg to their relay partner's spoon and go!
FOLLOW THE LEADER… Give each child a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg. The children form a line and one is the leader. Each one holds the spoon with the egg in its bowl at arm's length and hops on one foot, following wherever the leader leads them. To drop the egg or rest on both feet prevents one from continuing in the game. They stay out until the next round.
Put up a chart with the below challenges...who can complete the list????
•Throw a beanbag in the air, turn around, and catch it again.
•Throw the beanbag up and backwards over your head and try to catch it behind your back.
•Throw the beanbag in the air, clap your hands once, and catch it. Now try clapping your hands twice, then three times, and so on. How high can you go?
•Throw the beanbag in the air and clap your hands under your right leg before catching it. Now try with your left leg. Now clap behind your back. Invent some more challenges.
•Throw the beanbag up, jump, and try to catch it. Jump twice. Jump three times!
•Throw it up, kneel down and try to catch it.
•Throw and catch with just your right hand, then with just your left.
•Try throwing it up and catching it with your eyes closed!
•Balance the beanbag on your right foot, then throw it up and catch it from there. Can you do it with your left foot too?
•Can you throw the beanbag up and catch it on your left foot?
•Can you run with a beanbag balanced on your head? Can you jump? Can you twist around? Can you kneel down and stand up again, or sit down? Can you climb the stairs? Can you do any of these things with two beanbags balanced on your head? Or three?
•Try balancing a beanbag on each shoulder while you walk, run, jump etc.
•Sing one of your favorite songs or rhymes while you throw the beanbag up and catch it, or pass it round a circle of children.
•Set up a variety of hoops, containers and targets and have some throwing practice. How far can you throw the beanbag? Does it make a difference if you throw over-arm or underarm? Adapted From: activityvillage.co.uk
BEAN BAG RELAY GAMES Age: 4 and all the way up! Divide the children into teams and line them up in rows. Give the child at the front of each row a beanbag. How to play: The children pass the beanbag from one to the next and back again, in a particular style, which you can decide as appropriate for the age of the children.
TIP: For younger children, it might be a good idea to practice the game movements first! If a beanbag is dropped, you can make the children start again from the the front of the row. TIP: Cue the kids! On a white board or chart paper write the order of steps in passing the bean bags.
BEAN BAG TOSS Buy or make a painted wood or cardboard bean bag toss. Make the shape according to the theme. Use bean bags to toss—or be creative and toss something based on the theme. Example: Scrunched up paper or large marshmallows for a winter theme.
GAME #1 BALLOON BURST Several balloons and string needed. Each player is given two balloons to be inflated and tied around each ankle with a piece of string. Object of game is to burst the other players balloons with their feet—no hands allowed. Winner is last person with a balloon or balloons. Game can be played with or without boundaries.
#2 BALLOON BOP Need several pre-blown balloons.
#3 BALLOON BOUNCE A contest to see who can keep a balloon in the air the longest using only their head. The person who can keep it in the air longest without using anything but their head is the winner. (This game can also be played in teams).
1 balloon per player, not inflated--Tape or string to make a target... Played from a line or circle...
This game works well with teams - each team gets their own colored balloons; red, blue, green etc. Or, you do not need to keep score at all and just have fun playing the game several times. Source: amazingmoms.com
#5 LEFT OVER BALLOONS??? PLAY BALLOON BADMITTENAn idea inspired by World Pre-School Mom is to use fly swatters (At Dollar Store about 2 for $1.00)...Children simply hit the balloon back and forth to each other!
Another great idea is to make paddles simply taping tongue depressor sticks to the back of paper plates. Use the paper plate 'paddles' to keep a blown up ballon up in the air--This game can be played in a gym or outdoors--- played individually or in a group! It's also a great way to repurpose paper plates and balloons! (Images by KidActivites.net)
#6 WATER BALLOON OBSTACLE COURSE Materials:Lots of water balloons Space for obstacle course
Set up a summer themed obstacle course.
Children place a water balloon under their chins and must negotiate the obstacle course without breaking the balloon.
This can also be done as a cooperative activity or group initiative. If a balloon breaks, that person must go back to the beginning, get another balloon and start again. The team must wait for the missing member to rejoin.
#7 WATER BALLOON BRIGADE Materials:Many water balloons in buckets or tubs, laundry basket.
Participants stand in a circle and pass one balloon at a time around the circle--until many balloons at one time are going around.
After a given time, the number of balloons successfully passed is tallied.
Players then try to beat their score.
#5 LEFT OVER BALLOONS??? PLAY BALLOON BADMITTENAn idea inspired by World Pre-School Mom is to use fly swatters (At Dollar Store about 2 for $1.00)...Children simply hit the balloon back and forth to each other!
Another great idea is to make paddles simply taping tongue depressor sticks to the back of paper plates. Use the paper plate 'paddles' to keep a blown up ballon up in the air--This game can be played in a gym or outdoors--- played individually or in a group! It's also a great way to repurpose paper plates and balloons! (Images by KidActivites.net)
#6 WATER BALLOON OBSTACLE COURSE Materials:Lots of water balloons Space for obstacle course
#7 WATER BALLOON BRIGADE Materials:Many water balloons in buckets or tubs, laundry basket.
MAKE YOUR OWN BEAN BAGS FOR GAMES OUT OF PAPER NAPKINS! The Bean Bag photograph is courtesy of School in your Home.
All you do is crumple up some napkins into a tight ball and then wrap another napkin around and secure in back with a rubber band. You can color the napkin with water-based markers before wrapping it or after. Experiment to see which works better. These inexpensive beanbags make for a fun activity for all ages--preschool and up! They would also make nice puppet heads!
MAKE YOUR OWN BEAN BAGS FOR GAMES OUT OF PAPER NAPKINS! The Bean Bag photograph is courtesy of School in your Home.
All you do is crumple up some napkins into a tight ball and then wrap another napkin around and secure in back with a rubber band. You can color the napkin with water-based markers before wrapping it or after. Experiment to see which works better. These inexpensive beanbags make for a fun activity for all ages--preschool and up! They would also make nice puppet heads!
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All this great music, things can get a little confusing! No, not Iceage the movie! Iceage the band! No the songs aren't Absolutely Free, but they are TOPS! Is Hey Mother Death an epidemic or a hot band? Figure it out! Listen to this week's five best songs below.
Iceage, "The Lord's Favourite"
"...features none of the punishing apocalypse punk featured on their second and best album You're Nothing. Instead, they draw from the same well as rock revivalists like The Men and Pure X: a certain twang and screech played for devil for their soul even though they know they'll lose."
Hey Mother Death, "Highway"
"...death disco floating just above the wretched atmospheres it casts."
Absolutely Free "Beneath The Air"
"Motoring the track is yet another strain of propulsion in their endless cache, with synths that dial your retinas all the way open and let in colours you're not really supposed to see yet."
TOPS, "Way to be Loved"
"...an odd brew of pity and summertime crush niftily marries the band's melancholy streak with their jiggy, synth-speckled grooves."
Roberta Bondar, "Children"
"No Wave meets Sleater-Kinney from Ottawa's multitudinous rock scene."

subset: commoncrawl


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This week, Kenji took a cross-country road trip from NYC to San Francisco with Hambone and Yuba and ate barbecue, pizza, tacos, and more along the way. Back at SEHQ in NYC, we ate a lot of sweets from Chinese bakeries. ...Not much else happened. Kenji and the dogs won't be back until October. We don't know what we're going to do with ourselves until then.
This Week at Serious Eats World Headquarters
This Week at Serious Eats Headquarters
Snapshots from office happenings each week.


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Edward J. Shornock wrote:
You could use pbuilder to build the package as well, which is what I use for my local repository. If need be, I could post the URLs to the packages I build using that patch.
A moot point now... sysvinit (2.86.ds1-4) unstable; urgency=low [Petter Reinholdtsen] * Add '#! /bin/sh' to the init.d scripts missing those. * Improve boot message for init.d/bootlogd. * Make sure init.d/checkroot.sh only print status of swap mounting when VERBOSE!=no. Improve boot message for this case. * Improve usage message of update-rc.d. Uncredited patch from Ubuntu. * Set email@example.com as the package maintainer, and move Miquel van Smoorenburg into the uploaders list. * Get bootlogd working, by fixing the exit code patch. (Closes: #327865) * Get ifdown working on kFreeBSD. (Closes: #327031) * Quiet down update-rc.d by removing unnecessary warning. Patch by Thomas Hood. (Closes: #164471) * Improve update-rc.d(8) manual page. (Closes: #243154) * Fix typo in pidof(8) manual page. * Update FSF address in copyright files. -- Petter Reinholdtsen <email@example.com> Sun, 2 Oct 2005 11:44:07 +0200 Thanks Petter ;)


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Afghan President Postpones Visit To Tehran
President Karzai (file photo) (CTK) 16 January 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has postponed a visit to Tehran, where he had been expected to hold a summit with the presidents of Iran and Tajikistan.
"Due to poor weather condition and technical problems, the journey of President Karzai to Iran has been postponed," Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Navid Ahmad Mois announced:
No new date was given for when Karzai might visit Tehran.
Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmonov was expected to arrive in Tehran today for talks with Iranian leaders on expanding the economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
(RFE/RL's Afghan Service, IRNA)
A slideshow of images related to the top news stories of 2005 from throughout RFE/RL's broadcast region with links to RFE/RL's reporting.
See also:
2005 In Review: Central Asia Witnesses Revolution, Continued Crackdown
2005 In Review: Does The Presence Of Western Election Observers Make A Difference?
2005 In Review: The Geopolitical Game In Central Asia
2005 In Review: Migrants, Refugees Victims Of Incoherent Laws In Post-Soviet States
2005 In Review: The Transformation Of Television In Russia
2005 In Review: Russia's Centralization Gathers Pace
2005 In Review: A Year Of Hopes, Disappointments For Afghans And Iraqis
Most Popular
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We're the biggest full-cycle marketing agency in Ukraine, a British-owned company Pulse Ltd. We have 24 years of success behind us, and dozens of the top global and local brands as our happy clients. Why? Because we are the team of outstanding professionals. If you are creative and hard-working, not afraid of challenges and dynamic environment, if you like when professionalism is respected and rewarded, come and join us at Pulse.
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Explosions, car wrecks, assassins, escaped murderers, and a kidnapping…arranged marriages can really take their toll on a vampire.
First installment in The Guardians' League series (stand-alone novels with shared characters that may be read in any order but work best in the correct order).
Witness to a brutal murder, Sian Lazuro didn't count on the killer escaping moments after his conviction. Three years later, she's learned the hard way there's only one person she can trust—herself. When she wakes up in bed with a gorgeous stranger who claims to have saved her life, she's understandably wary.
Diego Leonides is like no one she's ever met before. Sensual, mysterious, and clearly delusional, he insists not only is he a vampire, but she's now his eternal mate.
Diego never dreamed he'd find his mate by getting hit by her car, and he's no happier about their sudden bonding than she is. The only survivor of a massacre that wiped out his entire Clan, he's spent the last century avoiding taking a mate. Now he finds himself stuck with a woman running from a murderer just as the descendants of the vampire slayers who killed his family arrive in San Francisco to finish the job with him.
Arranged marriages are hard enough on a vampire without having to convince his mate that the real bloodthirsty fiends are the mortals…
About Amelia EliasSee more books from this Author
An aggregated and normalized score based on 23 user ratings from iDreamBooks & iTunes


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The mission of our student ministry is to make life-long disciples of Jesus who love God and love others.
Click here to download our January-May 2018 Student Ministry Calendar!
We have two core youth group environments:
For middle and high school students on Sunday mornings in Room 212 at 9:30am
Common Ground
Middle and high school students meet on Wednesday evenings. Join us from 6:30-8:00pm in Room 212.
me<YOU expresses the heart of our ministry with students. As people loved by God, we freely serve Him by loving others with the same love He has shown us.
We aim to create exciting environments that engage our students with the truth we know in the person of Jesus Christ. Interested in serving or getting your students connected? Contact us!
2018 Student Mission Trips
Registration is open for our 2018 Student Mission trips! Click here more info!


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5. Touch your bodiesSpend the evening touching each other (this does not have to lead to full lovemaking). This is a good way to be sexually intimate after the birth of baby without having to have full sex, especially if you're worried about pain, tightness or simply not feeling ready for full sex at this stage.
Show your partner, at first, how you would like to be touched (use a mirror if this helps) - once you feel relaxed about him being there, ask him to put his hand on yours as you touch yourself. This will help him to understand about the speed and rhythm to touch you with (don't forget to tell each other what you liked/didn't like and what feelings it may have brought to the surface for you both.
6. Have fun with condomsIf you're struggling with using condoms after your break from sex, have a condom play session together to boost your confidence. Buy yourselves a bumper pack and practice putting them on and off your partner using different angles, positions, and rolling them on with your hand and mouth.
- Next: Don't assume you'll know how to please each other
Continued below...
More help and advice- Top tips to boost your sex life
- Bored with the missionary? Try our top 10 sex positions


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'Important' Banks, Pay Gap, Bond Mandate: Compliance
Societe Generale SA Chief Executive Officer Frederic Oudea said global plans to list banks deemed systemically important and make them hold extra capital may backfire by creating more lenders that are too big to fail.
Banks have "real concerns" about the Financial Stability Board and other regulators "designating groups of firms" as systemically important, said Oudea, adding that lenders are also seeking changes to liquidity rules drawn up by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Oudea, who chairs the Institute of International Finance's steering committee on regulatory capital, made the comments yesterday in a statement on behalf of the IIF. The Basel measures on liquidity may constrain lending and make banks hold too much sovereign debt, Oudea said.
The FSB plans to finish by mid-2011 a first list of lenders that are systemically important on a global scale. Globally significant lenders are so big that their "distress or failure would cause significant dislocation in the global financial system and adverse economic consequences across a range of countries," the board said in November.
The FSB was set up by the Group of 20 nations in 2009 to oversee the work of groups setting international financial rules. The IIF represents more than 400 financial firms around the world.
For more, click here.
Compliance Policy
U.S. Treasury's Report on Fannie, Freddie Reform Delayed
A Treasury Department report on the future of U.S.-owned mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be delivered to Congress in the first half of February, rather than by the end of this month as prescribed under the Dodd-Frank regulatory overhaul law, an official said.
Fannie Mae, based in Washington, and Freddie Mac of McLean, Virginia, have been surviving on taxpayer aid since they were taken over by the federal government in 2008 amid mounting losses linked to subprime mortgages. They have drawn more than $150 billion in taxpayer funds to remain solvent.
Under Dodd-Frank, the administration was to deliver a proposal for ending the losses and restructuring the nation's mortgage finance system before the end of January.
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner instead will deliver the report in mid-February so the timing won't interfere with the president's State of the Union speech today and President Barack Obama's budget proposal the week of Feb. 13, according to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the timing hasn't been made public.
Representative Randy Neugebauer, a Texas Republican who leads the investigative panel of the House Financial Services Committee, said he is "disappointed" in the administration's delay.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported the delay.
U.S. Regulators May Shrink Wall Street Pay, Bonuses
Workers at big Wall Street banks took modest cuts in pay last year even as financiers continued to outpace other professionals in earnings -- a gap that regulators and lawmakers are working to narrow.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s investment bank spent an average of $330,212 on salaries, bonuses and benefits for each of their 124,556 workers in 2010, according to financial reports released since Jan. 14. That's down 2.7 percent from 2009.
Investment bankers still make much more than other experienced professionals earn, even in jobs as complex and high-stress as those on Wall Street. Bank compensation consultants say it remains to be seen whether new federal regulations will have much impact on the gap.
Investment bank compensation typically includes a salary and a bonus, which can include cash or can be in the form of stock and stock options. The new rules mandated by Dodd-Frank are widely expected to include requirements that banks use deferred compensation for a portion of executive pay.
The proposals will follow compensation guidelines issued by the Federal Reserve and three other regulators in June. They said a review of pay practices found many big banks to be "deficient" in curtailing the risk-taking that fueled the financial crisis.
The agencies are required to complete the rules by April.
For more, click here.
U.K.'s FSA Considers Tougher Consumer-Protection Measures
The U.K. Financial Services Authority said it may toughen oversight of financial products sold to the general public, as it prepares to be split into two new regulators.
Closer supervision may include "product stress testing to ensure that likely risks" are "fully understood and assessed from a customer's point of view." Measures to "guard against likely mis-sales" are also under consideration, according to a report on the FSA's website.
Consumer protection, as well as enforcement of both civil and criminal market-abuse rules, will be carried out by the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority after the U.K.'s financial regulator is abolished by 2012.
Investors May Get Help Recovering Losses From French Regulator
Investors who lose money because of violations of financial-market rules may get help recovering damages from French regulator the Autorite des Marches Financiers under a proposal.
The regulator should study the cost of market abuses to investors and savers in its investigations and provide the findings to judges for victims to use in lawsuits to recover their losses, an AMF advisory committee said today.
While the AMF lacks the authority to order institutions to pay back what the abuses cost individuals, the French parliament raised the amount it can levy in fines.
The AMF asked for comments on the proposal through the end of next month.
Compliance Action
SEC Creates 'Worthless' Mandate for Asset-Backed Bond Issuers
The U.S. Securities and Exchange and Commission failed investors by allowing issuers of asset-backed bonds to conduct their own checks of data on the underlying debt, said Sue Allon, founder of a mortgage-review company.
Allon said a review conducted by the issuer is "worthless." Her company, Denver-based Allonhill LLC, provided audits on the only set of new U.S. home loans securitized in almost three years.
The agency on Jan. 20 approved rules that will force issuers to conduct reviews of loans and leases packaged into securities and disclose information about the results. The SEC, creating regulation required by the Dodd-Frank financial- overhaul law, said bond sellers could hire third parties to handle the audits, without mandating the use of outside companies even as it created increased liability for such firms if they are hired.
The securitization industry contributed to the U.S. housing bubble that peaked in 2006, helping spark almost $2 trillion of losses at the world's largest financial companies, many of which survived only as a result of government bailouts, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
John Nester, an SEC spokesman, declined to comment.
For more, click here.
HP Probe by German Prosecutors Again Seeks Help From Russia
German prosecutors probing bribery allegations at Hewlett- Packard Co., the biggest maker of personal computers and printers, have sent another request for assistance to Russia.
Russian authorities were asked "very recently" to interview several witnesses in the case, Wolfgang Klein, spokesman for Saxony's Chief Prosecutor's Office in Dresden, Germany, said in an interview yesterday. Information Russia provided last year prompted the latest request, Klein said.
Dresden prosecutors are investigating whether current and former Hewlett-Packard employees engaged in bribery, improper use of funds and tax evasion. Hewlett-Packard is cooperating with the investigation, Ina Ramsaier, a German spokeswoman for the Palo Alto, California-based company said.
The U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission joined the probe in September and are also examining whether Hewlett-Packard violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Germany has shared findings in the case with U.S. investigators.
SEC Opens Investigation Into Massachusetts Treasurer's Office
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has subpoenaed documents from the Massachusetts Treasurer's office a month after Bloomberg News reported that a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker aided former Treasurer Tim Cahill's failed run for governor.
Al Gordon, a treasury spokesman, said in an e-mail yesterday that the office is cooperating fully with the request for documents, and declined to comment further.
The Boston Globe reported yesterday that the SEC is probing links between Cahill and Neil Morrison, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker in Boston who worked as an adviser to the treasurer's gubernatorial campaign last year while he was still employed by the bank. The Globe cited an official briefed on the document request.
Gordon declined to comment on the report. Morrison didn't immediately return a call to his home and an e-mail to his personal account. John Nester, an SEC spokesman, didn't immediately return an e-mail and telephone call seeking comment.
Michael DuVally, a Goldman Sachs spokesman, declined comment on the SEC probe.
Ofgem Approves Expansion of Scotland's High-Voltage Networks
Ofgem, the U.K. energy regulator, approved investment of 95 million pounds ($150 million) to boost the capacity of Scotland's high-voltage energy networks.
Most of the money will be spent by National Grid Plc and Iberdrola SA's Scottish Power unit upgrading the interconnector between Scotland and England to allow for more exports of renewable energy from Scotland, the London-based regulator said in an e-mailed statement today.
Polish CO2 Registry Expects Suspension to Extend Past Jan. 26
Poland's carbon registry said it will most likely face an extended suspension beyond Jan. 26 because it doesn't have in place yet the additional security measures demanded by the European Union to lift the trading restrictions.
It is too early to say when the database, which tracks emissions ownership, will be allowed to resume full operations, Malgorzata Sedziwa, a Warsaw-based official at the registry, said by telephone today. A supplementary check was ongoing, she said.
The EU regulator in Brussels on Jan. 19 blocked most transactions in the European registries after a series of computer-hacking attacks.
JPMorgan Wins at U.S. High Court in Credit-Card Case
The U.S. Supreme Court, ruling in favor of a JPMorgan Chase & Co. unit, shielded banks from some lawsuits by consumers whose credit-card interest rates were increased after they went into default.
The justices yesterday unanimously said that a Federal Reserve Board regulation, since changed, let Chase Bank USA raise James A. McCoy's interest rates without notifying him. Chase's cardholder agreement said the company could impose higher rates in the event of a default.
In siding with Chase, the court said it was deferring to the Fed's interpretation of the rule, known as Regulation Z. Although the Fed changed the regulation in 2009 to require notification to defaulting customers, the Obama administration argued that companies before then didn't have to provide notice.
The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against Chase in a decision that led to similar suits being filed in California against other banks.
The case is Chase Bank v. McCoy, 09-329.
Innospec Former Chief Settles Foreign Bribe Case With SEC
The former chief executive officer of Innospec Inc., Paul W. Jennings, agreed to settle foreign bribery allegations brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Jennings agreed to pay about $229,000 in penalties to resolve claims that he bribed Iraqi and Indonesian officials to win contracts for the company's specialty chemicals, the SEC said in a statement. The agency filed a civil complaint yesterday against Jennings in federal court in Washington.
Jenning's attorney, Jay Holtmeier, didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment. Innospec spokesman Brian Watt declined to comment on Jennings's settlement, saying the company resolved its matter with authorities last year.
The case is U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jennings, 11-cv-00144, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).
For more, click here.
British Bankers to Challenge FSA Over Credit-Insurance Rules
The British Bankers' Association is challenging the U.K. finance regulator's plan to change rules on how consumer complaints over payment-protection insurance should be treated.
At a court hearing in London today, the BBA planned to ask Judge Duncan Ouseley to stop the Financial Services Authority from imposing the requirements because it is unclear under the law how the complaints should be handled, the BBA said in an e- mailed statement.
Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc are among U.K. banks that may have to pay as much as 5.1 billion pounds ($8.2 billion) in compensation and costs for improper PPI sales, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a report published in October. U.K. antitrust regulators also cracked down on the product, banning banks from selling most types of PPI at the same time they sell the loans it insures.
PPI is used to cover payments on credit cards and mortgages in case of illness or unemployment. Customers who bought PPI weren't aware they could have bought the product from competing companies, the U.K.'s Competition Commission has said. The agency, which defends its new complaint-handling measures as a fair solution, says it will "vigorously" contest the BBA's challenge.
The FSA issued its new guidelines in August and clarified them in November after the BBA asked for a court review. Firms reject almost half the PPI complaints they received, and "some reject nearly all," the FSA said in August.
Britain's Financial Ombudsman has identified tens of thousands of cases of "mis-selling" according to a statement issued today by Adam Phillips, the chairman of the U.K.'s financial-services consumer panel.
EFSF's Lending Capacity to Be Boosted, Juncker Tells RTBF
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who leads the group of euro-area finance ministers, said ministers are working to strengthen Europe's safety net for debt-laden countries.
Juncker made the remarks during a RTBF radio interview broadcast on Jan. 22. The ministers will do "everything possible" to increase the level of the lending capacity of the European Financial Stability Facility, Juncker said.
Nations from the 17-member euro area are in talks about expanding the lending capacity of the EFSF and widening its role to include debt purchases.
Silva Says All European Banks Remain Undercapitalized
Ralph Silva, a strategist at Silva Research Network, talked about the outlook for Spain's savings banks and the U.K.- sponsored Independent Commission on Banking. He commented on the prospects for compliance with Basel III and the future of the cajas.
"The cajas absolutely have to merge," Silva said. "They're overly reliant on the mortgage business."
He spoke with Francine Lacqua on Bloomberg Television's "On The Move."
For the video, click here.
Comings and Goings
Saudi Arabia Approves New Board for Stock Exchange
Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved a new board for the Saudi Stock Exchange for a three-year term, according to a statement on the bourse website today.
The nine-member board will comprise Mansour Bin Saleh Al Mayman of the Ministry of Finance, Abdullah A. Al-Hamoudi of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Abdulrahman Al-Hamidy of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.
Bisher M. Bakheet, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Taha A. Al-Kuwaiz and Abdulrahman Yahya Al-Yahya will represent brokerage companies, while Saudi Telecom Co. Chief Executive Officer Saud Bin Majid Al Daweesh and Knowledge Economic City Chairman Sami Baroom will represent companies listed on the bourse.
Baroum and Bakheet replaced former board chairman Fahad Al- Mubarak and board member Ahmed Farid Al-Aulaqi.
To contact the reporter on this story: Carla Main in New Jersey at email@example.com.
To contact the editor responsible for this report: David E. Rovella at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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|Honestly it's a Butterfly
|A Beautiful Butterfly.
|Honestly it's a Butterfly
|A Beautiful Butterfly.
I'd eat them !!
Well my daughter loved them!ReplyDelete
I would eat them too xReplyDelete
Love your cakes! Although perhaps more of a moth than a butterfly?! x
The Snowies look great - wonder why they call them that?
I'd eat them :) @ali991ReplyDelete
I'm sure they tast delicious, well done you! I recently found an old Stork cookbook that I had from my school days doing Domestic Science, it's brilliant! I have baked and cooked lots of the very easy, traditional, no fuss recipes and on reflection I think I was trying too hard in the past searching foe recipes online.ReplyDelete
So funny, but the results still look pretty edible...though a gastronome I am not !!!!ReplyDelete
Haha, that could be one of my masterpieces. I am hopeless with everything that happens in the kitchen...
Awww bless but at least you try, I'm sure they tasted good regardless.
The look delicious :)ReplyDelete
Everytime you comment on this blog you will be sent a kitten ... that could be a lie .. though it would make me very happy Thank You! If you are allergic to cats then wine will be sent .... * that could be a lie also.


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