Activity 3: River Scene - Boats
Part of Gather the Spirit
Activity time: 15 minutes
Materials for Activity
- River Scene mural (Workshop 1, Activity 2)
- Colorful card stock or construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, paper clips and tape
- Optional: Natural colored tissue paper (for sails)
- Optional: Music, and a music player
Preparation for Activity
- Retrieve and post the group's River Scene if it is not already posted in the meeting space.
- Set arts and crafts materials at work tables.
- Optional: Choose music for this activity. Pete Seeger songs or sailing and boating songs would be especially appropriate. Set up and test the music player.
Description of Activity
- Invite participants to create paper boats to add to the river scene. Tell participants they can create any boats they like to sail down the river, and that you'll find a way to include them in the scene at the end of this activity. There is only one rule about the boats: They must be friendly to water resources in general and to your river in specific. So gasoline engines with their potential for pollution are out. Sailboats, canoes, rowboats, and rafts are in.
- Remind the group about Pete Seeger's Clearwater . You might challenge them to create a boat that not only floats on the river without harming it, but also can in some way to keep the river clean.
If you have music, begin playing it now.
When all have completed their boats, ask them to share what they have done, then add them to the River Scene.
Including All Participants
Be sure your work area is Accessible for all participants. Try to offer work surfaces of various heights, so some can stand and some can sit while making their boats.