Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Whilst the children are playing an active game in the hall, a stranger enters the hall and 'steals' something. After the game is finished, leaders make a fuss about the thing being missing, and ask if anyone saw who took it. A discussion then follows asking the children to describe the thief, followed by the theif returning allowing their description to be compared.

Resources

An volunteer thief - we used a parent who changed clothes after dropping off their child as normal.
An object that can be 'stolen' - a handbag or such.
Whiteboard/chalkboard/butchers paper

Instructions

Brief the thief before the start of the meeting, out of sight of the children.
Brief the other leaders so they don't accost the thief.
Start the children playing a noisy game that sees them running around.
Have the thief enter the building and take an agreed item - ideally located well away from the doors so the thief must pass completely through the hall and return. The thief should ignore the children and avoid eye contact or making a fuss. After stealing the item, the thief should wait out of sight nearby.
After the natural end of the game is reached, leaders make a fuss about the missing item - perhaps the bag contained materials for the next activity.
Have the leaders pull the children together either in small groups or one large group, prompt the children to describe anyone they saw that they didn't recognise - this may take some prompting, chances are most of them didn't notice the thief at all, even if they walked right past them. Write down the childrens' description of the thief.
Bring the thief out of hiding., compare their appearance to the description provided by the children.
Lead the discussion on towards stranger danger, observation skills/spycraft or whatever suits.

Tags

• detective
• observation
• spy
• stranger

Badge Links

• Personal Safety - Stranger