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Description

Work in small teams to build dens using materials from the environment around you.

Resources

Access to water
Chairs
Broom handles
Big pieces of card
Rope
Paper cups
Blankets
Boxes
Tarpaulin

Instructions

Make sure that you’ll have enough helpers for each smaller group to have an adult with them. You may need some parents and carers to help out if you’re short on adults.

Story time

Everyone should sit in a circle.
Someone should read The Hedgehogs and their Broken Nest by Chris Allerton. This story is about working together and helping your friends.
After reading the story, everyone should take some time to reflect on it as a group. We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.

Go on a material hunt
Everyone should split into groups of four or five. An adult helper should join each small group.
Each group should choose a group name. It could be linked to a theme they’d like to use when they build their den, one of the places Sally makes a house in the story, or something totally random.
The person leading the activity should introduce the challenge: each group will build a den that will protect them from the wilderness.
Each group should think about what materials might be good for building a den. Where might they find these materials?
The person leading the activity should show everyone a safe space where they can look for den-building materials and build their dens.
The teams could pile their building materials up near where they’ll be building their dens.
Each team should start searching for building materials.
We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.

Build together
Each team should choose a team leader who will support the team to build the den and help everyone find their role.
The person leading the activity should tell everyone how long they have to make their dens.
The aim of the activity is for the teams to work together and have fun – it doesn’t matter too much if the teams don't finish building their dens.
The teams should decide how to build their dens. They should think carefully about which materials they should put at the base and which materials should go on the top to make a roof for their den.
The adult in each group is there to support the group and help them to stay safe – they shouldn’t instruct or tell people how to build their den.
The teams should get stuck in and spend some time making their dens the best they can be.
We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.

Take the weather challenge (optional)
Everyone should talk about what might happen to their dens if the weather was windy or rainy.
Would the dens be windproof? How well would they manage in the rain?
Each team should decide if they want to test their den with some pretend weather.
The person leading the activity could use a piece of cardboard to fan a den as hard as they can to see if it’s windproof.
The team could take it in turns to have a go at fanning their den too.
The person leading the activity could pour some cups of water over a den to see if the inside would stay dry in the rain.
If it’s warm (and people have come prepared to get wet), teams could get into their dens while someone pours water over the top.
Everyone should chat about how well their dens managed in the wind or rain. Could they have done anything differently to make them more weatherproof?
We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.
Reflection
This activity encouraged everyone to use their communication and teamwork skills to reach a common goal – building a den. The activities supported everyone to think about who could step up and take the lead, and what good leaders do.

You could talk about the reflection questions below throughout the session or at the end.

The Hedgehogs and their Broken Nest

Why did all of the animals help the hedgehogs re-build their home?
How do you think the animals felt after helping the hedgehogs?
Go on a material hunt

Who was the leader in each group? Why were they the leader?
Did every group work as a team?
Building together

What weather were people trying to demonstrate when they fanned the den with the cardboard?
What weather were people trying to demonstrate when they poured water on the den?
Which shelter was the best? Why was it the best?

Tags

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Badge Links

• All About Adventure - New activity
• Brilliant Builder - Den