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Description

Carving a Spoon from Half a Baking Potato - and using the Resulting Spoon to transfer water from one bucket to another

Resources

Baking / Large Potato - One per Scout
Balloons - at least one patrol, extras in case of Bursting
Knife Fork and Spoon - One set per Scout
Buckets (two per patrol)

Instructions

The Potato Carving aspect of this activity popped up in Facebook, and I didn't save it, and for the life of me I could not locate it again, and do not know who originally came up with the idea - So Credit Due to those as yet unknown for sowing the seed for this game.

I have outlined the instruction in the attached document, which I print off and give to my Patrol Leaders so that they can get on with it - I have discovered that explaining the rules to a herd of cats is no good for my vocal cords!

This first part can be dispensed with, but I like to make my scouts work for their points!
Starting at one end of the hall/outside area, the Patrols are split into Teams of Two - now the secret to this part is that each pair needs to work with another pair, but I don't tell them this initially!
At the other side of the hall/ outside area is an initial table with one bucket that is filled with water, then there is a gap that requires at least a couple of steps where another table and empty bucket (of course these buckets could be on the floor)
Each pair of two scouts must transport a balloon from one end of the hall to the first table without touching it with their hands, and keeping constant contact with it at all time. (ie must not Kick it)
This is where the other pair comes into play - two scouts on their backs use their feet to lift the balloon off the floor, the transporting pair take the balloon between their backs and then walk crab like to the destination.
Should the balloon fall on the floor or the scouts lose contact, then they have to restart that transportation journey
Each successful traverse of the Balloon releases an item of cutlery for that pair (Knife, Fork and Spoon, therefore SIX successful journeys are required per pair)
Using the Cutlery they need to fashion a spoon from one half of the Potato.
The handle of the spoon needs to be apparent and at least half of the potato length, (ie they cannot just scoop out the middle and make a bowl)
holding the handle, they then use the spoon to transport the water from one bucket to the other.
The winning patrol is that which has transferred the most water after the time is up!

Depending on the age of your scouts, you can cut the Potatoes in half or let them do it (I prefer that the leaders do this so that there are not Sharp Sharp knives left around the carving area as it reduces the risk of injury a little bit).
Of course the scouts could choose to make two spoons and use both at once!

Tags

• balloon
• Potato
• relay
• team

Badge Links

• Creative - Activity
• Creative - Model
• Teamwork - Examples
• Teamwork - Goal
• Teamwork - Team-building