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Description

Sports day-like activities around the theme of Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Resources

Printout of Hajj rite sequence/sites (optional)
Bamboo canes/sticks
rope/cord
Cloth/tarp (optional)
Scissors
Targets
Bean bags/small coloured balls
Basket or tubs
Cardboard boxes with holes cut out
Cones

Instructions

Ask if any of the children have performed hajj or have seen any of the manasik (rites) of Hajj on TV or heard about them from any friends or family who they have spoken to. Discuss how the rites of Hajj emulate Ibrahim and his family (upon them be peace), and to think about which aspects of the Beavers promise they can link with their actions and with the rites of Hajj.

Present the poster of the rites of Hajj to the Beavers and explain that they need to be completed in order during the Hajj and that we would do some activities in teams related to some of them.

Activity 1: Kaaba circle race game (10 mins)
Everyone should sit in a circle with plenty of space around the outside for running. Explain that we are going to read aloud the story of the construction of the Kaaba but as a twist to test their listening skills - children are given a word that they must remember and when they hear it, whoever was given that word races against the others to go anticlockwise until they sit down in their original space once more. Read the story once before starting the race so that children can hear the story fully before being absorbed in the race!

Activity 2: Sa’ee water challenge. (15 mins)
Share the inspiring story of Hajar (peace be upon her). Explain that the teams will race between two cones that will represent Safa and Marwa, collecting water for their well that represents the well of Zamzam. If you are outside you can use water or if indoors small blue balls can be used instead. Each Beaver has a cup - they will all start at the cone marked Safa. On the word ‘go’ the children will run to Marwa one at a time and collect their water/representation of water and choose an action card from a bag or pouch e.g hop, walk backwards, sideways, crawl etc and then they should make their way along back to Safa ( the path can be drawn with chalk or coloured tape on the floor to avoid different teams bumping into each other). Their cup is emptied into a larger bucket (the well) and the cup is passed on to the next member of their team. Once all members of the team have been once, they should sit down next to their bucket. The water or number of balls can be tallied up to determine how teams managed in conserving as much water as possible.

Activity 3: Mina tent pioneering. (20 mins)
Split the Beavers into teams/their lodges and explain that they will be setting up their own tent for Mina. Remind the Beavers how to tie a reef knot and that the canes should remain on the floor initially for safety and ease in tying their knots. Ask them what they need to consider whilst making their tent - protection against exposure e.g wind/heat/rain/scorpions(!), privacy, sturdiness etc. We found a team of six managed to make an A frame tent within this time, with 2 Beavers each tying an ‘A’ and the others tying knots for the four corners of the square base, then everyone working as a team to hold the sides and tie the central cane at the top and securing the sides to the base with more knots. Optionally you can give each team a fabric sheet to drape over and allow them to have turns going inside to test it out, once a leader or helper has checked to make sure the structure is stable with no loose loops of rope.

Activity 4: Hasanaat target practice. (10 mins)
Display good deeds that can be done on the Day of Arafat and explain that we are aiming to hit a bean bag/ball towards the good deeds to see how many we can knock down. Print the good deeds onto thin card and cut out and stick to tins/plastic cups. Arrange the cups/tins on a flat surface such as chair or table within enough space between them so that they are not all knocked out at once. The activity ends when each team’s balls/bean bags run out or the cups are knocked over. You can remind Beavers that intentions for good deeds also earn reward, even if we don’t manage to do that good deed (or knock out the target) despite our efforts!

Activity 5: Muzdalifah pebble collection (10 mins)
Lay coloured hoops on the floor evenly spaced out and put balls matching the same colour inside each hoop, ensuring there is an equal number in each hoop. Place boxes with a colour paper taped to the front corresponding to the colours of the balls for each team at opposite ends of the space to avoid balls being thrown at other children. Boxes should be wide enough for balls to easily go in and not too shallow. Split the Beavers into teams, and assign a colour to each. Explain to the Beavers that we will collect colour balls just as pilgrims collect pebbles from Muzdalifah. On the word "go", the Beavers run around, collecting balls of their colour. Once they have picked up a ball they cannot move and have to throw the ball towards their box. Once the ball has been thrown they can move again. Once all their balls have been collected they have to go and sit around their box.

Activity 6: Stoning the jamaraat. (10 mins)
Ask the Beavers if they know why pebbles are thrown at pillars during hajj. Remind them of the story of Ibrahim and how even if we can’t see shayateen and throw physical stones to stop him distracting us we can say au’odhobillah.
With the ‘pebbles’ collected during activity 5, Beavers will aim their pebbles at a target which the balls can be thrown into (e.g. cardboard box with a hole or short hoop with a basket underneath). Once they have thrown the last ball each team will take their box/basket to the side and count how many of the pebbles they managed to get inside.

Activity 7: Day of Sacrifice (10 mins)
Ask the beavers to come back altogether in a large circle (call out Beavers gather logs) and explain for the last game we will find sheep just as pilgrims arrange an animal for sacrifice on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
Explain the rules and if need be demonstrate how to play the game. One Beaver is chosen to be ‘it’ and they will stand in the centre of the circle. They should quietly choose a Beaver to ‘tag’ within 10 seconds without pointing or signalling to them. A leader indicates when the time is up and the Beaver who is ‘it’ asks "Have you seen my sheep?" to which that Beavers should reply "What does it look like?". The Beaver who is ‘it’ describes any one of the Beavers who, as soon as they recognise themself as the Beaver being described, should get up and run around the outside of the circle to try and get back to their space again. The descriptions can be related e.g. to what they are wearing and if the Beaver being described hasn’t realised once the description is finished, then the Beaver who is ‘it’, points at them and says it’s ‘you’ before they start chasing them. If they manage to get back to their place they can they become ‘it’.

Closing ceremony log chew. Ask the Beavers what they found challenging about any of the activities and what they enjoyed the most.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Outdoors - Knots
• Outdoors - Tent
• Teamwork - Team game