Fruity fables

You’ll need

Wooden skewers
Cocktail sticks
Chopping boards
Plates
Knives
Coloured pens or pencils
A4 paper
A selection of different fruit and vegetables

Before you begin

To minimise the cost when running this activity for a large group, you could ask local supermarkets in advance if they’re able to give away fruit or vegetables which pass their ‘best before’ date on the day you are doing this activity.
You could also try using lower cost fruits and vegetables, including dried and tinned fruit.
You could also ask people to bring any leftover fruit and vegetables they may have at home.

Design the characters

Everyone should think about their favourite stories, and the characters which make them so good. What do they like about them?
Give everyone a piece of paper and a pen. Everyone should design their own character – they could be a superhero, an animal, a robot, or anything else they can imagine. Characters need a name and personality, as well as a life story.
Show everyone the selection of fruit and vegetables available. Everyone should think about what they will use to create each part of their character, and label their drawing.

Make the characters

Everyone must wash their hands.
Gather around a table, and give everyone a plate (or chopping board).
Everyone should create their character with the fruits and vegetables. Use the skewers and cocktail sticks to hold them together. An adult must supervise if the knife is used to chop the fruits and vegetables.

Everyone should share their character, and their story, with the others.

Reflection

This activity involved you using practical skills. Did you learn about how to be safe with knives? Did you learn how to be hygienic (clean) when handling food? Did you learn anything about construction? Was planning your creation before you started helpful? What was important to remember when designing your character?

This activity also reminded you that it’s important to live healthily. Did you use any fruits and vegetables you haven’t tried before? Why is it important to eat fruits and vegetables? Did your character need a mix of different fruit and vegetables – and do you need a variety, too? Did you learn any facts about the fruits and vegetables you used?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Sharp objects: Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Food: Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.