Shark-infested custard
You’ll need
- Hoops, or ropes tied into loops (three per team)
Story time
- Everyone should sit in a circle.
- Someone should read The Mice and the Stream Crossing by Chris Allerton.
- 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.
Miguel, Manuel, and Maximus were three mice brothers who lived in a burrow under an acorn tree in the woods.
Each year they would make the journey to their family nest, where they grew up, to celebrate their mother’s birthday.
The brothers would have a lot of fun on their journey – playing games and trying to prove who was bravest. Many of their woodland friends would chuckle when they saw the mice playing.
To get to their family nest they had to sneak through the long grass, squeeze under the thorny berry bushes, and leap over five stones that crossed the splashing stream.
The mice brothers loved to show off how they could leap.
Miguel was strong and could jump over two stones at a time. But he would always ask for his brother’s help with his first leap.
Manuel was light and good on his feet, and he could flip backwards onto each stone. His brother Miguel would always catch him on his last leap to the other side.
Maximus was small, and had never done any tricks to cross the stones. But this year he wanted to try.
Maximus closed his eyes as he approached the five stones. He jumped.
Seeing their brother with his eyes closed, Miguel and Manuel began to shout, directing him to the next stone. But Maximus refused to listen.
He made the first jump, scratching the rock with his claws. He made the second jump, and the third. But on the fourth, he missed the stone and fell into the stream with a splash.
Maximus was swept downstream. The brothers knew that way led to a waterfall, which fell into a deep pond.
They ran along the bank, trying to reach him, but their hands and tails were too short for Maximus to grab.
The hedgehog family of Henry, Humbert and Harvey saw Maximus in the stream. They pushed in a stick but the water was too fast and Maximus swept past them.
Savannah and Stefan, the squirrels who lived in the acorn tree, saw Maximus in the water too. They tried to swing across the stream on a branch and grab him but he was too low in the water – they just couldn’t reach.
Miguel and Manuel kept running. The waterfall was getting closer!
But Olga the owl had been flying high and had seen Maximus in trouble. With her strong wings, she flew down just as the little mouse tipped over the roaring waterfall. She swooped him up safely, and put him down on the bank.
The brothers hugged and thanked all their friends for helping rescue Maximus. They promised that next time they would learn to cross the stream together.
By Chris Allerton
Shark-infested custard
- Everyone should get into small groups of four or five people.
- The person leading the activity should give each group three hoops or rope loops.
- Each small group needs to cross the meeting space without touching the floor outside the hoop or rope loop. Any member of the group who touches the floor is caught in shark-infested custard and has to go back to the start.
- Once each group has tried to cross the space, everyone should talk about their experience of the game and what it was like to work together.
Reflection
This activity was about solving problems and learning to be a team player to get the whole team across the shark-infested custard.
The Mice and the Stream Crossing
- How did the animals help each other?
- Can you think of a time when you've helped someone, or someone has helped you?
Shark-infested custard
- Was it easy or difficult to get across the shark-infested custard? How did you find out the best way to cross the space?
- Was it easier to get across with team members than on your own? What did you learn about working together in a team?
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.
- Active games
The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.
- Contact games and activities
Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.
Some people might find it difficult to balance or move the hoops or rope loops. Use fewer or smaller hoops or rope loops to make the game more difficult.
The game may need to be adapted for those who have mobility or balance difficulties. Everyone should be able to take part in the game.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Try playing this game at home with family and friends. You can use towels or cushions to get across a room in the house.
The teams should be encouraged to work out how to get from start to finish by themselves. Adults and helpers should be ready to help the teams if they are struggling.