BANANA GAMES

When I lived up at the Bananacoast, we had these things coming out of our ears. You couldn't give them away. Here's some fun things to do with Bananas. Choose those that most suit your space and time constraints - and naturally the ones you think will be the most fun. For these games you'll need a big bucket of bananas.

1. Dead Bananas
Children all lie down on the ground and together form the outline shape of one huge banana. They lie down on backs in a head to toe formation. When the formation is complete, the children have to count down from ten.

2. Rob the banana
This activity is played to the rules of 'Rob the Next' Divide your group into equal teams (say 4 - 5 teams). Within each team children number off. On a signal, the official calls out a number. All children who have been assigned that number, run to the centre, collect a banana and bring it back to their team. That same player repeats this procedure until the quickest team collects 3 bananas. If the basket in the middle becomes empty, teams can 'steal' from another team.

3. Race the Banana
Children sit in a large circle. A banana is given to a child at random. On the signal the banana is passed from had to hand around the circle. The child who held the banana has to call out 3 or 4 (you choose) words which start with the same letter as banana before the banana gets back to them. Examples of categories for each turn: animals; food; cities; countries; TV shows or films. Choose a different leader after each turn. Award lolly bananas if they achieve the task (or get close).

4. Banana Shuttle
Divide your group into 'relay teams' with start and finish lines marked. On signal, player (one) runs (with a banana baton) to the opposite end and gives it to the second player. The second player transports this banana to player (three). Continue until you have a winning team. Variation: Before each runner begins to run the must peal a section of the banana, break off that section and eat it. Enough banana must be left for the last member of the team.

5. Banana Buildings
Divide your group into teams. Each team sits in a circle with 6-8 banana lollies. Each member of the team takes turns at trying to build a banana building using all their banana lollies. The bananas must be stacked in single file, one on top of the other. Allow each person to have a couple of turns before announcing which team was able to use the most number of bananas in their building.

6. Banana Necking
Children line up in teams, in one line line. Without using hands, children must pass the banana down the line by trapping the banana under the chin

7. Banana Split Bonanza
If you can locate a piece of roof guttering, arrange to have a giant banana split to complete the program.

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