Roll up, roll up and grab your ticket,

it’s circus time

We may not all be able to all actually go, but it’s an ideal time for some fun … however old you are! The arts team hope that you will enjoy trying some of these activities at home with your family or as part of a virtual meeting.

Balancing act

Cut an A4 piece of into 3 long Trapeze strips. Concertina fold each into 6 and draw your acrobat onto the front (be sure artist

to make the hands and feet touch the Make a trapeze by folds). threading string or wool Cut away the pieces you don’t want, through a piece of a straw. leaving the hands and feet joined at the Draw and cut some folds. people from paper or thin Unfold to give a string of people. Now card and decorate. see how many you can Use glue to attach the Big top build into a tower. Recycle a container into your own Big Top first one onto the trapeze. Hang it up and see how Cut or draw on a door shape, then many more you can add. paint your container either red or white. Glue on strips of paper to the stripes. Cut a circle of card larger than the top Balancing seal—he will rock, but won’t fall off!

of the container. Divide into segments Press some Blu-tac into a milk bottle top before taping another one to it. and colour. Cut a seal shape from thin Cut away one or two segments. card, colour in and then Overlap the cut edges and adjust to fit tape into place . your container. Glue into shape. Decorate the front of the Add a flag and characters. bottle top as you wish.

Balancing clown Carry him on your finger … he will balance on his nose!

Cut the clown template from fairly firm card (a cereal is fine).

Decorate him and then tape two coins Confetti cannon as shown. Knot a and then cut a piece from the rounded end. Stretch the balloon tightly over a cardboard tube and tape into place. Cover the tube in paper and decorate. Put some cut up paper ‘confetti’ into the open end. Stretch the knotted end of the balloon and release it to ‘fire’. REMEMBER TO CLEAR UP AFTERWARDS!

Paint a face

With permission try face painting, or try out your ideas Be a clown on a photo. Make a mini-mask Either print out a photo or from card and a lolly use one from a magazine. Develop your skills stick. Draw a curved Learn to juggle. Start with thin floaty With pens, paint and collage line, then draw around pieces of fabric, then try rolled up materials, transform your this for the mouth. Cut socks or make your own juggling balls. subject into a circus out, add a card or pom performer! Put a handful of rice into a plastic bag and tie the top. Cut pom nose and glue Alternatively try the neck ends off several and in turn stretch onto the stick. doing this on them tightly over the bag to cover it. You can try cutting the computer. little slits in the top layers to make an attractive pattern. hula hooping or acrobatics tightrope walking (along a string on the ground) Why not try: stilt walking (get an adult to help you make Why not make a hat too? some from empty cans and string) create a clown Collect together collage materials and make a face on a paper plate … or use biscuits, icing and sweets to make edible versions!

Fold a Make him rock or roll Cut a strip lengthways from a piece of A4 card (to roll) or cut out a circle (to rock). container for your Use the clown from the template sheet, cut popcorn from thin card and colour. Turn a square of paper Join the strip into a circle and insert the into a cup! clown using the folded back tabs to glue or tape him into place.

FOLD Alternatively cut off the tabs and TURN OVER glue the figure to the front of the folded circle.

Carnival cookies Chocolate treats 100g Self raising flour Make banana ice lollies! 50g Sugar Halve bananas and place onto sticks. 50g Butter or margarine Freeze. 1 tbsp Milk Melt chocolate in a small, deep 100s & 1000s container and add a little vegetable oil

to give a runny consistency. Place the flour and sugar into a bowl.

Quickly dip the frozen bananas into the Add the butter, cut into pieces and then rub in with your chocolate and then add . fingertips. Enjoy straight away or freeze for later. Add the milk and bring together into a dough.

Roll into a sausage shape, then roll in sprinkles to coat. Chill if required. Cut into 8 slices and place onto You could also try chocolate dipped apples or make dumbbells a parchment lined tray. with marshmallows and straws. Bake at 180°C, mk4 for approx 10mins until light golden.

If you can get some modelling balloons, try creating animals, flowers or hats for your friends and family.

Take it further lots of these activities can also be used towards various challenges, skill builders, unit meeting activities and badges. Look in your badge and ask your leader. We hope you have had fun … remember to share what you have done! [email protected] circus time Templates