VITAL INFO

This program is very popular despite the minimal props used. The only “catch” is all the balloon blowing that is required. If you normally run the program by yourself:

a) Get someone else to come and blow-up balloons

b) Get some responsible students to help or

c) Blow up lots of balloons beforehand and bring them along in garbage bags.

To avoid delay, have the string tied on (Game 2) and the chocolate in place (Game 6) before you start the program.

ADVERTISING

On the posters write … BALLOON BONANZA

Featuring ...

“Balloon Stomp”, “Balloon Frenzy” and more…

Come along and get a bang out of life!

EQUIPMENT

YD will provide: You will need to provide:

1. A large jumper 1. Bag of wrapped lollies, e.g., fantails

2. 1 Ball of string 2. Prizes

3. Scissors

4. About 40 balloons (most blown up prior)

PROGRAM

GAME 1 BALLOON ROLL

Select a volunteer to put on the jumper provided. Place 2-3 balloons into the jumper, using the back and front. Time to see how long it takes them to burst the balloons without using their hands and without throwing themselves against furniture. They can only burst them by ‘rolling’ on the floor. Have 1 or 2 volunteers try to beat their time.

QUICK TIP

This game uses up balloons quickly, so either limit the rounds to 2-3 or spread the rounds throughout the program. Make sure you state ROLL, not jump

as injuries may occur.

GAME 2 BALLOON STOMP

Select 6-8 volunteers and attach a balloon to their ankles using string. When tied, the string should be about 20 cm long, so the balloon is not right up against the volunteer’s leg. The challenge is to stomp on other balloons whilst keeping their own balloon intact. The last volunteer with their balloon intact wins. Volunteers remain in the game even if their balloon bursts.

QUICK TIP

If the game is taking too long, ask others to join in and stomp on balloons.

STOP the game & disqualify anyone if too rough.

GAME 3 BALLOON BAIL OUT

Select 5 volunteers and stand them at one end of the room. Each is given a balloon that they are allowed to blow up as big as they would like. One at a time they release their balloon from a given line to see which one travels the most distance. If they break the balloon while blowing it up, they are out of the competition. Have a couple of rounds of this if there is interest.

QUICK TIP

If the first couple of flights are “fizzers” tell the remaining people to vary the height or angle that they release the balloon from

GAME 4 BALLOON FRENZY

Select 1 volunteer to come and try to see how long they can keep all 4 balloons in the air before one touches the floor. Stop timing as soon as the first one touches the floor or a desk. This game is harder than it sounds.

QUICK TIP

Make sure they don’t hold any balloons during the game.

You may wish to have turns of this spread throughout the program.

GAME 5 BALLOON BUMP

Select 2 pairs of volunteers. Get 1 person from each pair to stand on a chair (get a team member to spot) at the opposite side of the room. Time how long it takes for their partner to move an inflated balloon across the room using only their head until the person standing on the chair can catch it. Timing stops when the balloon is caught. Give 2-3 pairs a turn at this game. Award prizes to shortest times.

QUICK TIP

To avoid cheating, you release the balloon over the person’s head as you say, “Go”. Only allow the person standing on the chair to only move their arms.

GAME 6 CHOCOLATE BALLOONS

Place 3 chairs in a row and select 3 volunteers to come out the front. Give each volunteer a deflated balloon with a wrapped lolly pushed inside it. Explain that they are going to race to see who can blow up the balloon, tie it off, break it by sitting on it and then eat the lolly. First to have a clean mouth is the winner. The balloon does not have to be any special size before they try to break it.

QUICK TIP

Insist on the people tying their balloon before bursting it and don’t allow them to use their hands to burst it.

VERY USEFUL QUICK TIP!!

To save having to do a mammoth clean up, select a few volunteers and give them 30 seconds to collect as many pieces of burst balloon as they can. The person who collects the most receives a prize. Judge this over a rubbish bin so the pieces can be put straight into it.

Balloon Bonanza!