SINK THE BEAGLE

What you need:

• Half a sheet of newspaper per person.
• Bowl/bath/paddling pool or similar in which to float the boat
• Good supply of suitable missiles representing coconuts! e.g. grapes, plastic practice golf balls, ping pong balls, lego bricks - nothing too solid that could do damage if the missiles miss their target, these are after all just "pretend" coconuts

What to do:

1. First build your boat - but no staples, tape or paper clips allowed, the boat has to be made simply by folding. Think what sort of boat shape would be good to resist capsize?
2. Contestants take it in turns to float their boat and then the "coconut hurling" begins.
3. Natives of course would be ashore and the boat at sea so "coconuts" will need to be hurled from a suitable distance representing the shoreline (distance to be decided by general consensus) and hurling needs to be in one direction (away from other natives!) The natives have no access to slings or missile hurling equipment, they need to rely simply on their own skills of aiming and hurling. Divide out the "coconuts" fairly between the natives. The natives might like to consider the best hurling strategy, team work can be very effective...
4. Time how long each boat remains afloat - if it's still afloat after 3 minutes then it is declared "unsinkable" otherwise the longest surviving boat is the winner.

Remember:

• SAFETY: Children should always be supervised working with water. Paddling pools should be emptied as soon as they have finished using them and any spilt water should be quickly mopped up where it might present a slip hazard.
• This activity is potentially messy - a good game to play outside!
• To recycle your damp newspaper