Fun group project ideas for ages 4-64?
September 28, 2009 8:59 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for ideas for a project that 8-10 relatives can casually contribute to over the course of 2.5 days. Ideally it will be something fun to do, not simply something nice to look at after the fact. We are artists, writers, musicians, teachers, engineers, cooks, and kids ages 4-64.
My family is getting together for the weekend and I'd like to leave some project lying around that we can all contribute to as we have time. I'd like something more meaningful than Broken Picture Telephone (but that could work). An Exquisite Corpse-style project seem like a good fit, but I've never done those so I'm wondering if there are other ideas out there, too.
My family is getting together for the weekend and I'd like to leave some project lying around that we can all contribute to as we have time. I'd like something more meaningful than Broken Picture Telephone (but that could work). An Exquisite Corpse-style project seem like a good fit, but I've never done those so I'm wondering if there are other ideas out there, too.
A big mural or piece of artwork that everyone could add to as they wished?
Or something where everybody contributes a separate part which makes up into a whole would be good - something liek a patchwork blanket where everyone can design their own square.
A memories book? Everyone contributes their own family memories - in a way appropriate to their age. Memories can be written, drawn, in the form of a poem, photos, etc.
Oh, on the photo theme, you could do something in the style of a photo booth (maybe a digital camera set up specially for this purpose) and have a bunch of props- funny hats, wigs, fancy, clothes, facepaints, etc - people can dress up and have silly photos taken either alone orin groups, over the course of the couple of days. An extra activity could be that the kids could make masks for this purpose. Then, on the last day hook the camera up to a laptop or monitor and everyone can look through and laugh at the photos - and you could make a family album of them.
posted by schmoo at 10:08 AM on September 28, 2009
Or something where everybody contributes a separate part which makes up into a whole would be good - something liek a patchwork blanket where everyone can design their own square.
A memories book? Everyone contributes their own family memories - in a way appropriate to their age. Memories can be written, drawn, in the form of a poem, photos, etc.
Oh, on the photo theme, you could do something in the style of a photo booth (maybe a digital camera set up specially for this purpose) and have a bunch of props- funny hats, wigs, fancy, clothes, facepaints, etc - people can dress up and have silly photos taken either alone orin groups, over the course of the couple of days. An extra activity could be that the kids could make masks for this purpose. Then, on the last day hook the camera up to a laptop or monitor and everyone can look through and laugh at the photos - and you could make a family album of them.
posted by schmoo at 10:08 AM on September 28, 2009
Best answer: I was just looking at blank Russian nesting dolls and thinking how neat it would be for family members to each decorate a doll over the holidays.
posted by slightlybewildered at 12:54 PM on September 28, 2009
posted by slightlybewildered at 12:54 PM on September 28, 2009
Our family loves loves loves our recipe book, put together over the course of several years. At first it was to preserve my mother's Filipino recipes, but it eventually evolved into each separate family contributing favorite recipes we've tasted at potlucks or get-togethers over the years. The recipes come with hilarious stories that tangent off either the person contributing the recipe or the recipe itself.
For your get-together, you can ask people to contribute a dish and recipe for each meal, and then everyone can vote on which makes it into the recipe book. There should be some good old-fashioned competition going on that would make this a fun memory at each meal.
posted by HeyAllie at 2:38 PM on September 28, 2009
For your get-together, you can ask people to contribute a dish and recipe for each meal, and then everyone can vote on which makes it into the recipe book. There should be some good old-fashioned competition going on that would make this a fun memory at each meal.
posted by HeyAllie at 2:38 PM on September 28, 2009
Geocaching! Look for items to hide in a geocache and then place it.
posted by FergieBelle at 4:59 PM on September 28, 2009
posted by FergieBelle at 4:59 PM on September 28, 2009
Best answer: Time capsule to dig up in 20 years at a reunion set in the future and laying the responsibility to the younger ones to unearth the capsule and explain what is in there to the younger generation present at that time. Each person would contribute something that was thought out and accompanied with an explanation of why they chose that particular item. It could also include memories, questions, family heirlooms, etc. Might be good fun.
posted by bkeene12 at 8:05 PM on September 28, 2009
posted by bkeene12 at 8:05 PM on September 28, 2009
Response by poster: The Russian nesting dolls would have been hilarious, but unfortunately I can't find any that have the right number in stock. Maybe another time. The time capsule is a good idea, too. We'll probably go geochaching just because it would be fun. Thanks!
posted by cocoagirl at 8:19 AM on September 30, 2009
posted by cocoagirl at 8:19 AM on September 30, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Your musicians can record some nifty ambient melodies. Anyone else whose skills aren't directly related to creating the game could work on the theme.
Maybe take an old shoots and ladders game, have your artists replace the background with a Parisian theme and replace the shoots and ladders with streets and waterways. Then the goal of the game is to travel around Paris, looking for ingredients for a fancy French Restaurant. Add in the musicians' touch and you've got quite an experience.
posted by johnstein at 9:49 AM on September 28, 2009