Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Check here for information on exhibitions, workshops, collecting trips etc that are happening in your area.
Post Reply
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Bretts »

For the next two days I will be at the Cowra Japanese Gardens to talk to kids about Bonsai. It is a last minute thing as I was not sure I would be available.
I now know it will involve up to 50 kids at a time for 1/2 hour talks with about 7 of these all up. I think that rules out anything hands on. I am thinking a history talk and go through some styles and also a little about care with the trees from Cowra collection as props.
Maybe someone can help with any other ideas?
Thanks :wave:
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
rowan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 252
Joined: September 29th, 2009, 6:37 am
Favorite Species: Chinese elm
Bonsai Age: 25
Location: Casterton, Vic, Australia
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by rowan »

How old are the kids?
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
Lao Tzu
http://www.rowansbonsai.com Yamadori nursery.
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Bretts »

Not 100% sure but I believe they are primary school age. God help me if I have to face 50 teenages at a time :palm:
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
rowan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 252
Joined: September 29th, 2009, 6:37 am
Favorite Species: Chinese elm
Bonsai Age: 25
Location: Casterton, Vic, Australia
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by rowan »

I think you would be hard pressed keeping primary kids interested in a bonsai history lesson. If you wanted to go with some history, I would go with some stuff that kids would find interesting and fun, like the Chinese origins including shaping the trees into words, octopus' and strange dragon shapes.
Other attention grabbers might be letting them hold some of the tools and using them on shrub branches, safe ones of course. Hmm, would have to think of others.

It might be hard to interest kids in bonsai without humour, I hope you are a funny guy :D

It sounds like an interesting thing and I wish you well.
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
Lao Tzu
http://www.rowansbonsai.com Yamadori nursery.
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Bretts »

Thanks Rowan. I like the animal idea. Might have to take a few trident whips with me and they could guide me in a shape then plant it up. That would be about 7 wips a day I am sure I could handle that and they would get to see wiring and potting. Till one of them asks for an octopus :palm:
I was thinking about a very simple history about fruit trees in pots so they could be carried around that people started to like the look of or something like that.
Hmm need to organise some pots and soil in the morning.
Some great ideas Rowan thanks :tu:
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
Tony Bebb
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 664
Joined: November 25th, 2008, 10:42 pm
Favorite Species: Conifers/Pines
Bonsai Age: 28
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of Queensland Inc.
Location: Brisbane
Been thanked: 6 times
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Tony Bebb »

On the right track there Brett with some good advice from Rowan.

Any audience likes to be entertained and interested while learning, especially kids. Your interactive idea with the whips is great to get them involved, the more the merrier if you can spare them. Give one to the class, also if you can spare them. Have some Bonsai on hand as examples as that will get their interest and lead to questions. If you've got a fruit tree that would be good. Also if you could have a before and after tree, as in same species with 1 raw and 1 styled, you could do a sight gag while educating.

Most important relax and go with the flow.

Good luck mate :tu:

Tony
Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein
Click here to visit my Blog - A Bonsai Journey
User avatar
daiviet_nguyen
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 959
Joined: November 19th, 2008, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: Pines, Ficuses, Maples, Azaleas
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: None
Location: Melbourne
Been thanked: 3 times
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by daiviet_nguyen »

Hi Brett,

Off course you can do it, being a bonsai philosopher and all :aussie:

If you could Brett, bring lot of pictures of beautiful bonsais: Japanese, European and Australia... perhaps some with flowers for the girls, strong looking pines for the boys? Bonsai Today and Bonsai Focus are good sources.

Perhaps, mention something about the price? Monetary values seems to stir up the imaginations.

Good luck and enjoy Brett.
irish
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 220
Joined: December 26th, 2010, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: natives
Bonsai Age: 4
Bonsai Club: Wagga Wagga Bonsai Club
Location: Junee NSW
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by irish »

Hi.

Don't give them lollies :lol:

No on second thort i dare ya :palm:

Good luck.

Regards.
Irish. :aussie:
One Day i will know something, but most likely it will be to do with nothing.
User avatar
kcpoole
Perpetual Learner
Perpetual Learner
Posts: 12289
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 94 times
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by kcpoole »

Try a game with 3 trees, Tell em the names, then mix them up like the missing ball under a Cup, then Get them to name them :-)
Hide the juniper

give prizes ( Jelly Snakes ) work well

Can you juggle? LOL :lol:

Do a demo, Show them how to Pot a tree, Wire it and trim for shape,

got someone else to help? Split into a few groups if you can.

Get a few assistants from the crowd to help too especially if they are Primary age :cool:

Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Bretts »

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone, it has been a great help :clap:
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
Bretts
Bonsai Philosopher
Bonsai Philosopher
Posts: 6670
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:04 pm
Favorite Species: carpinus jbp
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Jervis Bay NSW
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Bretts »

It all went well today. The first group where pretty young. Talked for a little showed them some pictures (took one of my picture books instead of bonsai mag which worked well but I think progression from a bonsai mag will also be a good idea for tomorrow) and then they wanted to make a snake out of the trident whip. Too easy. They had heaps of great questions and seemed to really enjoy themselves.
To easy I thought it can only get better with the next group.
I was surprised to see the next group was much older. Maybe first year of secondary school. Had to come up with a new plan as I don't think a whip in the shape of a snake will cut it here :palm: Just went through the basics of bonsai and left out the repotting of the whip. They again had heaps of great questions and a few where obviously very interested.
I think I babbled on just a little too much on the last few groups and one group did not think my trident whip ended up looking like a kangaroo :? but all in all it was a great day.
Thanks again for all the great ideas it really did help. :tu:
It's too bad your in such a hurry cause the stories I could tell you, Bushels and baskets of stories, hole crates full of stories. But if you can spare a moment I will tell you one story.
User avatar
rowan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 252
Joined: September 29th, 2009, 6:37 am
Favorite Species: Chinese elm
Bonsai Age: 25
Location: Casterton, Vic, Australia
Contact:

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by rowan »

I'm glad it went well. Sounds like you had fun, in between being rushed off your feet I imagine.
All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.
Lao Tzu
http://www.rowansbonsai.com Yamadori nursery.
Paulneill
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 782
Joined: March 12th, 2011, 8:00 pm
Favorite Species: maple
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: Perth
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 6 times

Re: Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

Post by Paulneill »

you could teach them how to do root over rock .
Post Reply

Return to “Shows, Events and Workshops”