Brain storm for Kids Bonsai Demo

[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

[rowan]

How old are the kids?

[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

[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

It sounds like an interesting thing and I wish you well.

[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
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

[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

Tony

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Brett,

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

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]

Hi.

Don't give them lollies

No on second thort i dare ya

Good luck.

Regards.
Irish.

[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

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

Ken

[Bretts]

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone, it has been a great help

[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 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.

[rowan]

I'm glad it went well. Sounds like you had fun, in between being rushed off your feet I imagine.

[Paulneill]

you could teach them how to do root over rock .