“If we don't have a place for nature in our heart, how can we expect nature to have a place for us.” ― Abhijit Naskar
This CST activities page helps celebrate 'World Animal Day' on 4th October.
Begin with welcome and introductions and ask members to say what their favourite animal is, which they have seen or would most like to see, which impresses them the most and so on.
Have members got an animal as a pet, or have they had one? What type of animal are/were they? What are/were their names? (Take care as the death of a beloved pet can represent a significant loss for people.)
SIMILIES
Ask members to complete the following statements ...
- As cunning as a FOX
- As wise as an OWL
- As stubborn as a MULE
- As gentle as a LAMB
- As blind as a BAT
- As busy as a BEE
- As quiet as a MOUSE
- As proud as a PEACOCK
- As sick as a DOG
- As slippery as an EEL
- As strong as an OX
- As mad as a March HARE
- As busy as a BEAVER
- As graceful as a SWAN
IDIOMS
Ask members to complete these well known phrases, together ...
- Birds of a feather flock TOGETHER
- A bird in the hand is worth TWO IN THE BUSH
- Ants in your PANTS
- The birds and the BEES
- Cat's got your TONGUE
- Chicken OUT
- Clam UP
- Copy CAT
- Dropping like FLIES
- Eager BEAVER
- Fishy BUSINESS
- Hold your HORSES
- In the dog HOUSE
- Kill two birds with ONE STONE
- Let the cat out of THE BAG
- A little bird TOLD ME
- Nest EGG
- Pig OUT
- Put the cat amongst THE PIGEONS
- Rat RACE
- Red HERRING
- Straight from the HORSE'S MOUTH
- Take the bull by THE HORNS
- Until the cows COME HOME
- While the cat's away THE MICE WILL PLAY
Whys it this phrase special? - 'The quick brown fox jumps over the LAZY DOG?' - IT CONTAINS ALL THE LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET
If you like my work and use my CST activities pages for your group, you might want to support costs to keep www.simondementia.co.uk free and open access.
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
Help members enjoy these pictures, questions and music clips. Give lots of clues like first names to help members get the answers. Encourage story telling and reminiscences.
If you click on the first photo (if watching on a linked screen), a slide show will open.
First of all, a song and a TV clip to get started ...
Singalong ...
'Morning Has Broken', Cat Stevens - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmAOBosGlHY
Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven Like the first dewfall on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world
We start with a TV theme tune & comedy clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_ysdEPflIc
Before watching, name the TV show?
Name the characters?
Round 1. Farm Animals
 | Name the animal? What does it provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? What does it provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? What does it provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? What does it provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? What is a female called? |
 | Name the animal? What are the female and new born called? |
 | Name the animal? What do you get if you cross one of these with one of the above animals? |
 | Name the animal? Say the rhyme? |
 | Name the animal? What do they provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? One of these sold for a record what price earlier this year (nearest guess)? |
Who is this? What was his catchphrase?
Here is the TV theme tune - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Vcx49KWlQ
Singalong ...
'I Know An Old Lady', Burl Ives - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZnLxqUyFK8&t=59s
I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a bird, How absurd to swallow a bird! She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a cat, Imagine that, to swallow a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a dog, My, what a hog, to swallow a dog! She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a goat, Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat! She swallowed the goat to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a cow, I wonder how she swallowed a cow?! She swallowed the cow to catch the goat, She swallowed the goat to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die. I know an old lady who swallowed a horse, She's dead, of course!
Round 2. In The Wild - Mammals
 | Name the animal? How far can it dig in one night? |
 | Name the animal? Name the famous puppet version of this animal? |
 | Name the animal? What group of animals does this creature belong to? |
 | Name the animal? T or F. You should NOT feed them bread and milk? |
 | Name the animal? Name the creature from the 1927 Henry Williamson book? |
 | Name the animal? What is the name of their tunnel based home? |
 | Name the animal? How far are you from one at any time, allegedly? |
 | Name the animal? How do they sleep? |
 | Name the animal? Name the two varieties? |
 | Name the animal? What are their young called? |
Name the TV show?
Who wrote the book?
Here is the TV theme song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasBJ1Gkjy8&t=20s
Singalong ...
'Bright Eyes', Art Garfunkel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo-cp1270eQ
Is it a kind of a dream Floating out on the tide Following the river of death downstream Oh, is it a dream? There's a fog along the horizon A strange glow in the sky And nobody seems to know where it goes And what does it mean? Oh, is it a dream?
Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Bright eyes
Is it a kind of a shadow Reaching into the night Wandering over the hills unseen Or is it a dream? There's a high wind in the trees A cold sound in the air And nobody ever knows when you go And where do you start? Oh, into the dark
Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Bright eyes
Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Bright eyes
Round 3. In The Wild - Birds & Bees
 | Name the animal? What is the male called? |
 | Name the animal? How many degrees can it turn its neck? |
 | Name the animal? Which season is it associated with? |
 | Name the animal? What does it provide us with? |
 | Name the animal? Which type of Indian drink is named after it? |
 | Name the animal? Which company was named after it? |
 | Name the animal? Say the rhyme? |
 | Name the animal? Name the process it goes through to become a flier? |
 | Name the animal? Say the rhyme? |
 | Name the animal? Who owns them all? |
Name the TV nature programme?
Name the presenters?
Here is the TV intro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Wh8OtJ1JU
Singalong ...
'The Ugly Duckling', Danny Kaye - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwqmlrVGa54
There once was an ugly duckling
With feathers all stubby and brown
And the other birds said in so many words
Get out of town
Get out, get out, get out of town
And he went with a quack and a waddle and a quack
In a flurry of eiderdown
That poor little ugly duckling
Went wandering far and near
But at every place they said to his face
Now get out, get out, get out of here
And he went with a quack and a waddle and a quack
And a very unhappy tear
All through the wintertime he hid himself away
Ashamed to show his face, afraid of what others might say
All through the winter in his lonely clump of wheat
Till a flock of swans spied him there and very soon agreed
You’re a very fine swan indeed!
A swan? Me a swan? Ah, go on!
And he said yes, you’re a swan
Take a look at yourself in the lake and you’ll see
And he looked, and he saw, and he said
I am a swan! Whee!
I’m not such an ugly duckling
No feathers all stubby and brown
For in fact these birds in so many words said
The best in town, the best, the best
The best in town
Not a quack, not a quack, not a waddle or a quack
But a glide and a whistle and a snowy white back
And a head so noble and high
Say who’s an ugly duckling?
Not I!
Not I!
Round 4. In The Water
 | Name the animal? Who banished them from Ireland? |
 | Name the animal? What is their animal group called? |
 | Name the animal? What are its young called? |
 | Name the animal? What colour does it turn when it is cooked? |
 | Name the animal? How long can they stay underwater on one breath? |
 | Name the animal? How are they often prepared for eating? |
 | Name the animal? What group are they part of? |
 | Name the animal? T or F. It is highly dangerous? |
 | Name the animal? Where do they spawn? |
 | Name the animals? What are they called collectively? |
Name the TV nature show?
Name these presenters?
Here is the TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LVUbj2PnOM
Singalong ...
'Molly Malone', The Dubliners - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Deeh9n-VI
In Dublin's fair city Where the girls are so pretty I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone As she wheeled her wheelbarrow Through streets broad and narrow Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"
Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"
She was a fishmonger And sure 'twas no wonder For so were her father and mother before And they both wheeled their barrows Through streets broad and narrow Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh
She died of a fever And no one could save her And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone But her ghost wheels her barrow Through streets broad and narrow Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh Alive, alive, oh Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh
Name the TV series?
And the vet?
Here is the theme tune - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6aquEsK_JQ
'All Things Bright And Beautiful' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HyWkC64X08
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful 'Twas God that made them all
Each little flower that opens Each little bird that sings He made their glowing colors And made their tiny wings
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful 'Twas God that made them all
The purple headed mountains The rivers running by The sunset and the morning That brightens up the sky
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful 'Twas God that made them all
The cold wind in the winter The pleasant summer sun The ripe fruits in the garden He made them every one
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful 'Twas God that made them all
He gave us eyes to see them And lips that we might tell How great is the Almighty Who has made all things well
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful 'Twas God that made them all
SOME POEMS
'The Owl and the Pussy-Cat'
BY EDWARD LEAR
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!" Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-Tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will." So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon.
Can anyone think of any more?
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
There are plenty of outline animal images on the web to print off for adult colouring. Or there are a couple of apps that I would highly recommend. They are a bit fiddly, in so much as trying to find smaller areas of colour. But there are help tools to assist.
Try out COLORFY - It is more of a 'freehand' colouring book, with people choosing colours to paint on images as they see fit. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/colorfy-coloring-art-game/id1009442510
COLOR BY NUMBER ADULT COLORING - Great pictures. A little more like a proper oil painting. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/color-by-number-adult-coloring/id1330926273
Finally, OIL PAINTING: COLOR BY NUMBER - Has the most photographic quality/lifelike images. But it is possibly the most 'fiddly' out of all of them. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oil-painting-color-by-number/id1439776386
Just also to comment, these apps are a great option for members and carers to use at home, together or alone. I find them a relaxing past-time, especially linked with listening to 'Classic FM', or similar.
REQUEST
As usual, I would be so grateful for feedback as to what works best and what doesn't work so well. Feedback helps keep me motivated to keep the Blog going and know it is of some value to people out there. Please also share the word to build our membership and maximise the benefits.
Thanks
Si O'Donovan
Round 1
1. 'The Good Life' / Tom & Barbara Good & Jerry & Margot Leadbetter
2. Friesian Cow / Milk, Butter, Cheese & Beef
3. Sheep / Lamb & Wool
4. Chicken / Roast Chicken & Eggs
5. Pig / Pork, Bacon & Sausages
6. Goat / Nanny
7. Horse / Mare & Foal
8. Donkey / Mule
9. Geese /
Goosey goosey gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers,
So I took him by his left leg
And threw him down the stairs.
The stairs went crack,
He nearly broke his back.
And all the little ducks went,
'Quack, quack, quack'.
10. Llama or Alpaca / Wool
11. Sheepdog / The record for the most expensive sheepdog has been broken by a 12-month-old female red-and-white border collie called Kim. She sold for £28,455 at an online auction organised by 'Farmers Marts' in Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales, UK, on 3 February 2021
12. John Noakes / "Get down Shep!"
Round 2
13. Mole / 160ft
14. Fox / Basil Brush ("Boom boom!")
15. Field Mouse / Rodent
16. Hedgehog / T - They are lactose intolerant
17. Otter / Tarka
18. Badger / Sett
19. Rat / 6ft, but that stat is 100 years old, before housing conditions improved. It's more like 160ft today
20. Bat / Upside down
21. Squirrel / Red & Grey
22. Rabbit / Kittens
23. 'Black Beauty' / Anna Sewell
Round 3
24. Mallard Duck / Drake
25. Barn Owl / 270 degrees
26. Robin / Winter (although it is in fact a year round British bird)
27. Bee / Honey & Wax
28. Kingfisher / Beer
29. Puffin / 'Puffin Books'
30. Ladybird /
Ladybird, ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
All except one, and her name is Ann,
And she hid under the baking pan.
31. Red Admiral Butterly / Metamorphosis
32. Magpie /
One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told.
There are a number of alternative versions and a longer rhyme which is local to Lancashire:
Eight for a wish, Nine for a kiss, Ten a surprise you should be careful not to miss, Eleven for health, Twelve for wealth, Thirteen beware it’s the devil himself.
33. Mute Swan / HM Queen Elizabeth
34. 'Springwatch' / Chris Packham & Michaela Strachen
Round 4
35. Adder / St Patrick is said to have banished snakes from Ireland
36. Bottlenose Dolphin / Cetacean
37. Frog / Spawn & Tadpole
38. Lobster / Red
39. Grey Seal / 40-45 mins
40. Mackerel / Smoked
41. Crab / Crustacean
42. Basking Shark / F - Totally harmless
43. Salmon / Freshwater (upstream in clean rivers)
44. Cockles, Jellied Eel & Prawns / Shellfish
45. 'Countryfile' / Matt Baker & John Craven
46. 'All Creatures Great And Small' / James Herriot
