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Skateboards and Scriptures

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This idea was posted on Facebook by Thomas Mark Olsen
I took his idea and off I went to plan and set up the details for a super fun Scripture Mastery activity.
Who knew...Skateboards and Scriptures would be so fun together!!!
(On another note, this may be adapted for a party-scavenger hunt clues, etc. Adapt the balloon colors to match different holidays, seasons, etc. I used Valentine colors)

Because this is "Love One Another" week in our class and we are studying the
Doctrine and Covenants this year, I used D&C 25:13 as the verse and added two extra papers (see below) for a total of 18 balloons with papers in them.

This activity took about 25 minutes.
Everything was set up the night before
Set up was much easier than anticipated.

See the photos at the end of this post
Materials Needed:

1 Skateboard per team
1 Small-Medium laundry basket
Rope - to attach to skateboard. (Use the same length and type for each team- I got 50' nylon rope at the Dollar Store)
Balloons- enough for one word per scripture verse (1 color per team)
Tape for marking off "Team Box" on the floor in the room
Scripture verse word strips to fill the balloons
Treats or prizes

Set up and advance preparation:

Tape off the corners of the gym to make a "box" for each team to stand inside.
Choose a scripture verse and write or type it out. (I used the words from D&C 25:13 along with a fill-in-the-blank strip of paper for them to write the reference "D&C _____:_____" and a strip of paper with the question "To whom was this scripture specifically given to?")
Cut the verse up so each word of the verse is separate. (I had 18 balloons per team)
Roll up one piece of paper (with one word on it) and place it inside a balloon, then blow it up.
Tie rope on to each skateboard
Before team members go to their "boxed off" areas, place the laundry basket and skateboard with rope tied to in inside their box
In the center of the room, scatter the colored balloons all over.
Divide players into teams and have them report to their boxes after you have reviewed the rules for play.

Method of Play:

When it is time for play, the first player lies belly-down on the skateboard with the laundry basket in hand.
They push off and capture a balloon of their team's color.
The players in the box hold on to the rope as the player pushes off and captures the balloon.
Once the player has secured a balloon, the team members pull him/her back to the team box where they deliver and pop the balloon, saving the paper inside.
As the team members pop the balloons. they begin to put the words in order to form a scripture verse.
As the words come in, they are able to figure out the reference and answer the question that is in one of the balloons
Once all the words are in order, the scripture reference is named, and the question is answered, the team calls out "DONE" and the teacher or leader checks their work. If they struggle to complete, have them use their scriptures as a reference.
Prizes were given for each team. (I had a large bowl of treats. 1st place chose 4 treats, 2nd place chose 3 treats, 3rd place-2 treats, 4th place-1 treat)

Rules:

No touching the balloons with your hands until they have been retrieved with the basket and delivered back to the team box.
Only one balloon at a time may be retrieved
Player must remain on skateboard, "belly-on", when searching for and capturing a balloon.
Basket must be turned upside down- with the open end flat on the floor with the ballon "trapped" inside as the player is pulled back to the Team Box.
No team member may have a turn twice in a row, yet not all players must take a turn
Balloon must be retrieved with the basket
Balloons may be kicked out of your box with feet, but not touched by hands (if balloons from other teams float in to your space)
If the rope is too short for the player on the skateboard to reach, the players in the box must form a "human chain or rope" to extend the length of the rope, with one player always in the box. The entire team cannot leave the box all at one time, one person must remain in the box as the connection to the person on the skateboard and those holding the rope and linked together.

At the conclusion, we discussed the application of this scripture and reviewed the counsel from Elder Richard G Scott that to memorize a scripture is to gain a new friend.
Regularly, I encourage them to surround themselves with positive friends and the best friends they ever have will be the scriptures.

Thank you Thomas Mark Olsen for this amazing idea.