oshc activities

Search over 1,000+ DIY activities for your next Pirate day

Free theme day ideas for before school, after school and vacation care, all in one place. Filter by setting, age, energy and cost, or build a whole themed day in one click.

1,052activities245theme days225full-day themes
Popular theme days
1,052 activities
After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +3

Cup Tower Book Challenge

Children engineer a tower from cups and card strong enough to hold a book, testing ideas about balance, load and stable bases.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +2

Twisted Paper Loop Magic

Children make a twisted paper loop, predict what will happen when they cut it, then discover the surprising one-sided shape that results.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go8-12
After School Quick STEM · Paper Crafts Day · Challenge Day +2

One-Sheet Paper Chain

Teams try to make the longest possible paper chain from a single sheet, planning how to cut and join strips for maximum length.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +3

Spaghetti and Tape Tower

Small teams build the tallest free-standing tower they can from dry spaghetti and tape, learning about triangles, bracing and teamwork.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-go8-12
After School Quick STEM · Games Day · Board Games Day +2

Number Card Maths Game

Children use a deck of coloured number cards to play quick adding and multiplying games, turning maths practice into friendly competition.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go8-12
All About Australia Day · Aussie Outback Day · Cricket Day +2

Australia Day Activity Mix

A relaxed program of Australian animal crafts, a damper-making session and backyard cricket gives children a hands-on day about life in Australia.

EitherModerateBig set-up5-7, 8-12
All About Australia Day · Animal Theme · Aussie Outback Day +3

Kangaroo and Koala Masks

Younger children paint and decorate paper plate masks of kangaroos or koalas, talking about the features of each native animal.

IndoorCalmSome prep5-7
All About Australia Day · Cricket Day · Summer Holidays +2

Relaxed Backyard Cricket

A casual, inclusive game of cricket with friendly rules so everyone gets a bat, a bowl and a laugh.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
All About Australia Day · Birthday for Everyone Day · Cooking Day +2

Fairy Bread Making

Children butter bread and shake on colourful sprinkles to make a classic Australian party treat, practising simple food preparation skills.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
All About Australia Day · Aussie Outback Day · Summer Holidays +3

Thong Throwing Contest

Children fling rubber thongs for distance in a classic Aussie backyard contest that is silly, active and easy to set up.

OutdoorHighGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
Great Race Day · Challenge Day · Teamwork Day +2

Two-Choice Detour Challenges

At each stop of a team race, groups choose between two different mini challenges, weighing up speed, skill and strategy together.

EitherModerateSome prep8-12
Great Race Day · Gross and Messy Day · Games Carnival Day +2

No-Hands Donut Relay

Relay teams take turns eating a hanging donut without using their hands, then walk back to tag the next player for a funny, messy race.

OutdoorModerateSome prep5-7, 8-12
Great Race Day · Outdoor Explorers · Treasure Hunters Day +3

Grounds Map Navigation

Children use a simple map of the service grounds to locate hidden checkpoints, building map-reading and directional skills.

OutdoorModerateSome prep8-12
Great Race Day · Challenge Day · Obstacle Course Day +2

Checkpoint Roadblock Tasks

Teams stop at checkpoints to complete a mix of physical and brain-teaser tasks before moving on, combining fitness and thinking.

OutdoorHighSome prep8-12
Great Race Day · Teamwork Day · Treasure Hunters Day +2

Service-Wide Challenge Race

Teams race through challenge stations around the whole service, collecting clues that lead them to a final finish line.

EitherHighBig set-up5-7, 8-12
Great Race Day · Around the World Day · Teamwork Day +2

Team Flag Design

Each team designs its own flag with a name, colours and symbols, building identity and team spirit before a race or games day.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
Ancient Egypt · Time Travellers Day · Spy School +2

Write Your Name in Hieroglyphs

Children use a picture-symbol alphabet chart to write their names the ancient Egyptian way, exploring how early writing systems worked.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
Ancient Egypt · Halloween · Time Travellers Day +2

Mummy Wrapping Race

Teams race to wrap one teammate from shoulders to feet in toilet paper like an ancient mummy, creating lots of laughter and teamwork.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
Ancient Egypt · Science Week · Science Day +2

Salt Mummy Apple Experiment

Children preserve apple slices in salt and compare them with uncovered slices over several days, discovering how drying helped ancient mummification.

IndoorCalmSome prep8-12
Ancient Egypt · At the Building Site · Time Travellers Day +2

Sugar Cube Pyramids

Children build mini pyramids from sugar cubes held together with icing, learning about square bases and how layers shrink as they rise.

IndoorCalmSome prep5-7, 8-12
Animal Theme · Under the Sea · World Oceans Day +3

Group Ocean Wall Mural

Children create sea animal artworks that are collected into one large underwater mural, giving everyone a part in a shared display.

IndoorCalmSome prep5-7, 8-12
ANZAC Day · Cooking Day · Remembrance Day +2

Bake ANZAC Biscuits

Children mix, roll and bake oat and golden syrup biscuits while learning why these biscuits are linked to ANZAC Day.

IndoorCalmSome prep5-7, 8-12
ANZAC Day · Remembrance Day · Mindfulness Day +1

Minute of Quiet Reflection

Children take part in a respectful minute of silence and a gentle conversation about why people remember those who served.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12
ANZAC Day · Remembrance Day · Craft Day +1

Paper and Button Poppies

Children make red remembrance poppies from paper and buttons, creating a display and learning about the symbol's meaning.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-go5-7, 8-12