On Sunday, 1 March, Plast members gathered for a special meeting посвящений to the life and legacy of the great Ukrainian poet, artist, and thinker — Taras Shevchenko. Each age group explored his творчість, history, and cultural significance in their own engaging and meaningful way.
Ptashata
The youngest Plast members began by learning about Taras Shevchenko and looking at his portrait. They then took part in a fun activity called the “Lucky Bag,” where children randomly selected objects and guessed how they connected to Shevchenko: a pen representing his writing, a paintbrush symbolising his art, the Ukrainian flag reflecting his love for his homeland, and symbols like viburnum and the nightingale representing Ukrainian nature. A small book introduced them to the Kobzar.
They also learned about who a kobzar was and were introduced to the poem “Сонце гріє, вітер віє,” which they practised together using movements and visual cue cards.
The meeting continued with a series of lively games, including:
- searching for word cards from the poem,
- an active game “Nightingale, fly!”,
- an attention game “The Artist’s Colours,”
- and a creative activity “The Magic Paintbrush,” where children transformed into whatever the artist Taras “painted.”
To finish, each child received a small gift from the “Lucky Bag.”
Novatstvo
The Novatstvo group explored Shevchenko’s life and творчість through discussion and a memory game, where they had to recall objects associated with the poet and explain their meanings.
They also learned the song “Koly vizhmu khustynu” and held a friendly competition to see whether the girls or the boys could perform it better.
A special highlight of the day was spotting a kookaburra in a tree, which delighted the children. On the way to lunch, everyone sang the cheerful song “Once there lived a man named Ivan.”
Yunatstvo
The Yunatstvo group focused on planning upcoming activities. They discussed the requirements for achieving the “Prykhyl’nyk” status, with those who complete them to be recognised at the next meeting.
They are also preparing for an upcoming overnight hike during the school holidays after Easter, with plans to walk part of the Bibbulmun Track, one of Western Australia’s most scenic and well-known trails.
An important milestone was the official approval of their group name, “Bystri Sokoly” (Swift Falcons). Administrative responsibilities were shared between two members, and the group has also been learning poetry for Shevchenko Days to deepen their connection to Ukrainian cultural heritage.
We sincerely thank the parents who support Plast life and bring their children to meetings, nurturing their development and love for Ukrainian traditions. Special thanks also go to grandparents who take the time to be present, connect, and support our community.
We are especially grateful to the parents who prepared delicious snacks, helping our Plast members recharge after a day full of activities and learning.
It was wonderful to see everyone together — learning, playing, and sharing time in the Plast community.
We look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting!
