Blog Archives
New Supplements Available Now!
I have started uploading the new supplements for Girl Scout Traditions. You can find all of our Girl Scout supplements here.
Printables: World Games has also had supplements added. The badge program is coming out next month.
I like to print the world games out and give them to teachers as a gift. The time of year when the kids can’t go outside to play is here. The printable games give the kids something to break from their daily work and allow them to be indoors for recess / lunch. Some of the games need a print each time they are played. Some are reusable.
Happy Holidays!
Badge: DNR – Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree is an environmental education program for kids from preschool through grade 12. It is from the American Forest Foundation.
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Steps
1. Project Learning Tree (PLT).
Project Learning Tree is designed to get kids outside. The purpose is to teach kids HOW to think about the environment. Explore the Web site to learn more.
2. GreenWorks!
GreenWorks! provides the framework for service learning in cooperation with businesses, non-profits, etc. Review the guidelines and brainstorm ways you can incorporate PLT activities / service into your current programming.
3. GreenSchools!
GreenSchools! encourages positive environmental action of schools and communities. Review this program and decide if you want to reduce your school’s ecological footprint. These activities can be incorporated into normal school days. How much can you do to help the environment?
4. Try an activity.
Free activities are available online. Try one or more to see how the program works. Is this something you can use with your youth troop / group?
5. Take a PLT workshop.
Search for your state coordinator and / or events to find out when workshops are being offered. Sign up and take one.
6. Earth and Sky radio show.
www2.plt.org/flash/PLT_EarthSky_2009.html
Earth and Sky is a daily radio show that highlights a range of environmental topics. Go to the Earth and Sky Web site and look through some of their offerings. Do a tutorial if you are interested in this resource.
7. Focus on forests.
Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests module is now available. Learn about forestry. Explore the links and resources to find activities you can use with your youth.
8. Look through the curriculum.
Review the curriculum to find other items not specifically called out in the steps of this badge program. Are there more areas you’re interested in learning about? If so, find out more.
9. Additional resources of PLT activities.
Under “Curriculum”, explore the additional activity resources for both PreK-8 and Secondary.
10. Incorporating PLT with Girl Scouts.
PLT has activities that work with all levels of Girl Scouts. Look through their provided lists to see what activities you can incorporate into your Girl Scout activities.
11. Incorporating PLT with Boy Scouts.
Look through activities to find out how to incorporate PLT activities with Boy Scout activities.
12. Create an activity box.
Create an activity box based on the program/youth you work with to introduce adults to Project Learning Tree. Include instructions on how the activity works and where adults can get their own materials if they are interested in learning more.
13. Environmental education.
connect.plt.org/app/render/go.aspx?xsl=tp_community.xslt
PLT provides even more educational support. Check out their site where they encourage others to share their PLT materials.
14. Become a trainer or coordinator.
Find out what you need to do to become a trainer / coordinator for Project Learning Tree.
15. Explore ways to share PLT.
Find ways to share Project Learning Tree with others beyond Step 14.
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Sites to Explore
All links are provided within the steps above.
Badge: DNR – Project WET
Project WET deals with water issues from healthy drinking water to conservation. It is designed for kids aged 5-18.
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Steps
1. DNR in your state.
Find the Web site of the Department of Natural Resources in your state. Explore the educational offerings specific to your state. Locate your state’s Project WET materials.
2. Project WET online.
Review the Project Wet site. Learn about its history, goals and how it works.
3. Project WET materials.
Some materials come free with training. Some you can purchase. Review the materials available on the Web site and store.
NOTE: Some materials in the store are free.
4. Participate in a Project WET workshop.
Project WET is a free six-hour workshop that gives educators tools to teach water resources. Upon completion of the workshop, participants receive a 516-page curriculum and activity guide at no charge. Though the workshops are designed for teachers to incorporate environmental science into their curriculum, many adults find these materials are also beneficial for working with youth groups. Review the materials you receive after the workshop and find some you would like to do.
5. Incorporating science into other subjects.
Materials in Project WET reach beyond environmental science. The concepts are designed to be used with health, language arts, history, math and more. Find ways of incorporating Project WET materials into other areas.
6. Beyond Project WET.
Explore other water science programming / educator guides also offered by the DNR. If you find any that interest you, explore those as well. Remember to look beyond “teacher” offerings. See what Project WET has to offer parents, corporations, aquariums, etc.
- WOW! Wonders of Wetlands
- Healthy Water, Healthy People
- Conserve Water
- Discover Floods
7. Check out Project WET in other states.
Examine offerings from other states. Compare to find out what materials are also used by other states and those specifically made for them. Are there materials you can use as well?
8. Incorporating Project WET with Girl Scouts.
www.uni.edu/~iowawet/G_Scout.html
Project WET has activities that work with Girl Scout badges and patches. Look through their provided lists to see what activities you can incorporate into your Girl Scout meetings / events.
9. Incorporating Project WET with Boy Scouts.
Compare the offerings of Project WET with individual merit badge books to find activities to incorporate Project WET with Boy Scout awards.
10. Share with youth.
Share some of the information you received in training or from your materials with youth. This can be a troop, group or even individuals. Use your materials to create a summer camp day or week to encourage kids to become more aware of environmental science.
11. Create an activity box.
Create an activity box based on the program/youth you work with to introduce adults to Project WET. Include instructions on how the activity works and where adults can get their own materials if they are interested in learning more.
12. Service.
Design a service project with Project WET in mind. Run it yourself or ask others to help. Ask participants to evaluate the program after it has completed and offer creative criticism to improve your service project.
13. Become a trainer / coordinator.
Find out what you need to do to become a trainer / coordinator for Project WET.
14. Explore ways to share Project WET.
Find ways to share Project WET with others beyond Step 13.
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Sites to Explore
www.butlerwebs.com/hunting/statelist.htm
www.projectwet.org
www.watereducation.org/doc.asp?id=1012
www.nationalwatercenter.org
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters
Girl Scout Traditions Badge Set
UPDATE: All eight of the badge programs have been released for review.
Review should be completed October 16th.
The collections on Scribd and Google Documents for Girl Scout Printables will be updated and house all Girl Scout supplements and printables to help Girl Scout adults when looking for materials to support our 100th anniversary in 2012.
Supplements starting with FOUND are items found on the Web over the last ten years. Supplements starting with SUPP are ones I’ve created to support the badge programs.
Have a great day!
Laura
Badge: Cooperative Games (revised)
Cooperative games allow your group to work together during a game. These types of games are inclusive. They emphasize participation and challenge rather than defeating another person or team. There is no “winner” or “loser”, just having fun!
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Steps
1. Explore group dynamics.
While cooperative games are inclusive, some steps may be difficult for your group. Review the participants you will have playing and find games that can be played by everyone.
2. Start with the provided PDF.
You will find SUPP_Cooperative Games.pdf on Scribd, Google DOCs and our Yahoo! Group. Review the games on this PDF. Find a few you’d like to try.
3. Play the games.
Play the games you chose with your group. Keep notes on things that worked and whether the group liked the game.
4. Adjusting games.
Sometimes you’ll want to play a game, but the rules don’t enable you to play or you need materials you don’t have. Perhaps the game is too easy or hard for your group. The simplest thing to do is change the rules. If you’ve played the game before with your group, make sure you communicate any changes. Always make notes on what you’re changing so that you remember in the future without losing a lot of time on discussion. Try modifying one or two of the games.
5. Finding more.
Search through books or Web sites to find more games to add to your collection. We have some sites to start you out below. As you collect them, make notes to any that you feel need modification to make them more usable.
6. Other game areas.
Other games areas where you might find cooperative games include parachute games, clapping games and even video games. Look outside games you would normally play to expand your cooperative game collection even further.
7. Design your own.
Take a personal challenge and design your own cooperative game. You’ll need to take into account your group, the time you want to spend and perhaps a theme if you’re trying to tie it into other activities.
8. Share.
Share your game collection with your organization, other groups or AEP members.
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Supplement
SUPP_CooperativeGames.pdf
Sample cooperative games.
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Sites to Explore
www.mrgym.com/CooperativeGames.htm
www.creativekidsathome.com/games/cooperative_games
www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/cooperative-games.page-1.html
dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/games/cooperative_games/cooperative_games.htm
www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/?p=841
www.ehow.com/how_5638455_design-cooperative-games.html
scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/Program/Games.htm
Badge: Parachute Games (revised)
Incorporating a parachute in your fun time allows everyone a chance to play as a group. Parachute size should be considered to make sure there’s enough room for everyone. If you can’t afford a parachute, you can make your own from patterns available on the Web or try some of these with a simple sheet.
Pull out your parachute and let’s go play!
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Steps
1. Where can you play?
To successfully play with a parachute, you need to make sure you have enough room. Height has to be considered as well as the size of the parachute itself. Outdoors is an easy choice. You can play indoors in gymnasiums and other areas with high ceilings. Be aware of the floor surface as well as this may affect your game. Find somewhere you can play.
2. Safety.
One problem with group games is that accidents happen more often. Prepare a list of safety rules to share with your players. Make sure everyone understands not only the rules but also why rules are needed.
As you’re playing, be aware of the activity level and attention of the group. As kids get silly, they often forget the rules. By being vigilant, you can help minimize injuries.
REMEMBER: Never place a person on the parachute and attempt to raise or throw them. Most play parachutes are not built to hold people. Accidents from injury to death could occur from an improperly thrown person.
3. Commands.
Practice commands to make sure everyone know what to do. Commands may include:
- Inflate – lift parachute over head
- Deflate – parachute should be moved to a flat position
- Float – keep parachute in air above heads
- Stop – everyone stops what they’re doing
What other commands do you think you’d need?
4. Grip terms.
Practice these grips with your players.
- Overhand: Palms are facing down
- Underhand: Palms are facing up
- Crossover: Right hand over left hand with both palms down
5. Skills.
Practice skills with the parachute.
- Flutter – everyone moves the parachute up and down as fast as possible
- Waves – everyone works together to make small, medium or large waves
- Stretch – Using the overhand grip, lean back pulling the parachute taut
- Dome – together, everyone pulls the parachute up and down quickly in front of them, catching air inside
- Mushroom – together, everyone pulls the parachute up and takes a step or two forward so they
- are “inside” the parachute when it comes down
- Tent – together, everyone pulls the parachute up and down quickly, taking a step or two forward so they
- are “inside” the parachute and sit down, holding the edge behind them
- Jell-o – while in the final position of “Tent”, put feet out in front of you and kick the parachute up
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Parachute games and activities
6. Play with parachute only.
Try one or more of these games using only the parachute. Find these games on the Web or download the Parachute Games supplement for the rules.
- Fruit salad
- Colors
- Cat and mouse
- Sharks and lifeguards
- See-saw
- Air conditioning
- Blob
- Parachute tag
- Ocean waves
- One hand run
Search the Web for more games and activities you can do with the parachute alone.
7. Parachute with balls.
Try one or more of these games using a parachute and one or more soft balls. Again, the supplement has rules for you.
- Rollerball
- Popcorn
- Ball toss
- Bouncing balls
8. Other items for play.
You can replace the soft balls with soft dolls, yarn, bean bags, stuffed animals or other items to freshen your games. There are even games you can play with an earth ball. Look for other items and games you can incorporate into your parachute play beyond the standard balls.
9. Adapt other games.
Make a “Tent” and play “Duck, Duck, Goose” or a similar game under the tent. What other circle games can you adapt to play with your parachute?
10. Dances.
www.izaak.unh.edu/dlp/NorthernJunket/NJindex/folk%20dances.htm
You can do simple folk dance steps with your parachute. Check out some samples you can pull from this link or use some of your own.
If you choose, take a familiar song your kids know and put actions to it, creating your own circle dance. Pull steps out of folk dances or ask the kids to select their own actions. Make sure you document your new dances so you can do them again.
11. Circle activities.
You can adapt your circle activities with a parachute by creating a “Tent” to have your opening and / or closing circle. You can also do activities from discussions to singing under your parachute. Try using your parachute beyond games.
12. Create your own games.
Create your own parachute games or encourage your players to make them. Start by adjusting the rules of games you already know. Then, venture into your own original games.
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Supplement
SUPP_ParachuteGames.pdf
Parachute games sampler
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Sites to Explore
www.creativeplay4less.com/ppchutegames.html
www.mrgym.com/MiscGames/Parachute.htm
www.funandgames.org/games/GameParachute.htm
www.youthwork-practice.com/games/parachute-games.html
www.youthwork-practice.com/programs-youth-group-meetings/parachute-cloth-Olympics.html
www.scoutscan.com/beavers/parachut.html
www.ehow.com/parachute-games
www.squidoo.com/parachute-games
www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/parachute-games.page-1.html
rhymetime4kids.blogspot.com/2010/10/parachute-games.html
Badge: Icebreakers for Kids (revised)
Whether you’re starting a troop or planning an event, icebreakers are great for kids to get to know each other. While icebreakers can be games or activities, this badge program is geared toward kid preferences.
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Steps
1. Why icebreakers?
Icebreakers can play an important role helping kids connect with one another in a group environment. They can also act as energizers during a long meeting or discussion. Some ways they can be used include:
- Get to know one another
- Introduce a new member to an existing group
- Help kids feel comfortable together
- Encourage cooperation
- Encourage listening
- Encourage working together
- Break out of cliques
- Developing social skills
Identify when you can use icebreakers with your troop / group.
2. Provided PDFs.
SUPP_Icebreaker_Sampler.pdf is provided for this badge program by the Adult Enrichment Project. Download it to review as you work through the steps. As you review them, note that many of the icebreakers may be done by adults or kids.
3. Search the Web.
Go out on the Web and find more icebreakers you can use with your girls and / or boys. Save the ones you think look interesting.
4. Keep the kids in mind.
Before starting icebreakers, you need to determine if the game or activity is doable by your kids. You don’t want to have an activity that takes a lot of writing for Kindergartners and you don’t want one that’s too young for teenagers. Observe your target audience and select a few icebreakers you feel may work with your troop / group.
5. Breaking the rules.
Sometimes the icebreaker doesn’t work. Keep notes on any adjustments you may have made or to not use it again if it completely fails. Reflect on failed icebreakers to determine what went wrong and if you could use it with a different troop / group or age level.
6. The choice of themes.
Unlike adults, kids have more difficulty sitting still for long periods. While themes are a great way to tie icebreakers into an event or meeting, you’ll find that kids are more interested in the icebreaker itself. If they have one they enjoy, they’ll ask to do it again, whether it fits your current activities or not. As you use icebreakers with your kids, note how they react to icebreakers and what effect themes have on them. Track which ice breakers they request again.
7. More active.
Kids like to move. For this reason, you’ll probably want to choose more active icebreakers. Review the PDF and the icebreakers you collected. Assign an activity level to each so you can quickly pull an active icebreaker when they become restless. Also, watch your kids as the year progresses. As the weather outside discourages outdoor play, are your kids more likely to request active icebreakers?
8. When to use icebreakers.
As you search the Web, you may have noticed that many schools have icebreakers for classes to start the year. For meetings, they are used at the beginning to allow participants to get to know each other and raise the level of comfort. So, if you have a troop meeting frequently, you may not want to keep your icebreakers to introducing only. Kids love to share information about what they know, so adjust the icebreakers to share different information. In addition, icebreakers can be used as energizers when your kids start getting bored or overloaded. In what other instances do you think icebreakers could be used?
9. Fun props.
If the icebreaker says to use a ball to throw between participants to take turns, why not replace it? Try a teddy bear or rubber chicken. Before you use your icebreakers, see if you can replace the standard materials with fun props. Try running the same icebreaker with both the more traditional item and a fun prop. Which do the kids enjoy more?
10. Activities for props.
If you’ve ever forgotten your props, you’ll know the panic. You can add activities for missing props. Try taking turns by giving each other “high fives”, a handshake or even making faces at each other. What other activities can you come up with to replace props? How do these activities affect your icebreakers?
11. Friendship books.
If you are thinking of including icebreakers for the kids to share information about themselves, why not add sheets they fill out and make a friendship book? This will allow your kids to contact each other outside of your meeting times. This will add to their comfort as well as interacting outside of your shared setting. Think of ways to encourage your kids to use their friendship books.
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Supplement
SUPP_Icebreaker_Sampler.pdf
Selection of ice breakers to start this badge program.
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Sites to Explore
www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/activity_ideas/icebreakers.asp
www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/Training/LdrTrain.htm
www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/ice-breakers.html
www.group-games.com
www.youthgroupgames.co.uk/icebreakers-for-large-groups-1030-people.html
www.ehow.com/how_2214688_plan-ice-breakers-youth-group.html
www.funandgames.org/games/GameIcebreakers.htm
Badge: From a Child’s View (revised)
When researching something new, adults are often told to “check out the kid’s section” in the library. By starting with kids’ books, you can learn the terminology and basics in simple language and basic concepts. So, what other places can you find materials to help you start learning “from a child’s view?”
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Steps
1. Check out your house.
Do you have books or kits kids would use to learn something new? Do you have anything you are interested in that you’d like to start exploring? Create a “resources” area in your home, on your computer, etc. Donate items you do not plan to use yourself to youth groups, after school programs, schools, etc.
2. Used good sales.
Check out garage, yard and rummage sales. Do you have a used book store? Does your library recycle books? If you see something you can repurpose for your interests, put it into your physical “resources.”
3. Online kid activity sites.
Online activity sites and teacher lesson sites are a great place to get simple instructions to do things. Try a few of these or find your own.
- www.surfnetkids.com/directory
- www.indianchild.com/interesting_hobbies.htm
- www.familyeducation.com/home
- www.allstaractivities.com
- www.educationworld.com
4. Youth group badges and patches.
Youth groups provide programs from just requirements to full booklets full of material. You can find many items online to start with. You can find listings for some of these groups on AEP’s Yahoo! Group or on Scribd. Check out some of the following:
- www.girlscouts.org
- www.scouting.org
- www.frontiergirls.com/index.html
- www.4-h.org
- www.campfireusa.org
- www.spiralscouts.org
- www.keyclub.org/home.aspx
- www.scouts.ca/dnn
5. Volunteer with an organized group.
By volunteering, you may be able to get free or low-cost training. You’ll also expose yourself to “experts” from those who provide opportunities both within the group and outside from those that support the group.
6. Ask kids.
Go directly to the source. Find out what the kids know about your subject(s). If you’re looking for what’s new, ask the kids what they are learning. Find out where they go for fun! It might shock you to find out that they’re using computers in kindergarten or that at age 7, they are more tech-savvy than you are.
7. Local libraries.
Check out the kid section in your local library. Compare a subject from the kids section and the adult section to see the differences.
8. Keep a contact list.
As you meet experts who deal with children and teach them, keep a list of names and interests. When you begin to work on a subject, this person will be able to help you. If it’s something they are especially interested in, they’ll be happy to share more than just a few quick comments with you.
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Supplements
SUPP_American Heritage Girls_2010.pdf
SUPP_Boy Scouts_Cubs_2010.pdf
SUPP_Boy Scouts_Merit_2010.pdf
SUPP_Frontier Girls_2010.pdf
SUPP_Girl Scouts_11-17_2010.pdf
SUPP_Girl Scouts_Brownies_2010.pdf
SUPP_Girl Scouts_Juniors_2010.pdf
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