Wonders of Water: Meeting 3

Because we've been learning about water we decided to do a little experiment this week. The girls learned that water acts as a magnifier. We followed the instructions here, and made water magnifiers.

Materials:
cardboard (I used a cereal box)
glass microscope slides (found at Hobby Lobby -- about $3/10)
tape
medicine droppers (from pharmacy at Walgreens -- $2/16...I just asked the pharmacist if I could buy a bunch)
cups for water
newspaper and other small things to view through magnifier

Prep work beforehand: I cut rectangles out of the cardboard and then cut holes in the middle of each rectangle.

 During the meeting: The girls taped the microscope slide under the hole in the cardboard. They then folded down each end so the magnifier looked like a little table.

They filled the medicine dropper and then put two or three drops on the slide.

They put a piece of newspaper under the magnifier and looked through the glass at the magnified print. We also examined tiny beads.

The girls loved the experiment but got a little crazy with the water toward the end. The magnifiers can withstand a few drops of water but when the girls totally soaked them, the cardboard collapsed.

After we made magnifiers, we talked about how at the last meeting, the girls had come up with ways to conserve water at home. They talked about the things they had done (turning off the water when brushing teeth, using one cup for drinking all day, etc.)

We have now earned the first of the badges in this series -- the Love Water Award.

Love Water Award is the heart-shaped one on the top left

We finished our meeting by forming a Friendship Circle, singing "Make New Friends" and doing the Friendship Squeeze.

Our Kaper Chart

I've been wanting to assign the girls some jobs for each meeting. The whole idea behind scouting is that the girls move toward more independence so that eventually, they're in charge of the troop. Our girls are still young but they need some responsibilities at the meetings (and they get really excited when they have jobs!) So I finally made us a kaper chart. I kept mine simple, with pre-cut foam shapes from Hobby Lobby and a corkboard I had sitting around the garage:

Our girls are 2nd graders...the jobs we've assigned for now are:
Attendance Taker (in case we earn a badge at the meeting -- we can keep track of who participated)
Pledge Leader (for the Pledge of Allegiance)
Promise Leader (for the Girl Scout Promise)
Friendship Squeeze Starter (we end every meeting with the Friendship Squeeze)
Snack Helper
Supply Helper (to pass out craft/other supplies)
Song Starter (we also end every meeting with "Make New Friends")

We tried it out at the last meeting and it was hugely popular. I just have to be careful now, and make sure every girl gets a chance to do something!

Tissue Paper Flowers

Another craft we did with our Daisies in the spring was tissue-paper flowers. We had each girl make one flower and twisted it onto a green pipe cleaner stem to take home.

The girls, of course, loved the flowers. They needed some help from leaders but it was a fun project overall.

Pipe Cleaner Turkeys

So I'm trying to go back and remember what crafts and other projects we did last year in Daisies...for Thanksgiving, we made these Pipe Cleaner Turkeys:

They turned out super-cute, but first grade girls needed a LOT of help with them. The pipe cleaner twisting was hard. If you're going to do it, I'd suggest having plenty of parent helpers on-hand. Also, plan to have all the felt cut ahead of time so that the girls are just assembling. They really were adorable, though -- we put ours on the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Wonders of Water: Meeting 2

This week, we had a tea party and talked about water. I brought my wedding china and we supplemented with some teacups bought at the thrift store.

We brought in fancy tablecloths and silverware and had gummy bear tea (I put in a little extra sugar) and snacks. We talked a little about how to properly set a table and how to act when out for something like tea (bonus -- besides working toward the water badge, they can also get their Tea Party Fun Patch).

Then we served hot tea (since we meet in a classroom, I brought my coffeemaker and ran just water through it to heat it up.) We watched the steam rise and cooled it off with an ice cube. We talked about the three forms of water -- vapor, liquid and solid.

We moved to a circle (gotta keep the kids up and moving!) and talked a little more about water and some things they can do at home to help improve or conserve water...like drinking out of one cup for the whole day, turning off the water when brushing teeth, etc. The girls all thought of one thing to do this month to help water.

We sang a song from the Girl Scout Songbook --
Hear the Lively Song
Of the Frogs in Yonder Pond
Krik, Krik, Krikkety Krik
Boooog-up, Boooog-up!

We tried it a few times, then sang it in a round. The girls loved it -- I think because the end is really lowwww.

Then we said the Promise, made a friendship circle and sang "Make New Friends," did the Friendship Squeeze and finished!