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!

Wonders of Water: Meeting 1

This year, our Brownie troop is going through the Wonders of Water Book.

Since we meet right after school, we always start with a snack. After that, we played the Mystery Bag Game.

Mystery Bag Game:
Need -- 5 paper lunchbags, numbered 1-5
            1 leaf, 1 grape (or piece of fruit), 1 lasagna noodle, 1 cup, 1 stuffed animal
            paper ballot for each girl

What to do: Have each girl feel inside the bags and try to guess what each item is without peaking. Have her write down the number of the bag and what she thinks is inside. When they finish, have them sit in a circle and call out guesses before revealing what's in each bag. See if they can guess how all the items are related (they're all water-related: leaves need water to live, grape is 81% water, lasagna noodles are cooked in water, cup holds water, animal needs water to live).

A picture of water. I was bored looking at all the writing...

We then talked about how not everyone has access to clean water. We discussed the three scenarios in the leader handbook on p.45 (all having to do with how you'd feel if you didn't have as much water as you're accustomed to). We talked about how protecting water is living out "using resources wisely" in the Girl Scout Law. We talked about ways to conserve water in our own lives and homes.

Since this was the first meeting, we then played a "Get-to-Know You Game."

Get-to-Know-You Game:
What to do: This is pretty much like "Concentration." We sat in a circle and clapped hands in a rhythm. I started with "I'm Laura...and I like knitting." Then the next girl had to say, "That's Laura...and she likes knitting. I'm Alexis...and I like animals." Since the girls are kind of young, we only made them remember the person next to them and their own. As they get older, you could make the game harder by making each person remember everyone who's gone before them until the last person has to recite everyone else's names and likes.

Then we sang two songs -- The Brownie Friend Song and On Top of Spaghetti.

We always end by reciting the Girl Scout Promise, making a Friendship Circle and singing Make New Friends (we do the first 2 verses). Then we do the Friendship Squeeze, and twist out of the circle and we're done!