Hands create-a-challenge

There are times when badgework can be quite frustrating. There are just so many different badges available to work on and the Australian Guide program is designed for girls to discover, decide, plan and do their own challenges. It's a great system for girls to be actively involved in their own learning but sometimes it's a little overwhelming for Leaders when they are swarmed by Guides all wanting to work on completely different badges!

I know that in the past, Guides used to have badge officers - I think that it would be great to bring the role back! 

That said, I really do enjoy badges and I love when the girls try out new challenges and having fun doing it.

Below are the challenges I created for a small unit of girls who had just began Guiding and who I wanted to teach basic skills. We did a range of activities with hands as the overlying theme. As the girls worked through this badge, we discussed how they were challenging themselves and what made a good challenge. This assisted the girls to become more confident in the process of planning, completing and evaluating a challenge.

Since then I am proud to say they have gone on to complete many more badges and have become quite proficient at recognising what is and is not a challenge. 

Hands create-a-challenge

Challenges:

• Trace your hand onto coloured paper. Cut out and out and decorate (coloured nails, henna etc). Make a poster displaying everybody's hands.
• Learn to finger spell the alphabet in Auslan (Australian Sign Language).
• Learn to tie a reef knot.
• Complete challenges with NO hands & discuss eg. get a leaf from one end of the room to the other (blowing), write your name etc.
• Light a candle safely and toast marshmallows to make a s'more (used tea lights).
• Learn  the action and understand the meaning of the left handshake and Guide salute.
• Do the human knot challenge.
• Learn action campfire songs - Yogi Bear, Go Bananas, Baby Bumble Bee.
• Learn the Australian Guide Promise in Auslan. 
• Design and write postcards to send to Guides overseas.

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What challenges would you recommend for the Hands badge?

Make friendship bracelets? Charades? Learn to play a musical instruments?