Thursday, 21 May 2015

World Guiding lap book cover page

The girls have been working on World Guiding lap books this term (inspired by Guider Lee Ann from Owl & Toadstool) to consolidate all the information they have learnt for their World Guiding achieve-a-challenge badge and their Other People create-a-challenge badge.

The lap books are made using a manilla folder and each week bits and pieces are added to the inside. The front covers are all decorated in free time at the start of each meeting while we wait for everybody to arrive. Many of these covers are still a work in progress, but they look great so far!




Monday, 11 May 2015

Super Woman

Last year, I become a little bit lax about putting out the Patrol Activity Tubs and instead had the girls take turns running a game for the first 20 minutes of the meeting. It was a little chaotic, but it also gave each Brownie the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. As an unexpected bonus, it has made things easier this term now that teaching an international game is a requirement of the World Guiding badge we are currently working towards.

The girl's played many games, however, Evolution would probably be voted the Brownie Guides number one game of 2014. It is the loudest, most chaotic experience and when we play the parent helpers just look on in horror, wondering why I am letting things get so out of control. Five to ten minutes later all movement ceases, there is a pause of silence and then a huge cheer, "______ is Super Woman!!" I walk over to congratulate Super Woman then raise my hand for silence and order is resumed. Organised chaos at it's finest.

I discovered the game over a year ago on Gecko the Guide Leader's blog and it was only when I was reading Guidey Laurie's blog last year that I remembered I still hadn't taught the girls to play! It's a fairly quick game and would be good to use as a filler or a way to have a group of new girls mix with everybody. 


Evolution

The concept is very simple. You want to be the first to reach SUPER WOMAN.

Everybody starts out as an egg. All players walk around mingling. Find a partner and play Scissors, Paper, Rock. Whoever wins moves up a level, whoever loses stays an egg. Find a new player who is the SAME level as you. Egg vs egg, chicken vs chicken etc. Whoever loses goes down a stage (except eggs as it is the lowest), whoever wins moves up.

Stages/Action:
Egg - hand linked above head in oval shape, say "egg" repeatedly
Chicken - Bend arms and flap as wings
Dinosaur - use arms as giant chomping jaws
Monkey - scratch under armpits
Human - Wave and say 'hello!'
Girl Guide - three fingered salute
Guide Leader - shake finger and say 'Don't do that!'
Super Woman - arms stretched up high in the air


Make sure to visit Gecko the Guide Leader for other great games and resources, as well as the original version of Evolution!


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What game do your Guides love to play?

Saturday, 9 May 2015

Flower woggle

You may recall, that last year my Brownie Guides were obsessed with all things 'loom band' related and on one of their Patrol nights, led a looming activity.

At the time, I felt woefully unprepared to assist, so I learnt some alternate ways of looming such as using a fork or a knitting loom. Eventually I caved and bought my own loom so that I could learn to make the fancier bracelet designs.

One of the designs I learnt to make was a double daisy charm, which as it turns out doubles really well as a woggle! The colours i've used would be perfect woggle for Junior Guides, while a Guide unit could use an orange centre on the flower to match their uniform. 



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Would you make a woggle using loom bands?

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Guiding resources

I recently discovered the website for 2nd Kingsbridge Guides, which is full of AMAZING resources! Tying knots, building gadgets, Promise and Law activities and more! Make sure you stop by, as i'm sure you'll find something new to use in your meetings. The P&L activities are all based around Girl Guides UK, but are easily adaptable, especially to Girl Guides Australia as The Promise is so similar.

I'm definitely going to have a go at whittling a woggle, although perhaps not with the Brownie Guides!



Image credit: 2nd Kingsbridge Guides


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What great website have you discovered recently?

Monday, 4 May 2015

Regions of the world meeting

Continuing with our World Guiding badge, our second meeting this term was based around the 5 world regions of WAGGGS. The main activities are straight from Guidey Laurie's blog, as reading her post was the reason I decided that we could complete two badge syllabus's this term rather than just the one! 




Program for meeting:



World Centres mini book

The Brownies all completed their mini books which they had started last week. I was thrilled at the amount of information they remembered from our games last weekthankfully moving beyond 'cat facts'!

While given the same resources and instructions, each book has it's own personal touch.






Game run by a Brownie Guide


One of the requirements for the World Guiding achieve-a-challenge badge is to learn and teach a game or song from another country. I'll need to confirm, but this possibly would also cross-credit with the Junior BP award.

We are working through all the badge requirements during our unit meetings, and this was the only challenge that I told girls they would need to go home to research, learn and then bring back to the unit. I made sure that they understood that girl's that don't complete this challenge will not have completed the badge requirements needed to earn their badge.

Image credit: Girl Guides QLD shop

Miss 7 years was the first volunteer to teach a game, which was a Canadian Aboriginal game called 'Dox-en Eye'. She did such an amazing job explaining the game to the girls as they sat down and then leading them through it. Afterwards, we held a brief discussion about completing the challenge - difficulties, things that would be changed, things that worked - and the rest of the unit voted unanimously that the game was wonderful and she had done a successful job completing the challenge requirements. 

WAGGGS Regions atlas game

As I mentioned, this activity is from Guidey Laurie's blog. The Brownie Guide's absolutely loved locating the region in the atlas and then calling out countries which may be possible members of WAGGGS. It was definitely a challenge as many had never used an atlas before! Instructions to play are on Guidey Laurie's blog - the only thing we didn't do was keep score. The atlas were all borrowed from the local library who had an amazing range of children's atlas available from which to choose.



Asia-Pacific matching card game

Another of Guidey Laurie's creations and a fun way to interact with the Guiding countries of the Asia-Pacific region. I created my cards just like she did, using images from the WAGGGS website and occasionally member country websites. I made two sets, so that two Patrols could play against each other at a time. As with most of my resources, the cards are laminated so that we can use them again and again. Definitely a great 'filler' activity for future meetings!




Another productive and fun night (don't you love when activities are successful!) although we didn't get to do two other activities I had planned about WAGGGS membership and the links of unity. We'll have to cover them in our next meeting. 



Downloads [COMING SOON! Keep reminding me so I don't forget]
  • WAGGGS regions member list
  • Asia-Pacific matching card game

Related posts:

Friday, 1 May 2015

What REALLY happens at Brownie Guides?


Image credit: 23rd Guelph Brownies