Thursday 30 July 2015

Program for an Indian themed term

Along with working through the World Guiding achieve-a-challenge trefoil one last term, the Brownie Guides also completed their Other People create-a-challenge badge. For this badge we focused on India and Sangam. 

Below is the booklet I made, so that each girl could keep track of her progression through the badge. If you have visited our World Centre in India, you may notice that I was inspired by the Sangam's very own Sangam Challenge.

This was a really fun badge to work on and I look forward to working through it again, when my current Brownies have all moved on to Guides.

Front cover:



Inside pages:


Back cover:
------------------------

Have you held an Indian themed meeting? 
What activities did you do?

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Completing World Guiding trefoil one

I have already discussed the three meetings that we held last term, focusing solely on the World Guiding achieve-a-challenge badge. During these meetings, the Brownie Guides completed six of the eight challenge requirements.

Over the remainder of the term, the final two challenges were completed at a less intense pace. Challenge seven was to learn the World Song. We practiced singing the lyrics each week and then I signed off the challenge as complete at the end of term. One girl even performed the song as a solo!




Challenge eight was to teach a game from another country. A few girl's had already completed this challenge during our first three meetings, but to get everybody else through this challenge 2-3 girls would teach a game at each meeting. This was probably my favourite activity that we did all term. The range of games was astounding and the Brownie's were so proud to be in that leadership role and share their game. They definitely exceeded my expectations!

I wish i'd made note of all the games we played, but here is a list of those that I can recall. I've provided links to the rules where I could find them.

Canada - Dox-en Eye
Sweden - Newspaper challenge
New Zealand - Train
Thailand - Kratai Kha Diew (One Leg Rabbit)
Trinidad - Limbo
Japan - Make others laugh
Mexico - Racing cars
Vietnam - Nhay giay (elastics)

At each meeting we would also refer to or complete further lap book activities. I would randomly quiz the girl's on information they had learned such as the meaning of WAGGGS and giving examples of the Links of Unity. By the end of term, there were a lot of badges to present! But the girl's had all worked really hard so they deserved them. Maybe next year we can look at completing the second trefoil for this badge...

Tuesday 28 July 2015

The treasure inside of me


Rather than diving straight into Session One of Free Being Me, we began with one of the extra recommended activities, found on page 3 of the 7-10 year old Activity Book.


The cardboard boxes were purchased from Riot craft store for $3 each with the dimensions of the bases being approximately 15x15x15cm. I had considered using smaller boxes, but these were on sale, and have turned out to be much more suitable with the size of the notes being added.

During our first meeting of the term, each girl was given a box to decorate with coloured tissue paper and glue. Some girl's chose to cover every inch, while others didn't mind the brown cardboard showing through.


The layered tissue paper looks great and the girl's loved the range of colors available to create interesting patterns.



As this meeting was a couple of weeks ago, messages have already been added into many of the boxes. However, I won't be sharing them here until the end of term. It wouldn't be fair to post them before the girl's have a chance to read them!




-------------------------------------


Have you made Treasure-Inside-Me boxes for Free Being Me
Did you do something else instead?

Sunday 26 July 2015

Adults only

Sometimes a little time away from the Guide's is all you need for a re-boot. I rarely get excited about attending a training, however I ALWAYS end up leaving with a smile on my face!

I had a fantastic weekend meeting Leader's from far and wide, visiting a campsite that I know the older Guides will LOVE, learning new songs and activities and spending quiet time reflecting and admiring the beauty of nature.

I finished the weekend exhausted, yet refreshed but most of all, inspired.


Thursday 23 July 2015

Delicious campfires

A ridiculous amount of rain last term delayed our campfire meeting. Instead, we held an indoor sing-a-long by torch-light and built mini fires from lollies.




Everybody had time to build their own fire and then had to explain to the unit what they had made. The creation below was declared the most creative. It depicts a bucket of water, a roaring campfire, logs to sit on, grass and marshmallows on sticks!




Have you made mini campfires with your unit?

Saturday 18 July 2015

Update

Highlights of what we've been up to lately:
  • Term two ended, we had a brief break for the school holidays and now term three has commenced.
  • Almost every Brownie Guide earned the World Guiding explore-a-challenge and Other People create-a-challenge badge last term.
  • Two campfires - one inside and the other outside.
  • We celebrated four birthdays - one with homemade cupcakes!
  • This year's batch of Guide biscuits have all been sold (and the profit spent).
  • Another girl has moved up to the Guide unit with one more about to start linking.
  • As usual, I am realising that there is just not enough time in a year to complete everything... farewell, adorable Christmas craft! 
This term we be working on Free Being Me, so i'll share our adventures as we work through the 7-10 year old activities.