Brownie Meeting 15: Connecting and Taking Action

Meeting at a Glance 

Goal:  Brownies earn the Connect Key by first exploring the “circles” of their lives and then expanding their caring to their community by writing a letter to a school or town official to seek a healthy-living improvement.

Toward the Award:  Connect Key

Supplies: 

See Brownie Supply Schedule

Pre-Meeting (15 min)

-Greet, sign-in, and put on nametags. 

-Color one of the pictures in the back of the GGGS Book.

Snack Time (Snacks, Step #4) (10 min)

Opening (5 min)

- Flag Ceremony

-Gather and greet each other with the Girl Scout handshake. 

Business (10 min)

-In the Girl Scout Brownie Ring, take attendance and collect dues, review rules and assign kapers.

Activity/Exploration (50 min)

• Gather the girls around for the Creating Circles of Caring activity
• Have the girls talk about what they did with their families for the Healthy-Living Family Activity.  Tape each family commitment card to the “Family Circle”

• Read “The Case of the Broken Sidewalk” on page 64 of the Girls Journey book.  Discuss.
• Talk to the girls about the sugar content in the school breakfasts.

Daily recommended about 26grams or 6 sugar cubes

• Brainstorm some ideas of what may need fixing in their neighborhoods or school.  (idea:  write a letter to the School Superintendent asking for healthier school breakfasts and copy all three school principals)
• Write the letter.
• If time, read Chapter 3 of the Brownie Quest book.

Clean-up (10 min)

• ALL girls participate in the clean-up time! Remind the girls of kapers and work together to leave the site better than you found it. 
• The Out Scout should be rotating the names on the Kaper Chart to see who will bring the snack and beverage for the next meeting. 

Closing (5 min)

• FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE – Use the Girl Scout Sign again to get the girls’ attention. Ask girls to gather around and form a circle. 
• Connect Key Celebration Ceremony.  Hand out the Connect Key patches.
• Their will be an outing on March 29, 2015 from 1:15pm-2:45pm at Library for complete our Dancer Skill Building badge.
• Let the girls know who will be bringing the snack next time and ask the girls to take the Snack Box home.  Remind girls to show their parent the note inside the snack box.
• Form a Friendship Circle, sing, “Goodbye Brownies,” and do a friendship squeeze. 
• Collect nametags and sign-out. 

Brownie Outing: Healthy Cooking Class (Brownie Quest)

Since our Brownie Quest Journey is all about healthy eating and lifestyles I thought having the girls take a healthy cooking class would be fun.  We participated in a Hands on Cooking Experience at Whole Foods Market. The class is $5 per student. 

Learn basic sanitation, measuring and cooking skills in a professional kitchen. Tour of the Produce Dept. & talk about the color of foods and the nutrients they provide 

We will be making Healthy Muffins made with shredded – choose one: carrots( Sunrise Muffins) zucchini ( Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins) apple(Apple Crunch Muffins) additional ingredient such as dates or raisins are included in these recipes- no nuts!  

Tour of Produce Department while they are baking. Juice and water will be served as your group sits to eat their creation.  

This activity is to reinforce the Journey the girls are starting and is for a fun badge.

squeezing oranges for juice

Brownie Meeting 14: My Family Story Skill Building Badge

Meeting at a Glance 

Goal:  To learn about my family and be able to share their stories

Toward the Award:  My Family Story Skill Badge

Supplies: 

See Brownie Supply Schedule

Pre-Meeting (15 min)

-Greet, sign-in, and put on nametags. 

-Draw and color a picture or your family.

Snack Time (Snacks, Step #4) (10 min)

Opening (5 min)

• Flag Ceremony
• Gather and greet each other with the Girl Scout handshake. 

Business (10 min)

• In the Girl Scout Brownie Ring, take attendance and collect dues, review rules and assign kapers.
• Using the talking stick, share your pictures that you drew.

Activity/Exploration (50 min)

• Read a story about families (MFS, Step #1)  The Great Big Book of Familiies by Mary Hoffman

• Have the girls share where their family is from and have them put the flag sticker on the large world map.  Have them share a family recipe with the other girls and tell what the recipe is and when they normally have it. (MFS, Step #2)

• Using the talking stick have the girls share the object they brought that is special to their family. (MFS, Step #4)
• Have the girls make a family tree, use page 5 of their packet or this handout.  (MFS, Step #3) 

• Pass out the family crest worksheet and have the girls create their family crests with the pictures they brought. (MFS, Step #5)

Clean-up (10 min)

• ALL girls participate in the clean-up time! Remind the girls of kapers and work together to leave the site better than you found it. 
• The Out Scout should be rotating the names on the Kaper Chart to see who will bring the snack and beverage for the next meeting. 

Closing (5 min)

• FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE – Use the Girl Scout Sign again to get the girls’ attention. Ask girls to gather around and form a circle. 
• Talk to the girls about the Connect at Home project.
• Pass out the Healthy-Living Family Activity sheet and tell them that they will need to go home and ask their families for help filling it in.  Remind them to bring it to the next meeting.

• Let the girls know who will be bringing the snack next time and ask the girls to take the Snack Box home.  Remind girls to show their parent the note inside the snack box.

-  Form a Friendship Circle, sing, “Brownie Smile Song,” and do a friendship squeeze. 

Brownie Meeting 13: Discovering and Connecting

Meeting at a Glance 

Goal:  The girls engage in a team-building game and reflect on the experience, which guides them to create a Brownie Team Agreement - the first step to the second key.

Toward the Award:  Connect Key, World Thinking Day

Supplies: 

See Brownie Supply Schedule

Pre-Meeting (15 min)

-Greet, sign-in, and put on nametags. 

-Color one of the pictures in the back of the GGGS Book.

Snack Time (Snacks, Step #4) (10 min)

Opening (5 min)

- Flag Ceremony

-Gather and greet each other with the Girl Scout handshake. 

Business (10 min)

-In the Girl Scout Brownie Ring, take attendance and collect dues, review rules and assign kapers.

-“Today we are going to share our Family Stars.”  Using the talking stick each girl will get to share something from their family star.

Activity/Exploration (50 min)

• Discover Key Celebration Ceremony.  Hand out the Discover Key patches.* 
• Play Pass the Ball, Please game to demonstrate working together as a team.  See page 61 of Brownie Quest Guide. 

• Create the Brownie Team Agreement. See page 53 of the girls Brownie Quest book.
• Read Chapter 2 of the girls Brownie Quest book
• For World Thinking Day show the girls the Fair Trade video on YouTube and have them try some fair trade chocolate from Whole Foods.

• Talk to the girls about the My Family Story Skill Building Badge.  Tell them they will need to come prepared with the following:
• Knowing where their family came from (ie.  England, Poland, Italy, China).
• A family recipe to share
• An object that means something to your family to share (ie.  photograph, book, or other object)
• Think about 4 things that are important to your family (could be things that you included on your Family Star) or things that your family really likes (ie. a favorite meal, like pizza; your family pet; a favorite activity, etc.) that you could include on a family crest.  Cut pictures out of magazines or bring pictures or be prepared to draw pictures that represent those things.  Show them my example.

Clean-up (10 min)

• ALL girls participate in the clean-up time! Remind the girls of kapers and work together to leave the site better than you found it. 
• The Out Scout should be rotating the names on the Kaper Chart to see who will bring the snack and beverage for the next meeting. 

Closing (5 min)

• FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE – Use the Girl Scout Sign again to get the girls’ attention. Ask girls to gather around and form a circle. 
• Let the girls know who will be bringing the snack next time and ask the girls to take the Snack Box home.  Remind girls to show their parent the note inside the snack box.

-  Form a Friendship Circle, sing, “Goodbye Brownies,” and do a friendship squeeze. 

-  Collect nametags and sign-out. 

*This would be a good meeting to have a parent iron-on session.

Brownie Outing: Yoga Workshop (Brownie Quest)

Since our Brownie Quest is all about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles we planned to attend a Kids Yoga class at a local studio.  The class was so much fun and the girls loved it.

Brownie Meeting 12: My Best Self Skill Building Badge

Meeting at a Glance 

Goal:  Learning to keep ourselves healthy and happy

Toward the Award:  My Best Self Skill Building Badge

Supplies: 

See Brownie Supply Schedule

Pre-Meeting (15 min)

-Greet, sign-in, and put on nametags. 

-Color in the elf and fill in the boxes on page 3 of the packet. (MBS, Step #1)

Snack Time (Snacks, Step #4) (10 min)

Opening (5 min)

- Flag Ceremony

- Gather and greet each other with the Girl Scout handshake. 

Business (10 min)

• In the Girl Scout Brownie Ring, take attendance and collect dues, review rules and assign kapers.
• “Today we are going to work on a skill building badge…My Best Self.  We only get one body, so it’s important to take care of it!  We are going to learn ways to pay attention to what our bodies need and how to ask for health help if we need it.”
• Using the talking stick share our Elf Selves with the group.

Activity/Exploration (50 min)

• Have Tara lead the group in some exercises to “get the wiggles out” (ie.  jumping jacks, run in place, touch toes)
• Have Tara talk about the government-designed MyPlate food guidance system.  Using construction paper and paper plates have each girl make their own MyPlate. (MBS, Step #2)

• Talk with the girls about three common reasons your “tummy” might hurt and take their temperture.  (MBS, Step #3)
• Using the talking stick have each girl share one thing from their “happy bag”. (MBS, Step #4)

• Have Mandy talk to the girls about being a school counselor and what they do to help students. (MBS, Step #5)
• Pass out the Take Home letter and Family Star and tell them that they will need to go home and ask their families for help filling in the star.  Remind them to bring it to the next meeting.

Clean-up (10 min)

• ALL girls participate in the clean-up time! Remind the girls of kapers and work together to leave the site better than you found it. 
• The Out Scout should be rotating the names on the Kaper Chart to see who will bring the snack and beverage for the next meeting. 

Closing (5 min)

• FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE – Use the Girl Scout Sign again to get the girls’ attention. Ask girls to gather around and form a circle.
• Award the girls with their My Best Self Skill Building Badges. 
• There will be a Troop Outing on February 7, 2015 to do a Kids Yoga Workshop at Mat Happy Yoga in Hilliard from 12:30pm-1:30pm for $5.00 a girl.  This is just for fun. (Brownie Quest) 
• Let the girls know who will be bringing the snack next time and ask the girls to take the Snack Box home.  Remind girls to show their parent the note inside the snack box.

-  Form a Friendship Circle, sing, “Brownie Smile Song,” and do a friendship squeeze. 

-  Collect nametags and sign-out. 

Brownie Meeting 11: Beginning Our Journey/Discovering...You

Meeting at a Glance 

Goal:  Girls discover and give voice to their special qualities and appreciate the qualities of their sister Brownies.  Then they find the values of the Girl Scout Law and prepare to share them with their families

Toward the Award:  Discover Key

Supplies: 

See Brownie Supply Schedule

Pre-Meeting (15 min)

-Greet, sign-in, and put on nametags. 

-Fill in the blanks in the “Discovering Me” activity on page 49 of their Brownie Quest book.

Snack Time (Snacks, Step #4) (10 min)

• Read Chapter 1 of the girls Brownie Quest book

Opening (5 min)

• Remind the girls of the Flag Ceremony

-The Pledge Starter will hold the American Flag and be the caller for the Pledge.

-The Promise Starter will stand next to the Pledge Leader and hold the troop flag and be the caller of the Promise.

-The rest of the troop should stand together in a horseshoe shape 

-Pledge Starter stands at the open end of the horseshoe, facing the troop

-Pledge Starter says, “Girl Scouts, attention.” Everyone stands at attention 

-Pledge Starter says, “Girl Scouts, recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  I pledge allegiance…” 

-Promise Starter says, “Girl Scouts, recite the Girl Scout Promise.  On my honor…” 

-The flag is then posted or put away, and the Promise Starter says, “Girl Scouts, dismissed.” 

-Gather and greet each other with the Girl Scout handshake. 

Business (10 min)

-In the Girl Scout Brownie Ring, take attendance and collect dues, review rules and assign kapers.

-“Today we are using our Brownie Circle as the start to our special Quest to find three keys.  There are three steps we have to take to find each key.  Ready for the first step toward the first key.”

Activity/Exploration (50 min)

• Ball Toss:  Discovering Our Special Talents and Qualities.  See page 46 of Brownie Quest Guide.  Do this twice.

“Today we are using our Brownie Circle as the start to our special Quest to find three keys.  There are three steps we have to take to find each key.  Ready for the first step toward the first key.”

“The first step is to discover all the skills and talents and qualities each of us brings with us on our Quest.  So as we toss the ball around our circle, say your name and one special skill or talent or quality that you can bring into our Brownie Circle.”

“I’ll start:  My name Kelly and I am very creative, which helps me plan Girl Scout meetings.”

• Going ELF:  The Search to Discover the Values of the Girl Scout Law.   The girls will get into trios and search the media center for the numbered clues.  See pages 47-49 of Brownie Quest Guide.

• The girls will do the “Discovering Values” activity on page 50 of their Quest Book.
• Have Tara talk to the girls about snacking for energy and a little bit about how the body process and uses these snacks and how we will be sharing Energy Snacks with each other over the next few months. 
• Pass out a large paper grocery bag to each girl and tell them about the “happy bag” we will be talking about at the next meeting.  If there is time they can start to decorate the bag.  Remind them to bring one item to share from their bag to the next meeting.

Clean-up (10 min)

• ALL girls participate in the clean-up time! Remind the girls of kapers and work together to leave the site better than you found it. 
• The Out Scout should be rotating the names on the Kaper Chart to see who will bring the snack and beverage for the next meeting. 

Closing (5 min)

• FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE – Use the Girl Scout Sign again to get the girls’ attention. Ask girls to gather around and form a circle. 
• There will be a Troop Outing on January 25, 2015 to either Whole Foods Market for a kids healthy cooking class to learn about healthy eating options that you can implement in your Healthy-Living Family Activity.  This is just for fun. (Brownie Quest)
• Let the girls know who will be bringing the snack next time and ask the girls to take the Snack Box home.  Remind girls to show their parent the note inside the snack box.

-  Form a Friendship Circle, sing, “Goodbye Brownies,” and do a friendship squeeze. 

-  Collect nametags and sign-out. 

Brownie Outing: Fair Play OSU Women's Basketball game

Step 2 of the Fair Play Badge was Include Everyone with a suggestion of finding a sport that women play professionally and go and see a game.  We do not have a professional women's team here but we do have a college basketball team and women do play basketball professionally.  I contacted the group department and was able to get us great tickets for a cheap price.

A great time was had by all!

Brownie Outing: Safety Award-TaeKwonDo Bully/Stranger Danger Workshop

Part of the Safety Award was to learn what to do if a stranger approaches you in a public place.  In order to do that I set up a time where the girls could take a Stranger Danger/Bully Workshop at Bug-A-Boo's TaeKwonDo school.  The class was amazing and the girls had a great time.