Starter Pack Brownie - Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

Brownie
Starter
Packet
Girl Scout Brownies
First Four Meeting Examples
To help you get started with your Girl Scout Brownie troop, you’ll find examples of how you and the girls
can structure your first four meetings. Each example follows a typical troop-meeting format, and each
incorporates the Brownie Quest journey book. If you’re using Wow! Wonders of Water or A World of Girls you
may be able, with a bit of creativity, to adapt these meetings to include that series of journey books.
Prior to your meetings with girls, be sure to let each girl’s parent or guardian know where to get a copy of her
own journey book. It is important that each girl have her own book, so she can write in and decorate it.
In the adult guide that accompanies Brownie Quest, you’ll find six flexible, customizable sample journey minisessions. You and the girls may decide to do all six of these sample mini-sessions during one or two troop
meetings (and that’s perfectly okay), or your may decide to extend the sample mini-sessions over several
troop meetings, which is what the enclosed example meetings reflect. Given that all your meetings will be girlled, however, your meetings will probably go in a different direction than these examples, but these are a great
place to start.
One final note: In the third meeting, girls plan for and prepare their Investiture Ceremony. New girls will receive
their Girl Scout Brownie pins and returning girls will use it as a rededication ceremony.
Ready to get started? Grab the girl books and adult guide for Brownie Quest, and get ready to have fun with
your group of Girl Scout Brownies!
Girl Scout Brownies: Sample Meeting 1 (60 to 90 minutes)
Goal: The girls will discover their special qualities and the qualities of their sister Brownies. They will also find
the values within the Girl Scout Law.
Supplies needed:
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•
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•
Brownie Quest, girls’ books and adult guide
Slim markers (small decorative stickers are optional)
Light ball or koosh ball
Poster board with a star on it and the names of the girls written on the star
Clues for the Girl Scout Law search-ten strips of paper with one part of the Law on each strip
‘’It’’ and “Other” cans and wide craft sticks
Snack or treat
Pre-meeting: Set up a table with arrival activity material; display the Quest Master Map.
Arrival Activity: Finding the First Key: Discovering Me (page 49 in the girls’ book). Each girl uses slim
markers and decorative stickers to make her own unique stars. Have an adult or an older Girl Scout help the
girls, if necessary.
snack/treat: You and the girls may opt to have treat time here or toward the end of the meeting.
Opening: Sit in a Brownie Ring (which is simply a group of Brownies sitting in a circle). Welcome the girls and
introduce yourself and any co-volunteers. Do the Ball Toss (page 46 of the adult guide).
Business: Take attendance and collect the dues, explaining to the girls what you are doing, since they will do
this task in the future. (You and the girls may opt to collect dues at the beginning of your meetings.) After the first
meeting, assign taking attendance as one of the kapers for one of the girls.
You will create “It” and “Other” cans: Give each girl a wide craft stick to decorate and help her
put her name on. Also provide two cans (such as coffee cans) that girls can help decorate. When the cans and
sticks are complete, you have an easy way to get girls to help. When a helper is needed in a meeting, a stick is
drawn from the “lt” can, and the name draw is the helper. After the task is finished, the stick goes in the “Other”
can, until all sticks have been drawn from the “If” can.
Activity 1: Decorate the “It” sticks. Each girl decorates her “lt” stick and writes her name on it. Sit in circle and
have girls place their sticks in the container. Ask the girls how they help at home, and talk about how they might
help in their troop.
Activity 2: Play Going ELF (pages 47-49 in the adult guide; see page 44 in the adult guide for suggestions on
ways to set up the search). Then have girls, with assistance (if necessary), complete Discovering Values (page 50
in the girls’ book). For tips on winding down from the search, see page 50 in the adult guide.
Clean-up: Draw a stick from the “It” can and ask this girl to lead the clean-up effort. Encourage all the girls as a
team to be part of this effort.
Closing: Give each girl a stapled copy of the take-home letter and family star (pages 53-55 in the adult guide).
Encourage her to share and do the star with her family and bring the star back to the next meeting. Close with
teaching them the Friendship Circle (page 27 in the adult guide).
Girl Scout Brownies: Sample Meeting 2 (60 to 90 minutes)
Goals: The girls play and reflect on a team-building game. Then they create Brownie Team Agreement, the first
step in discovering the second key on their Brownie Quest. They also celebrate earning the Discover Key.
Supplies needed:
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Brownie Quest, girls’ books and adult guide
Discovering Us poster (page 51 of the adult guide)
Markers, stickers, and any other glitzy decorative stuff
Poster board/easel paper titled “Brownie Team Agreement”
Extra photocopies of Family Stars and Discover Chant (pages 55 and 91 of the adult guide)
Discover Key award patch for each girl
A soccer-size ball
Snack or treat
Pre-meeting: Set up the arrival activity; display the Quest Master Map.
Arrival activity: Each girl finishes decorating her family star; those who are done may decorate the Brownie
Team Agreement poster.
Snack/treat: Encourage healthy treats.
Opening: Stand in a circle. Review/teach the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Sign (page 26 of the adult
guide).
Business: Assign a girl to take attendance and another to collect dues. Begin to discuss plans for an Investiture
Ceremony where they will receive their Brownie pin if they are new, and rededicate themselves if they are
returning. Determine when, where, and who to invite. Next week, they will work out additional details.
Activity 1: Do the Brownie Star Circle and Discovery Key Ceremony (pages 58 and 59 of the adult guide),
Activity 2: Play Connecting as a Team (page 60 of the adult guide), Play Pass the Ball, Please (bottom of page 61
of the adult guide).
Activity 3: Creating Brownie Team Agreement (page 61 of the adult guide).
Clean-Up: Draw a stick from the “It” can and ask this girl to lead the clean-up effort. Encourage all the girls as a
team to be part of this effort.
Closing: Sit in a Brownie Ring. Ask the girls with a family member to look at and think about pages 52 and 53 in the
girls’ book. Close with a Friendship Circle.
Girl Scout Brownies: Sample Meeting 3 (60 to 90 minutes)
Goal: Girls jump into the ELF Adventure using their own sit-upons.
Supplies needed:
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•
•
•
Brownie Quest, girls’ books and adult guide
Small flag
Sit-upon materials
Food items for the healthy snack; small baggies
Pre-meeting: Layout everything they need to make a healthy snack.
Arrival activity: Create a healthy snack. Let the girls mix their own combo of dried banana chips, raisins,
granola, sunflower seeds, and popcorn. Be sure to check allergies first, though!
Snack/treat: The girls have prepared their own treat-yum, yum, and it’s healthy!
Opening: Introduce a basic Flag Ceremony. Choose a girl to hold the flag from the ”lt” can. Stand in a horseshoe
facing the girl holding the flag. Recite the Pledge of Allegiance with hands over heart, and then say the Girl Scout
Promise with the Girl Scout Sign.
Business: In the Brownie Ring, a girl takes attendance and dues are collected (unless your girls decided to do
this as they arrive).
Talk about the ceremony they had at their last meeting, during which each girl received her
Discover Key. Discuss their upcoming ceremony, their Investiture Ceremony, and help them
make decisions regarding what their ceremony will look like. (For ideas, see pages 27-29 of the adult guide.)
Review with the girls their Brownie Team Agreement. Introduce another tool that will help them manage their
meetings-a Kaper Chart-that will help them keep track of various jobs and whose turn it is to do each. Brainstorm
with the girls what types of jobs should be included, for example, serving treats, planning and leading the opening,
planning and leading the arrival activity, and planning and leading the closing ceremony or activity.
Activity 1: Make sit-upons. Girls will use these any time they want to sit on the ground during a meeting, so,
if possible, keep them with the troop supplies. A sit-upon is made by inserting newspaper (or some other soft
material) between vinyl material. Take a folded section of a standard newspaper. Cut two sections of vinyl cloth,
large enough to cover each side. Punch holes about one-half-inch all the way around both pieces of vinyl. Help the
girls thread yarn through the holes, connecting both pieces of the vinyl. Then tie off the ends securely.
Activity 2: Have the girls tryout their sit-upons as they read Chapter 1 (pages 7 and 10-15) in the girls’ book. Read
and talk about this story with the girls. Also have the girls tryout the Twist Me and Turn Me in pairs (page 17 of the
girls’ book),
Clean-up: Draw a stick from the “It” can and ask this girl to lead the clean-up effort. Encourage all the girls as a
team to be part of this effort.
Closing: Planning and leading the closing can be a kaper, and each week a group of girls can direct this. This time,
ask the girls how they would like to close their meetings.
Girl Scout Brownies: Sample Meeting 4 (60 to 90 minutes)
Goal: Girls make final preparations for their Investiture Ceremony and take the second step toward
the Connect Key.
Supplies needed:
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•
•
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Brownie Quest, girls’ books and adult guide
Photocopies for each girl of page 63 of the adult guide
Small flag
The printed part of an invitation with the date, time, and additional information to go into their decorated
invitations; material to make their invitations
CD or digital file of the Brownie Smile song (check your council’s resource center) and CD player/iPod player
The Quest Master Map to display
Arrival activity: Ask the first few girls to arrive to lead the others in a game, or have a Cadette Girl Scout teach
them the “Brownie Smile Song,” with actions.
Opening: Do a basic flag ceremony, followed by the Girl Scout Promise. Teach them the “Brownie Smile Song.”
Snack/treat: If a girl provided the treat, have her act as hostess.
Business: The girls take care of attendance and dues, with your help. Finalize plans and practice for the
Investiture Ceremony, which might take place at your next meeting. Will the girls have a flag ceremony? Who will be
in it? Will they sing or act or Twist Me and Turn Me, from their ELF Adventure story?
Activity 1: Create individualized invitations. Give each girl the material she needs to make the invitation for her
family. Encourage each girl to decorate and individualize it.
Activity 2: Prepare to Connect at Home (page 62-63 of the adult guide), This activity revisits their Brownie
Team Agreement, and then takes the second step for the Connect Key. Tell the girls they are going to look at how
they can care for their families.
Then do Send it Home (page 62 of the adult guide, which references page 55 of the girls’ book). See if the girls
would like together to try to fill in the blanks on page 54 of their book. These are based on the pictures, except for
the question about Campbell’s dog’s name (see page 7 of the girls’ book for the dog’s name!). Then give them a
copy of page 63 of the adult guide to take home and do with their families.
Clean-up: Draw a stick from the “lt” can and ask this girl to lead the clean~up effort. Encourage all the girls as a
team to be part of this effort. If you have the CD player/iPod player with Girl Scout songs, you might want to play
this while the girls are cleaning up.
Closing: Do Friendship Circle, led by the girls. Consider singing “Good Night Brownies,” to the tune of “Good
night ladies.”
Good night, Brownies.
Good night, Brownies.
Good night, Brownies.
We’re sad to see you go.
Songs
Grace
Fun Songs
Adam’s Family
Baby Bumble Bee Song
Da da da dum, da da da dum
Da da da dum, da da da dum, da da da dum
We thank You Lord for giving
The food we need for living.
Be with us while we eat it,
Because we really need it
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
I caught a little baby bumble bee, (cup hands like holding bee)
won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I caught a little baby bumble bee,
Oow! It stung me!
Alleluh (Praise ye the Lord)
I’m smashing up the baby bumble bee, (clap hands)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m smashing up the baby bumble bee,
Eew! All sticky!
Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Allelujiah
Praise ye the Lord
Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Allelujiah
Praise ye the Lord.
I’m Licking up the baby bumble bee, (pretend to lick)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m Licking up the baby bumble bee,
Blech! Thats ickey!
Praise ye the Lord,
Allelujiah
Praise ye the Lord,
Allelujiah
Praise ye the Lord,
Allelujiah
Praise ye the Lord
I’m Barfing up the baby bumble bee, (bend over)
Won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m Barfing up the baby bumble bee,
Ick! Thats smelly!
Back of the Bread
Back of the bread is the flour
And back of the flour is the mill.
And back of the mill is the wind and the rain
And the Father’s will.
Tune: Are You Sleeping
We are thankful, we are thankful *
For our food, for our food.
And our many blessings,
And our many blessings,
Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord
I’m mopping up the baby bumble bee, (pretend to mop)
won’t my mommy be so proud of me?
I’m mopping up the baby bumble bee,
There! All clean!
Brownie Smile Song
I’ve something in my pocket.
It belongs across my face,
And I keep it very close at hand
In a most convenient place
I’m sure you couldn’t guess it
If you guessed a long, long while.
So I’ll take it out and put it on
It’s a great big Brownie Smile!
A Tootie Tot
thumbs up .. chorus line .. a tootie tot a tootie tot a tootie tot tot
thumbs up, elbows back, chorus line (as above)
thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, chorus line
thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, chorus line
thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottoms up, chorus line
thumbs up,elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottoms up, tongue out, chorus line
thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees together, bottoms up, tongue out, eyes closed,
chorus line ..
(This is such a great song and you have to know the beat of it to really appreciate it, but
when you start you say “thumbs up” and the kids repeat what you say and then you dance
around saying” a tootie tot a tootie tot a tootie tot tot .. you keep doing this after each part
of the song .. when you get to the second line you can all say it together ... all the lines .. when
you get to tongue out, eyes closed and tootie tot, you have to turn around in circles when
your singing it. This is so funny to watch, but tons of fun.)
Make New Friends
Make new friends,
But keep the old.
One is silver
The other gold
A circles round,
It has no end.
That’s how long
I want to be your friend.
Brownie Crafts
Yarn Bug
Supplies needed
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•
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Yarn Feet pattern (attached)
Scissors
Yarn
3 1/2 x 3 1/2 piece heavy cardboard or computer floppy disc (this works great if you have any)
Egg carton portion {one egg section per bug}
Wiggly eyes
Hot glue gun (can be done with tacky glue} but needs more drying time)
Have girls color the toe nails on the feet~ they don’t need to color any of the rest of it, because it is covered up.
Then cut out the feet.
Cut a piece of yarn in the color selected 6 -8 inches. Wrap yarn around cardboard or floppy disc 100 times (they
don’t need to do that many time, it just makes it fuller). With the piece of yarn you cut, tie the yarn together tightly
in the middle on one side of the cardboard/disc. Turn cardboard/disc over and cut the yarn down the middle to
remove from cardboard/disc.
Hot glue egg carton portion, bottom up to the feet, positioning to the back of the feet so the toes will show. Glue
the yarn portion to egg carton. Glue on eyes. You can add some sort of decoration to the top of the head if you like.
Other Yarn Bug ideas can be found on www.makingfriends.com
Sit Upon
Supplies needed
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Plastic table cloth, shower curtain or water proof fabric
Scissors
Newspaper or solid foam
Colored duct tape
The purpose of a sit upon -girls have something to sit upon on the floor or ground.
Cut the table cloth, shower curtain or fabric. The size can be anything you want using the dimensions of the
material to get the most you can, just make sure it is large enough for girls to sit on. You need a top and a bottom;
this can be cut in one piece and folded over. Place newspapers or foam between the cover and seal all sides with
colored duct tape.
Girl Scout Flag Ceremony
Girl Scouts form horseshoe.
Girl Scouts Attention: This is used to announce that the flag ceremony is to begin. Girls should
stand silent, proud and tall.
Color Guard Advance: This signals the color guard to advance with the flag{s} or advance to
pick up the flag(s).
Color Guard, honor your flag: The color guard salutes the American flag by placing the right
hand over the heart then picking up the flag used in the ceremony. The American flag is always first (if
it is in a stand it is taken out first and placed in first)
Color Guard, post the colors: This directs the color guard to place the flag in the flag stand
or attach to grommets to a flag pole rope.
Girl Scouts, the flag of your country, pledge of allegiance:
Girl Scouts the Girl Scout Promise:
Color Guard dismissed: girls return to horseshoe. Information can be shared with the girls at
this time.
Girl Scouts, dismissed:
Girls in the color guard remain silent throughout the entire ceremony. All other girls in the horseshoe
salute the flag and participate in all aspects of the ceremony.
To retire the flag
Girl Scouts, attention
Color Guard, advance
Color Guard, honor your flag
Color Guard, retire the colors
Color Guard, dismissed removing the American flag first
Girt Scouts, dismissed.
Brownie Awards Log
Name
Troop
Legacy Badges
Painting
Step 1
1
2
Step 2
3
Earned:
Fair Play
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Money Manager
3
2
1
2
Cookie Business Badges
3
2
1
2
3
Make Your Own
1
1
1
1
2
Earned:
2
2
1
3
1
2
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
3
1
2
Earned:
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
3
1
2
1
2
3
1
3
1
2
Earned:
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
2
Earned:
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
Step 5
3
1
2
Earned
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
Step 5
3
1
2
Earned
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
Step 4
1
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Step 4
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
Step 3
1
2
3
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
1
Step 4
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Step 3
1
2
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
1
Earned
Earned:
Earned:
Step 3
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
Step 2
1
2
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
1
Step 5
Earned:
Earned:
Step 2
Step 1
1
2
3
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Make Your Own Badge
3
Earned:
Earned:
Give Back
1
Step 1
1
2
1
Step 2
Earned:
Meet My Customers
1
Step 1
1
2
Earned:
Earned:
Philanthropist
1
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Financial Literacy Badges
3
Earned:
Earned:
Bugs
2
Earned:
Earned:
Brownie Girl Scout Way
1
1
Step 4
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Brownie First Aid
3
Earned:
Earned:
Snacks
2
Earned:
Earned:
Celebrating Community
1
Step 3
Step 5
3
1
2
Earned:
Earned
3
Skill Building Badges
Computer Expert
Step 1
1
2
Step 2
3
Earned:
My Best Self
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
Earned:
2
3
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
Earned:
3
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
Earned:
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
Earned:
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
3
1
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
3
1
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
3
1
1
Earned
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
3
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
3
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Making Friends
1
1
1
Step 5
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Inventor
3
Earned:
Earned:
Making Games
2
Earned:
Earned:
Pets
1
3
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Letterboxer
3
Earned:
Earned:
My Great Day
2
Earned:
Earned:
Hiker
1
2
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
Senses
3
Earned:
Earned:
Household Elf
2
Earned:
Earned:
Potter
1
1
Step 4
Earned:
Earned:
Earned:
My Family Story
3
Earned:
Earned:
Home Scientist
2
Earned:
Earned:
Dancer
1
Step 3
1
2
3
Earned:
3
1
2
Earned:
3
Journey Awards
Earned
Brownie Quest
It's Your World-Change It!
1st Key
2nd Key
3rd Key
Brownie Quest
WOW! Wonders of Water
It’s Your Planet-Love It!
Love Water
Share Water
Save Water
WOW
A World of Girls
It’s Your Story-Tell It!
Hear a Story
Change a Story
Tell a Story
Better World for Girls!
Additional Awards
Earned
Earned
Bridge to Girl Scout Junior
Brownie Wings
Safety
International Friendship Pin
Cookie Activity Pin
Global Action
My Promise My Faith - Year 1
My Promise My Faith - Year 2
Medal of Honor
Brownie Journey Summit
World Thinking Day
Bronze Cross
Basics
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BROWNIE BASICS STARTER KIT
Each Bag Includes:
Brownie Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
One Journey Book
Brownie Badge Activity Set
Brownie Council Identification Set
Brownie Insignia Tab
American Flag Patch
Brownie Troop Numerals
Official Girl Scout Brownie
Membership Pin
World Trefoil Pin (optional on uniform)
Vest or Sash
Spirit of Nebraska Pink Tote Bag
Troop #
Journey (circle one)
Brownie Quest
WOW! Wonders of Water
A World of Girls
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