It’s Girl Scout Time! Our first meeting of the year. The new school year, anyway. Last year we voted on Journey’s and the World of Girls won 7 to 5. Five being ‘Wonders of Water’ so we decided to do that one this year. We had fun with the World of Girls, it seemed like a party every meeting where we had fun snack, talked about the different countries, and had parents come in to celebrate their traditions.
The Wonders of Water Brownie Girl Scout Journey seems to be a little more hardcore. The book really goes over some fun science stuff. I have a goal of finishing the Journey before Christmas but as I say that I LAUGH at my ambition. Well, I will try.
For our first meeting, I decided to bring snack because the lesson plan had this cool chart of all the fruits and their water percentage. I also established a request to the parents doing snack in the future to bring water that is flavored with a fruit or veggie. I’m making cucumber water and I’m excited to see what the girls thing. I told Sammie about the cucumber water and she said, ‘Mom, doesn’t it just taste like regular water?’.
Sigh. Maybe my hopes are too high.
Well, here is my lesson plan… and here is what actually happened!
NEED:
Butcher Paper about 5 feet long – Kristi to get
Markers & Crayons – Eileen to bring
A Pot of water, a small bowl of water, and a washcloth – Kristi to bring
Glass cups to reuse for our beverages each meeting (Recycle!) – Sonya to bring
What I had planned:
SONG TIME – Pick two songs to sing and/or a game.
Hand Game or Rock Paper Scissors Posse.
What really happened: I started the hand game with them as girls were coming in. Every time a girl came in, everyone ran up to hug her, the circle was broken, and it’s REALLY hard to teach this type of game to 10 girls at once. Note to self: Teach it in two smaller groups next time.
The girls were REALLY crazy at this point so I did Rock Paper Scissors Posse so they could scream a bit. They did scream, and that helped get some energy out, but I don’t think they understand it. One problem is that we were uneven so I jumped in to play and I won every time and ended up winning at the end and what kind of fun is that?
What I had planned:
Go over Rules and Responsibilities for Troop Meetings. Ask them how the meetings should be run and how they expect everyone to behave.
Talk about service projects. Ask them which ones they want to do. (Indian Xmas bags, due next month; cat blankets; Recycling? Or wait to decide later for a water service project?)
What really happened: This went okay. They were not really stuck on Indian Xmas bags or Recycling, which I was actually thankful for. I didn’t want to do them but I wanted to ASK the girls what they wanted to do, so I’m glad they got to make that decision. They were really excited about cat blankets which is good because I ALREADY SAID WE WOULD DO THEM and had all the blankets. I had Mom’s cutting during the meeting, thank god for them!
What I had planned:
Snack Time – Ask about first day of school, etc. Have a talk about mean girls.
What really happened: Went about right. We are having some mean girl problems in the group… and it’s always awkward when the mean girls don’t realize they are mean girls but we keep trying to reinforce the message. As I’m talking I’m constantly interrupted with ‘Mrs Davis, can I…’ and I’m so distracted… Thankfully my co-leader is a 1st grade teacher and took this over and explains in much more concise terms what needs to be said.
Talk about the Water Journey – Question: What is their favorite water activity? Go around the circle.
Bring out the fruit – Discuss water content in the fruit.
Watermellon – 92% water Apples – 84% Bananas – 74% Cantaloupe – 90%
Grapes – 81% Oranges – 87% Pineapple – 87% Strawberries – 92%
What really happened: This went great! I got interrupted again by my daughter who needed medicine before she ate but my Co went around and the girls seemed really into it. Although one girl who was guessing right EACH TIME while I was distracted was looking at my teaching paper… haha. I caught on at the end and gave her THE LOOK.
Talk about Water Around the World – follow the adult how-to guidebook
Clean water is a right that every person on the planet Earth has.
What is a right?
(Something morally good, justified, or acceptable; entitlement to a specific service or treatment – A right is something that is necessary to have in order to live fully and be healthy and happy.)
What are some other rights that you have?
(Right to life & liberty, freedom, privacy, right to a family, to move around your state & country, of thought, conscience, religion)
So having clean water should be a right that everyone has.
How many people are in the world? 7 Billion.
How many people do NOT have access to clean water? 1 Billion
How does water get dirty?
Is it possible to remove all the trash and pollution from the water?
Can people get sick from drinking dirty water?
What really happened: This went pretty well. The girls really knew what Rights were and some of them had some great points. Others had completely outlandish points which were hysterical and made me laugh. I do love these girls.
Let’s see what it would be like if we didn’t have clean water. Use the pot, bowl, and washcloth and follow the guidebook.
What really happened: More outlandish answers. They didn’t really get it… and really, how can they? They are used to faucets pouring out water. I think the reality of the whole thing is foreign to them. One of them had a great answer of using the small bowl of water to pour on a plant to grow more food and somehow make more water. They are creative, I love it.
Create the Team WOW Map. Have a few girls write Wonders of Water as the heading. Other girls write their names. Other girls write their favorite water activity from our discussion. Everyone contributes to the banner.
What really happened: This poor banner/map. I should have traced out the words like we did two years ago and they could color them in. It looked like a train wreck, they were writing on both sides. I just shrugged my shoulders at one point. They were happy and coloring, although they were crossing out each others work and scribbling random stuff on there. Oh well.
At that time, I turned on Taylor Swift and started a dance party which they all loved. We played the Human Knot (which they loved and couldn’t solve – one of them must have crossed hands) and then the Friendship Circle Leader choose a song (40 Years on an Iceburg) and then we ended with our friendship circle and we were OUT OF THERE.
Except they all had to run around screaming and using the broom to run into people. So you know, just another regular fun filled meeting.
I’m drinking wine right now, if you couldn’t tell.
What I had planned:
If there is time, talk about rainbows and creating a rainbow. Bring a glass jar with a mirror inside, filled with water. (Kristi to bring.)
What really happened: I was a little sad, the room wasn’t dark it had a skylight! So I tested my water theory at home and it worked but when I tested it before the meeting I could only get a TINY TINY rainbow and I knew that would not keep their attention at all. So I didn’t do this.
Next meeting is in two weeks. Ahhh…. How to better keep them interested? We shall see…
{ 1 comment }
Nice job, and what a lot of planning was involved in your Girl Scout meeting! Best laid plans, right? Sounds like the end result was more fun and spontaneous anyway. Imagine how a teacher feels, EVERY day!! Interesting (and sad) facts about clean water. The Taylor Swift dance party idea was brilliant… 😉 xoxo
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