Type

Activity Descriptions

supplies

Badge

At Home

Discuss ways you and your Girl Scout can help the community together.

Philanthropist

Craft (15 min)

Needs and Wants

Step 1—Learn what every person needs

1. Have girls sort through the advertisements and cut out pictures of items that a family uses. Have the girls place the pictures in two piles: a “want” pile and a “need” pile.

2. Once they have a number of pictures in each pile, discuss the items as a group. Were they correct?

3. Optional: Have the girls glue the pictures to the poster board with wants on one side and needs on the other.

4. Optional: If there is time, discuss how wants and needs can be different in different areas around the world.

From: Girl Scouts River Valleys 

Notes: The girls had a great time with this one - more fun than I realized.  Some of the girls also enjoyed working in a team instead of alone.  This did require a lot of adult help for discussion of what was what and for help finding a picture that was a want.  We had a few extra volunteers at this meeting, so it was very helpful. 

Magazines, grocery advertisements and retail advertisements that contain a variety of items,

including needs and wants

Scissors

Paper with needs and wants for each girl

Needs and Wants.pdf

Optional: Large poster board and glue for the girls to make a wants/needs display board.

Philanthropist 1

Presentation by homeless advocate

Brownie: Philantrophist Badge Step 2 and 3 - Find out how to help people who need food and clothing.

Notes: Our presenter did a great job. She had run her own Brownie troop and she had a great sense of what kinds of questions the girls would have.

She talked about how homeless people are just like us.  Iit is important to smile and make eye contact with a homeless person so that they don’t feel shunned.  If they are asking for money, you can say, “Sorry not today”.  She told stories about homeless families she had worked with and had pictures of them.  The girls loved this and wanted to know everyone’s name.  Then she showed a picture and told a story of a boy who helped by getting school supplies of homeless children.  

http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/homelessness-fact-sheet-for-kindergarten-through-grade-2

Activity

Coat Drive Poster

Brownie: Philanthropist Badge Step 5—Think—and act!—like a philanthropist

1. Have the girls create a poster to advertise the coat drive that the school was already sponsoring.  Each girl will work on one sheet of paper and then they will be added to a posterboard

2. We encouraged the girls to look in their own home as well as asking relatives and neighbors for old coats.

crayons

markers

stickers

blank paper

paper with basic facts

Craft (25 min)

I Can Be a Philanthropist?

Step 5—Think—and act!—like a philanthropist

Print or design your own table asking if girls can be philanthropists. See example below:

Can I be a Philanthropist?

YES NO

1. As girls enter the room, ask them to answer the question from the chart above by placing a check in the column they think is correct. Do not tell them the answer or what a philanthropist is.

2. Have girls draw a picture of a time when they helped someone.

3. Ask girls to share their pictures with one another.

4. Ask girls if they know the definition of philanthropist.

Philanthropist is a big word for someone who makes sure people have what they need.

5. Point out any of the situations from girls’ pictures that show philanthropy. If no one drew a picture that shows philanthropy, give some examples, such as donating food to a food shelf or clothes to a shelter.

6. Every girl can be a philanthropist!

From: Girl Scouts River Valleys

Coloring utensils

Paper

Philanthropist 5

Discussion (20 min)

I Will Be a Philanthropist!

Step 5—Think—and act!—like a philanthropist

Research different local groups/organizations to share with the girls. Optional: Arrange a speaker or tour from a local philanthropic group/organization.

1. Now that the girls know more about philanthropy, how can they help others locally and globally? While girls enjoy snack, have them brainstorm ideas.

2. Discuss what groups/organizations are available in the area. Did they know of these groups already?

3. Have each girl decide one way she can be a philanthropist and help in her community.

Examples: Organize a food drive or clothing drive, collect hygiene items to donate to a shelter, volunteer at the Humane Society or do a pet supply/food drive

4. Decide if there is something they would like to do continually as a group. Note: It is important to gauge how the girls feel after they help others and to discuss the experience as a group.

From: Girl Scouts River Valleys

Writing utensils

Paper

Philanthropist 5

Craft

Wise Owl Job Holder

Each girl should cut out an owl pattern and glue the eyes, beak and feather pouch onto the owl base. Maybe you could purchase sequins or wiggly eyes for the eyes or real feathers for the wings. The girls would love that. Make sure they understand to glue ONLY THE EDGES of the pocket so it can hold their job feathers. Help the girls write a simple job to be done at home on each feather (i.e.: make my bed, set the table, clean my room, take out the trash, etc.)

Owl printout

Wiggly eyes

Feather

Sequins

glue

Philantrophist 5