Art-tastic!

Tonight we took part in our third Girls First activity by getting creative. The activities were all centered around visual arts and we were able to pick and choose which ones to take part in. Some of our feedback included the mess factor on certain activities, the cost of materials for others, and how much our girls enjoyed the activities they did take part in!

We opened with our usual ceremony followed by an active game. Three stations were set up, and the girls were able to choose which they wanted to work on, and the order they would try the activities. Most girls completed all three projects, while a few chose to focus on only one or two.

Activity A - Salty Art
Here the girls painted with watercolours, then sprinkled salt on top of the wet paint. When the paint dries, the salt is brushed off leaving unique patterns on the page. 

Activity B - Fabric Art
For this activity, each girl had a white canvas bag and free reign over a variety of craft supplies. We provided felt, pompoms, ribbon, cloth and felt flowers, feathers, twigs, and appliques. 

Activity C - Tape Painting
Each girl had a flat canvas to work with and a supply of masking tape and paint. First, they had to create a pattern or design on the canvas using the masking tape, then the areas of canvas still showing were painted. When the paint dried, the tape was removed to reveal a pattern in white amongst the colour.

We ended with evaluating the activities, reminders for next week and Taps. 

Holiday Party

Our last meeting of December is always a holiday party. This year we earned the Elftastic Challenge from Girlguiding
Aviemore in the UK.

As the girls arrived, the Patrol Leaders took attendance and collected dues, then each Patrol made up an 'elfish skit'. One Patrol led a Christmas-themed game of tag (that seemed a bit complicated!) and then we moved onto our main program.

The first activity was to give everyone their elf names - theses were created using the formula found in the challenge pack with a few adjustments so everyone's name was unique. Once everyone had their name, they were free to move through the other activities - cookie decorating and a number of different crafts.

A large supply of craft supplies was provided for free crafting, as well as supplies to make two specific crafts - an elf and a candy cane mouse. The group enjoys crafts and this went over really well! The Pathfinders and Rangers had one craft of their own, as well as the others that were provided. They made pinecone ornaments by decorating pinecones using small beads, pompoms and ribbon - and they turned out really well.

Decorating cookies (and later eating them...) is always a success and tonight was no exception. Everyone had the chance to ice and decorate 3 cookies. The Guides took theirs home while most of the Pathfinders and Rangers ate theirs!

After cleaning up, we played a silly game called Candy Cane Hook. Basically, players take turns holding a regular-size candy cane in their mouth and trying to scoop up mini candy canes from a box and drop them in a cup. The goal is to be the first team to fill the cup. We made it a rule that no one could run with a candy cane in their mouth and this game was funny to watch!

To end the evening, we gave out badges and crests, then closed with reminders that Guides will not meet again until January and that the Pathfinders and Rangers have their own holiday party next Tuesday. Everyone also received some holiday treats to take home.

Downloads and Links:

• Elftastic Challenge Pack
• Elftastic Challenge Pinterest Page 

Fun With Fashion

This week we delved into the badge box and came out with a large number of Fashion badges. Wanting to use up some of our supply, we adapted the badge requirements and had an evening of 'Fun With Fashion'!

As the Guides arrived, they were asked to design a new Guide Uniform for 2060 (our 150th birthday!). There were some very unique designs - as well as some that look very much like our current uniform.


We held our usual opening and one of the Guides led an active game. The Guides were introduced to our theme and the planned activities and shared what they have done with outgrown clothing (given to siblings or relatives, passed on to neighbours, donated, or sold at mom-to-mom sales, etc.).

Our next activity was to watch a presentation on traditional and ceremonial clothing around the world and then try putting on a sari. We then divided up into Patrols, where the girls designed their own fashions using newspapers and masking tape. Each Patrol had to dress one or two of their members and we then had a runway walk where the designs were modeled and explained by their designers!


The remainder of the meeting was spent designing and making Fascinators. Each girl was given a headband and we provided fun foam, felt, ribbon, flowers, tulle, pipe cleaners, pompoms and feathers for them to work with (a great way to use up those miscellaneous supplies in the cupboard!). There were some really creative designs!

Downloads:

• Traditional and Ceremonial Clothing Around the World 

Holiday Craft Night

Our final meeting for 2015 was our annual craft night. As the girls arrived, they played a game and we then began with our usual opening, followed by an active game led by the Active Living Patrol.

The first craft was a snowman made from a glass vinegar bottle. The girls used sponges to paint the bottles white and then painted faces with orange and black paint. The hats are made from a piece of felt hot glued into a tube and then tied with a piece of elastic cord. The tops of the hats were cut into a fringe.

Our second craft was a candy cane mouse made from felt and ribbon. The girls cut out an oval from light coloured felt and ears from some wide ribbon. The ears were inserted through slits in the felt, tiny pompom eyes and nose glued on, and a candy cane inserted through two slits to form the tail.

Last of all, we made tealight snowmen. The girls glued a piece of Christmas ribbon around the outside of the battery-operated tealight, then glued on a piece of pipecleaner and pompoms to form earmuffs. Googly eyes were added and black paint used to add the mouth.

As we had some time left at the end of the meeting, the girls made Christmas cards and we sang some Christmas carols before closing with Taps.

Discover Your Creativity

Our first meeting in February was devoted to creativity and creative expression. The girls
were allowed to choose from a variety of activities and to do as few or as many different activities as they wished.

Each activity area had a theme and some activity suggestions (with badge connections) to help the girls create their own activity options. We provided a CD player, paper, markers, and assorted craft supplies.

Dance

• Create a dance that expresses a mood. Think about how people act and move when they feel a certain way. (Dancing #8)
• Make up your own dance routine. (Dancing #5)
• Chose a piece of music that you like and make up a dance to go with it. Explain why you chose that particular song. (Music Fan #2)

 Storytelling

• Tell a scary story. (Make sure your audience knows this before you start!) (Folklore #8)
• With a group of people, take turns having each person make up part of a whole story. (Folklore #6)
• With a group of friends, write a fun story. The first person writes down one sentence and shows it to the second person. That person writes down one sentence and shares only that sentence with a third person. When everyone had had a turn, read the whole story aloud. (Writing #8)
• Think about something funny that has happened to you. Make up a story about it and tell it to others. (Folklore #7)

Arts & Crafts

• Create a work of art based on a dream or fantasy that you have had. Create a picture of collage that relates to your dream. (Art Production #1)
• Design a package for a product such as a breakfast cereal, a CD, DVD or a product you invent. (Art Production #5)
• Experiment with colour by learning about primary and secondary colours. Practice mixing colours to develop new colours. Make a picture that uses what you have created. (Art Production #3)
• Create a piece of art in 3-D that represents your heritage. (Creative Crafts #3)
• Make a craft that you would be able to display in a room in your house. (Creative Crafts #8)
• Create a poster for a movie, play or other performance (Performing Arts #4E)
• Make a piece of jewelry using materials that are not precious metals or gems. You might make a pin, necklace, bracelet or hair ornament. (Creative Crafts #4)

Music & Drama

• Write and produce a skit or puppet show demonstrating at least two emotions. (Performing Arts #1)
• Perform a solo poem, monologue or public speech for an audience. (Performing Arts #4F)
• Create a unique character, such as an actor from the movies or TV, an animal, a clown, or a rock star and tell a story or act out a scene from their live and have others guess who or what it is. (Performing Arts #8)
• With a group or on your own, perform a song for an audience. (Performing Arts #6)
• Make a puppet and use it for a performance. (Performing Arts #7)

 Creative Writing

• Create a cartoon based on a funny incident from your life. (Reporting #7)
• Write a 250 to 500 word story on any subject. (Writing #1)
• Write an imaginary interview between you and a famous character in a book. (Writing #2)
• Choose a well-known story and write a different ending for it. (Writing #5)
• Write an account of an event you have attended and report all the details. Use the five W's: who, what, when, where and why to describe the event. (Reporting #3)
• Write a verse, rhyme or poem. (Writing #4)
• Create three different story starters such as - opening lines of a story, play or poem. (Writing #6)
• Write an exaggerated story that would be fun to tell at campfire. (Writing #2)
• Write a letter of not less than 100 words describing a humorous incident or exciting event that happened to you. (Writing #3)
• Write a brief announcement for a future Guide event, such as Guide-Scout Week, camp, registration, enrolment, advancement, etc. It should be either suitable for publication in a newspaper or to be read on radio or television (100 words of less). (Reporting #2)