Girl Scouts Daisy: 3 Cheers for Animals Part 1

For Morgan's Journey, we got to go to the zoo!  She chose the animal journey.  The flower friends in the Daisy Flower Garden in the journey book show how they help animals and care for them.  In this journey, the girls learn how to care for animals and themselves.
While at the zoo, here are some of the things we learned about the animals while we were there:

1. what the animal eats
2. where the animal lives
3. what else the animal needs to stay alive
4. what the biggest threat to the animal is

Check out these cute Bonobos.  The baby is playful, and the adults play along with him.  They were a lot of fun to watch.  Bonobos live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a tropical rain forest.  They eat mostly fruits and leaves.   

This family group of Bonobos lives in the Fort Worth Zoo.  We were there on home school day.  If you have never been to the Fort Worth Zoo, I have to tell you it is BIG and there is a lot to see.  We were exhausted after being there for 4 hours, and we didn't even see everything!

Girl Scouting on a Shoe String

Before I speak on the next journey that we did in Girl Scouts, I want to bring you this information.  I am finding things out on my own, instead of with the support of a troop.  One thing I learned recently is that you can check out any of the Girl Scout books, journey books, leader books, etc at your local Girl Scout shop!  It doesn't cost anything.  You just check them out like you would a book at the library. 

This saves hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the girl's scouting experience!  Just for Jaden and Morgan for the Brownie and Daisy books, it is over $100!  I am glad they can still get the experience without spending that money.

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 8

The aquariums out there now are exciting!  There are so many chances to get up close with marine life.  Here, the girls were able to see the marine animals in a 360 degree tunnel.  There were sharks, rays, turles, and all kinds of fish. 

They, also, had bubbles to stick your head in an view the fish swimming around in the various tanks.  At the end, there were hermit crabs and starfish to touch!

There was a short film (about 8 minutes) about water polution and the effects on the marine life.  This topped off our visit.  Many of the problems discussed in the film were found in the Brownie Journey book Wonders of Water.  Jaden really enjoyed seeing it in film.  Now off to change the world!

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 7

We checked out the shark exhibit and watched the Shark IMAX movie at the museum during our water study.  Before going to the museum, I went on the web-site and printed off study materials.  They had a whole chapter worth of information about sharks!  We read it all before going to the museum, and then we learned even more while at the museum!! 

Homeschool tip: Before going to a museum, zoo or other hands-on learning center, check out their web-site for learning materials.  It makes the trip more educational and more fun!!  I have found educational materials on every site I have looked at.  If you run into a problem finding the educational material, check another museum/zoo web-site they may offer what you are looking for.  You can get the educational material from another site and still go to the museum/zoo you prefer!  National Geografic offers a TON of animal and environmental information. 

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 6

Water, Water everywhere!  Have you ever noticed how much water is around us?  Lakes, rivers, oceans, creeks, and even small ponds.  We have a pond close to our home, so we go by and visit the ducks regularly.  On this trip, we saw several Canadian geese.  Lucky for them, someone had left 2 slices of bread for us to break up and hand out!  Our trips to the pond are not always planned, so that is why we have no bread with us.
I love stopping by the pond on beautiful days like this one!  The weather was in the 80's! 
While visiting the pond, we collected trash on the ground and put it where it goes.  This is a very important part of the Wonders of Water journey- keep our water clean and safe for the animals that live there!!

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 5

Schools and schools of fish!  Have you ever wondered why these fish run in packs?   The adult readers probably already know the answer to this question.  For the children, I will tell you... When fish travel together, it is called a school.  Schools of fish exist for many reasons, and here are some of them:

1. They can confuse predators when they travel in schools by swimming back and forth.

2. There is safety in numbers.  Large groups of fish mean that it is less likely for a single fish to be singled out and eaten.

3. They can travel on each others currents, which means they do not have to swim as hard to get where they need to go. 

4. It is harder to find food on your own.  A group of fish means that when one fish finds food, they all find food.  However, the downside is that they would have to either share the food or fight to see who gets to it first.

We had a chance to see schools of fish at the aquarium.  It was a pretty amazing sight watching them travel in a synchronized dance of sorts. 

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 4

Disney Pixar made a great G-rated family movie called Finding Nemo.  It isn't very educational, but it is a good place to start in introducing kids to how much fun watching animals in the water can be.  We saw some clownfish at the aquarium, and Jaden said jokingly, "Let's get Nemo out of the tank and take him to his dad.  His dad is looking for him!"  LOL!!

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 3

What great timing- Big Miracle came out at the theater this month.  It fit in perfectly with our study of water.  The movie is about a whale family that gets trapped under ice in Alaska.  Based on a true story, it kept the attention of all 3 of us!  Morgan, who doesn't usually sit through a movie, didn't get up from her seat once!  Jaden was so wrapped up in the movie that her and I were both sobbing at the end! 

This is a great movie.  Beware of the drama, though, no every whale will make it to safety... And, there is one major close call at the end that makes you think no one will make it out alive!!! 

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 2

Right on cue, as Jaden was studying the wetlands in her Wonders of Water curriculum, we had a heavy rain.  We were left with wetland-like flooding.  What a sight!  The pictures above are of places that should be dry- including streets that were no longer passable. 

Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary Event: Part 1- Fire Building

At the 100th Anniversary Event of Girl Scouts, there were a lot of fun stations for the girls.  There were a total of 10 stations, and they rotated through every 15 minutes. 

This event was fire building.  The girls learned how to make an a-frame fire and a log cabin (square) fire.  They learned about kindling, among other things.  Do not use green limbs because they will not burn well.  You must find wood that is already dead (not on the tree). 

The last thing they did before they left this station was to light a match.  Very scary, as each girl was able to try to light the match all by themselves.  Luckily for all involved, it all went well =)  Jaden and Morgan both lit their matches like experts and quickly threw the lit matches in to the bucket of water.  Way to go!!

Girl Scouts Uniforms

Here are the girls wearing their Girl Scout uniforms for the first time.  On the front, each girl has the American Flag and the patch for our region- NorthEast Texas.  All of the rest of the patches are ones they have earned.  The patches for their Girl Scout curriculum are on the front of the uniform and the fun patches are on the back. 

Jaden has done all of the items needed for her Wonders of Water patch set, so she has 4 patches on the front of her uniform for that. 

Morgan has done 7 sections of her Daisy curriculum to earn the center piece and 6 petals for her Daisy flower.

On the back, both girls have several patches they earned from wood-working at Lowes.  Plus, they have pins that they earned from building things at Home Depot.  They earned 11 patches yesterday, but I have not added those to their uniform yet.  More fun patches will be earned by both girls as the year progresses.  Fun patches can be earned at Girl Scout events or by doing extra things that are not a part of the Girl Scouts' program. 

Girl Scout Brownie: Painter Badge

Painter Badge for Brownies requires you first get to know famous artists and their work.  I have compiled 5 artists whose work your daughter can study.  She can find the answers to the questions asked on these web-sites. 
Salvador Dali's Work
Diego Rivera's Work
Claude Monet's Work
Vincent Van Gogh's Work
Camille Pissarro's Work

Your Brownie will still have a lot of work to do.  After studying these paintings and painters, she will become a painter as well.  Make sure she has all of the paints and paper she needs, as well as an old shirt to cover her clothes.  Then, let the artist in her show its face!!

Girl Scouts Brownie: Wonders of Water Part 1

Jaden is a Brownie Girl Scout. Brownies are grade 2 and 3 girls. The Brownie series, is a great addition to a girl's learning. It allows girls to grow and develop new skills and spend time with girls their age.  You can follow this blog as Jaden learns through the Brownie program.  I am hoping this will provide you with ideas on how to help your girls earn their badges. 

Above is the book that I am referring to in this post.  In Part 1 of the book, the girls learn about the way water gets to their homes, and how it leaves.  It is an effort to teach them conservation as well.  Jaden and I went through the chapter page by page.  Then, she drew a picture of how the water gets to the house, and how the it gets to the sewer.  She brainstormed on how she can save water at home as well. 

And, this is what I LOVE about homeschooling- I learn something new everyday as well! 

At the end of the chapter, we watched these informative videos on the San Francisco Sewage System:

Sewer Part 1

Sewer Part 2

In the back of the WOW book, there are the last things the girls must do to earn the badge.  For this one, the girls should think of and write down their 2 favorite things about water and make a water promise.  Once that is complete, you can hand your girls their part 1 water badge!

I hope this post helps you and your Brownie on your Girl Scout journey!