1.1 Welcome to Brownies
Program Connections:
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Before meeting
- send an e-mail to parents reminding them of the first meeting, introductions, registration fees, forms requirements, weekly dues; confirm that everyone receives e-mail – if not, phone some parents.
At meeting
- collect registration fees, note chq numbers, write receipts, collect H1 and IR1 forms (assuming we have all A5R forms); have a form ready to mark off what has been received!
On arrival
- Girls receive a coloured sticker when they arrive to sort them into circles. [have stickers and a list ready]
- Circle 1 - red, Circle 2 - yellow, Circle 3 - blue, Circle 4 - green
Gathering Activity (in their circles)
- have the same coloured sticker on their circle boxes. [purchase boxes and stock them with dues books/bags, markers, pencil, etc.]
- Assign Circle Leader (a 2nd year girl) to take dues, if there are dues brought to the first meeting! – note: perhaps put a star on the CL’s coloured sticker so we just say the girl with the star will be in charge of dues this week.
- Craft: Key Name Tag with pipe cleaner to collect weekly beads – note: have all supplies inside the circle boxes
Opening
- Brownie Song (in one big circle, with the toadstool and owl in the centre) {Key to Brownies 4B}
- We’re the Brownies, here’s our aim. Lend a hand and play the game. (x2)
Welcome / Introductions
- Usually when we have opening, we will sing our “circle songs” and then the Brownie Song. Repeat the Brownie song so new girls can get to know it a bit better. We will decide on our circle group names next week.
- Explain how opening works – every week go to your circle corner, collect dues and work on an activity until opening. You are only in your “circle” for a short time at the beginning of the meeting, then we will all be together in a big group, except for some special activities.
- Introduce leaders – get Owl name suggestions
- Explain name tags & beads. We will collect name tags at the end of every meeting. For every meeting you attend, you will get a special bead to add to your name tag.
- Explain that we wear uniforms in Brownies and they are expected to wear them every week. We will earn badges during our meetings, but there are more “interest” badges that you can work on at home.
- Rules – have the girls suggest rules that we write on a big sheet of paper to be posted at the meeting place. Suggestions: everyone listens when someone else is talking, everyone quiet when a leader makes the “quiet” sign, do not leave the meeting space without talking to a leader first, clean up after yourself, there are no “moms” at Brownies - only Owls, etc.
Active Game
The Brownie Story {Key to Brownies 4A}
- Read the story from the Brownie program book. Each girl will get a picture of something from the story to put up on a felt board as their item is mentioned in the story. Make a felt board with a large piece of felt stretched over a cardboard box or foam core board. Find pictures to suit your story on the internet. Print and laminate the pictures, then attach a piece of sandpaper to the back of each picture. The pictures will now stick to the felt board!
Song
- Squirrel, Squirrel (to lead into the squirrel craft)
Squirrel, squirrel shake your bushy tail!
Squirrel, squirrel shake your bushy tail!
Wrinkle up your little nose,
Hold a nut between your toes.
Squirrel, squirrel shake your bushy tail!
Craft
- Craft: Promise Squirrel
- Squirrel bags with acorns to go inside. The acorns have part of the promise written on them. Hand out the acorns after the promise is explained, just before we play the game.
Promise {Key to Brownies 1A,1B}
- First explain the promise, law, motto and sign. What does it mean to “do my best”?
- Play a game to help learn the promise, using the squirrel craft.
Learn the Grand Howl {Key to Brownies 3E}
- The grand howl is a special way to welcome a guest or show appreciation to a helper.
- Gather in the Brownie Ring.
- Squat down, knees bent, arms between your legs with two fingers of each hand touching the floor.
- Say “Tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo” softly. Rise a little and then return to the squatting position.
- Rise again a little higher and repeat, “Tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo,” a little louder.
- Rise a third time, even higher. Say only “Tu-whit, tu-whit,” but louder. Then leap in the air and clap your hand above your head as you yell, “Tu-whoo”!
Brownie Closing
- Collect name tags
- Sing Now Run Along Home – song tune at http://www.dltk-bible.com/now_run_along_home.htm
Now run along home,
And jump into bed
Say your prayers
Don't cover up your head.
The very same thing
I say unto you.
You dream of me,
And I'll dream of you.
- Sing the Brownie Closing Song {Key to Brownies 4B}
- O Lord our God. Thy children call. Grant us thy peace, and bless us all.
Supplies needed for the meeting:
- SG4 form completed (must be at all meetings)
- Receipt book and money box
- Extra H1 forms
- Binder to store health forms (H1 and H4 – first aid treatment report)
- First aid kit
- List of girls and colour circles
- Coloured stickers – red, yellow, green, blue (one of each with a star on it)
- Circle boxes
- Fleece circles to gather on
- Dues bags with new dues books and pencils
- Attendance and dues record
- Meeting plan
- Brownie book
- Name tag sample and supplies – minimum supplies for 25 girls plus 6 leaders
- Toad stool & Owl for opening
- Large paper for rules
- Sharpie for rules
- Pictures for the Brownie story and a board or paper to attach them to
- Promise craft sample and supplies
- Active game instructions