Embedded Files
This workshop is aimed to engage students and scouts with the way they interact with their environment, and aspects of it that they may not have noticed or paid much attention to. A number of these tasks can be done independently/at home, but most require students/scouts to be in groups of their peers.
This workshop curriculum also meets the requirements for the "Outdoor Explorer" Brownie badge, for Girl Scout troops if all five tasks are completed.
Ask students to observe outside at night. This task is likely easiest to do at home with their families.
Advise them to stay safe by being with an adult or in groups.
Have them bring back their findings to the group by writing them down or making a list.
Lead a discussion on differences between what they observe in the daytime vs the night. Try making a T-chart or Venn diagram.
Make sure they take time to look at the sky. Ask them what they notice about the stars, moon, or planes.
Guiding Questions for your group:
What could you hear at night that you couldn't during the day? (Owls, crickets, frogs,)
What did you see at night that you couldn't during the day? (Moths, bats, fireflies,)
Was there anything that you notice during daytime that you couldn't see or hear at night? (Cars, birds, bikes,)
Could you see the moon or any stars?
What shape was the moon? Can they identify the phase it was in?
Educate your students/scouts about the types of clouds. Charts online can help them see the different types. Go skywatching as a group.
Guiding Questions:
What kinds of clouds are they observing? (Do they think that there will be rain coming?)
Do they see any birds? Depending on the season, different birds will be out. (Are there any geese flying in a "V" shape? Are the birds in large flocks or in smaller groups?)
Try making a game out of skywatching. Ask them to count as many items (birds, planes) that they see in a minute or two.
For Brownie Scouts:
Run a game with your group outside. Try hide and seek, tag, or capture the flag. This activity is a task under the "Outdoor Explorer" badge.
Ask your group what makes playing a game outside different from playing it inside
Brainstorm benefits of outdoor exercise with them, and ways that they can get outside to play even if they aren't with their classmates or friends.
Lead a conversation about useful outdoor skills. Tying knots is a classic camping/hiking skill that can be learned quickly and taught to others. The overhand and square knot are two simple, common knots, video resources can be found online to learn these. Students/scouts at these ages know how to tie shoes, so these two knots are a familiar skill that they use every day.
Have your students/scouts practice communication skills by dividing the group into 2 teams. Have each group learn one knot, then partner up with members of the other group to teach each other the knot they learned.
Try making a competition out of tying knots: pick one of them, and have kids see who can tie the fastest.
Workshop with students/scouts about caring for the outdoors. Ask them about recycling, and brainstorm other uses for disposable items like cans, jars, cartons, or plastic containers. A group craft can be done with items from your students'/scouts' recycling bins: brainstorm with your group to find as many ideas as you can.
Milk cartons can become bird feeders: cut rectangular windows in the sides, and fill the bottom with seeds. Try using one of the knots that the scouts learned to tie up the carton to hang from a tree.
Poke holes through the bottom of plastic tubs to make planters for flowers or young plants.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse