Promise Center
Not included: For name tags: Crayons, markers, pencils. For troop bracelets: Scissors. For puppets: Markers, crayons, scissors, glue, any additional embellishments you wish (yarn, construction paper, etc.).
Remember, you don’t have to do all the activities.
Pre-meeting: As girls arrive, have them write their name and decorate a name tag (included).
Feel free to be creative, and modify or supplement with your own activities. Learning the Girl Scout Promise is a requirement to earn this badge—all other activities are optional.
Activity 1: Let’s get to know each other!
Instant Replay
Gather the girls in a circle. Have each girl introduce herself performing an action of her choice (e.g., jazz hands, jumping, clapping, dancing, etc.). Everyone else then repeats her name and the action. When everyone has had a turn, go around the circle again and see how many names and actions everyone can remember.
The Wind Blows
Have girls stand in a circle with one person in the center. The person in the middle says, “The wind blows for anyone who…” and states something that is true about themselves (has a sister, favorite color is red, plays soccer, etc.). Any other player for whom this statement is also true crosses through the middle of the circle and trades places with someone else. The last person to nd a new spot is now in the middle and says, “The wind blows for anyone who...” to start the game again.
Daisy Says
Play a simple game of “Simon Says” but instead of Simon, explain that we are playing Daisy Says—because we are Girl Scout Daisies! In this version, we’ll practice positivity. If someone does the wrong move, they have to say something about themselves that they are good at or that makes them special!
Activity 2: Make troop bracelets!
Make colorful bracelets to establish group norms with your troop. Group norms are guidelines your troop agrees to follow whenever you’re together. Ask the girls how they want to be treated when participating in Girl Scouts. Write down ve norms the girls come up with as a group. Then assign a color bead to each norm and string the beads onto the bracelet. Encourage the girls to wear their bracelet to each Girl Scout meeting. Beads and bracelet cord are included.
Examples of group norms:
1. Be kind to everyone.
2. Be ready to participate.
3. It’s okay to be wrong.
4. Safety rst.
5. Lift each other up, even when we disagree.
Activity 3: Get creative with paper bag puppets!
Use the paper bags and googly eyes (included) plus crayons, markers, and any other items you have on hand to make a special puppet pal!
Activity 4: Let’s learn the Girl Scout Promise!
Explain that the Girl Scout Promise is one of the most important traditions in Girl Scouting because it shows how Girl Scouts treat others. We are promising to do our best to treat everyone with respect and kindness!
Read the lines of the Promise, one by one, and have the girls repeat each line after you say it. Practice it a few times this way. Now have their puppets all try it together!
On my honor, I will try: To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
Activity 5: Learn the friendship circle/friendship squeeze—a Girl Scout tradition!
Start in a circle. Everyone should cross their arms right over left and then hold hands. Let the girls know that the friendship squeeze means that we are passing our friendship on to the next girl in the form of a squeeze, reminding us that we are all connected to each other!
There shouldn’t be any extra hard squeezes because that could hurt!
Anyone can start the squeeze.
You can do it in silence, or you can have each person say something when it is their turn. It helps to have girls put their right foot in the circle once they have received their squeeze.
For extra fun, after everyone has squeezed and on a 1-2-3 count, while still holding hands, each person lifts their crossed arms over their heads at once and turns facing outside of the circle, uncrossing their hands and bringing them down by their sides. Then they can release their hands.
Wrap-up: Have the girls help with any clean-up tasks. Talk about what you are doing at the next meeting, get their ideas for activities, and share upcoming meeting dates, homework, volunteer needs, etc. with parents as they arrive for pick-up. Consider sending a follow-up text with this information if needed.
