Earning Daisy Girl Scout Petals
Activities and Crafts for The Girl Scout Law and Daisy Troop Leaders
Daisies enjoy kindergarten activities for character education. Troop Leaders can make petal projects fun and teach the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law
Planning activities for Daisy Girl Scouts can be easy. Since Daisy Girl Scouts are in kindergarten they have different needs than older girls. Kindergarten girls might have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time, and transitioning from one activity to another can be a challenge. Luckily, most Daisy Girl Scout Troops have only 5-10 girls, so your task isn’t as difficult as that of an all-day kindergarten teacher.
The Girl Scout Law
The petal patches in Daisies are meant to symbolize the Girl Scout Law. Relating the activities done at the meetings to different parts of the Girl Scout Law can be easy once you get the hang of it.
Welcome Activity
During the time when girls are trickling into the meeting, a lack of direction can cause chaos. Having an activity that involves little to no mess, instruction or help can set the tone for an organized meeting with very little time spent trying to get the girls to calm down. Such activities can be coloring, beading necklaces to share with each other (be a sister to every girl scout), playing with homemade play dough or building with blocks or recycled cartons (use resources wisely). Be sure to ask a parent to sit by and make sure the girls are safe and focused in case another parent needs your leadership during this time.
Circle Time
Bringing the girls together into a circle is a common way to start meetings. Many kindergarten teachers use circle time for open discussion, and in Girl Scouts, open discussion helps girls develop leadership skills. Discussing the character education principles in the Girl Scout Law, and asking the girls to think of examples of living by these principles can help them gain a better understanding. Having a poster or sign of the Daisy petal patches or the Girl Scout Law can help girls remember what they’ve learned and look forward to what is yet to come.
Physical Activity
Having an activity that allows girls to get wild can help keep energy levels in check. If your meeting space is indoors, you can play cooperative games like Simon Says (honest and fair) or Mother, May I (friendly and helpful), or Red Light Green Light (respect authority.)
Imaginary Play
Engaging in imaginary play helps girls practice the character skills they’re learning. Role-playing situations they might encounter at home and at school gives girls the chance to relate the principles of the Girl Scout Law into their daily life. For example; while learning about how to be honest and fair, girls can pretend they’re having a conflict with their siblings or friends (respect myself and others.)
Arts and Crafts
Creating works of art is an especially popular activity for kindergarteners. Many Daisy Girl Scouts enjoy making projects to give as gifts (make the world a better place) or decorating thank-you cards with paint or crayons (considerate and caring). In addition to making thank-you cards, girls can make “I’m sorry” cards (courageous and strong). After making cards, be sure to discuss at a future meeting when and where those cards were distributed to add to circle time discussion.
Closing The Meeting
Many Girl Scout meetings close with a “friendship circle.” Singing a song or reciting a poem or simply saying goodbye to everyone individually wraps up a meeting nicely and signals that the meeting is officially over. Closing is also a good time to remind girls (and parents) of anything they might need to remember before the next meeting, like who is bringing snack.
