Online Activities
Science is fun!
Check out these links and resources or ideas to discover the science in everyday life at the Young Scientist Challenge website.
Mind on the Media
Download the Turn Beauty Inside Out (TBIO) Action Kit to help you get started on inspiring independent thinking and fostering critical analysis of media messages. This kit gives you powerful and easy-to-use ideas about how to use Turn Beauty Inside Out Day to raise awareness, inspire discussion and foster coalition building and involvement in girls’ issues.
Click above to read the magazine.
Justine E*Buzz, a Special Edition of Justine Magazine
To give you a snapshot of what Justine magazine is all about . . .They have created a special Justine E*Buzz just for Girl Scouts. So throw on your comfy sweats and flip through the E*Buzz for tips on skincare, beauty, style and fitness and to meet last year’s R.E.A.L. Girl winner and finalists . . .plus read about former Girl Scouts Keke Palmer and Katie Armiger.
Want more Justine? Subscriptions start at just $17.95 for one year and as an added bonus for you as a new Girl Scout subscriber, we will throw in a recent back issue to you for FREE. To take advantage of this offer, click here.
Program for Research and Outreach on Gender Equity in Society
PROGRESS offers girls online resources to achieving a Win-Win, an interactive Fun Zone, and Ask Ayana forum for negotiating advice. There’s even an instruction manual and download for the game, “Reign of Aquaria” for you to enjoy with parents, leaders or instructions.
Connect to Girl Scouts and Girl Guides Around the World
Join this year’s Thinking Day exchange. For over 13 years, Girl Scouts and Guides all over the world connect and exchange postcards to learn more about each other. The Exchange runs from September to February! Sign up at www.mythinkingday.com.
Go Geocaching!
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt using a GPS to find hidden containers or sites. You need a GPS receiver (Garmin/Magellan) and Internet access. Start by creating an account at www.geocaching.com. They're free. After you log in, you can search for what caches are hidden in your area (by zip code). You can then preview what types of caches are hidden and where they are hidden (local parks, etc.) There are different kinds of caches, from small micro-caches to large caches hidden in boxes. The hider places a logbook and a pen or pencil in the cache, so when you find it, you can log it using your Geocaching log in name. If the cache is large enough, there may be items that you can trade in it. If you take something, you need to leave something of equal value. When you get home, you log in to your account and log the cache as a "find" or a "didn't find". The cache pages also list the difficulty level and the terrain level, and sometimes if they are kid friendly or handicapped accessible. Geocaching is fun to do on vacations as it does often take you to someplace you wouldn't necessarily see otherwise.
Recycled Blue Jean Activities
Denim Tote Bag (older girls/adult)
Brown Grocery Bag Holder (web site shows holder made from other material but denim will also work. Also recycles used hanging file folder.)
T-shirt Tote
T-shirt Tote is a Girl Scout Gold Award project to encourage recycling and help reduce the resources we use, especially those associated with plastic bags.
Girls Go Tech
Women represent 46% of the total workforce but only 25% of the technology workforce. Early interest in science, math, technology, and engineering is critical to girls' success in these subjects. Through the Girls Go Tech Web site, girls discover technology by exploring their everyday surroundings and high-tech careers. The site's games, explanations, and profiles of women in STEM fields give girls a fun and comprehensive perspective on what the future could be. Today's Girl Scouts are preparing to take on the 21st century's many technological opportunities and challenges.
Healthy Habits
GSUSA “encourages girls to stand up for their health and arm themselves with the real facts on tobacco. Offerings include In the Zone: Living Drug Free. This project, offered in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, educates girls and teens who want to live drug-free about the realities of tobacco and other addictive drugs.” Additional programs include the Girl Scouts Against Smoking patch. Visit GSUSA's Web site for program links like: Healthy Habits and My Body try-its; The Choice is Yours badge; or Women’s Health IPA. Junior GS could apply activities to step 4 of their Sign of the World award. Activities could also tie in with the Asthma Awareness Patch for Girl Scouts.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Visit The Space Place, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for online games and activities.
Stop Bullying Now!
Learn all about bullying in this interactive Web site just for kids, www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids, plus learn what you can do to stop it. Once you complete the activities, you’ll be inspired to create your own Take Action project.
History In Your Pocket (HIP)
"The United States Mint HIP Pocket Change website showcases the connection between this country's coins and its people. Through games, stories, and other engaging activities, the site brings to life both the extraordinary individuals who appear on U.S. coinage and the generations of citizens who have carried this change. What a great place to examine the 'History In your Pocket' (H.I.P.)!" Check out this website from the US Mint for fun activities and Teachers' Resources.
Discover the Power of a Healthy Smile at www.mouthpower.org!
The National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is pleased to present a program created in partnership with the American Dental Association. It is an entertaining and educational web experience that engages Girl Scouts in discovering the power of a healthy smile, and is available in both English and Spanish! Girl Scouts will learn about making healthy choices and fulfill requirements for several Brownie and Junior badges.
Exploring Career Information
Exploring Career Information through the Bureau of Labor Statistics can help match your interest and talents with potential career choices. It’s easy and fun; and may help you to select upcoming S’more Fun events based on what your career goals may be.
Find Nature Nearby
Green Hour® has teamed up with NatureFind to provide you a quick and easy way to find many of the local, state and national parks near you -- and some private parks and nature centers as well.
Simply enter your location or zip code to get started!
The NatureFind tool will display a list of results including web links, direct-mile distance from your starting point, and the recreational opportunities available at each location.
If you would like to suggest outdoor places or events that NatureFind does not yet have in its database, just click "Feedback."
Mix It Up
Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that require computer and math skills are projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade? Here’s an online guide of activities to supplement troop activities, create a series of events, or provide a focus for your Special Interest Group, and give girls opportunities for real-life, hands-on learning in financial literacy, science, technology, engineering and math in ways that are fun and challenging.
Galaxies
"If you think a Milky Way is just a candy bar, then this is the Project Pack for you! The Milky Way is the galaxy in which we live. Galaxies, a 66-page unit, features an 11-page Research Guide that will give you and your student details about the different types of galaxies, sizes of galaxies, and people who have studied galaxies throughout time. You will find 16 hands-on activities that correspond to the Research Guide. Get out your telescopes, grab a Milky Way candy bar, and start learning all about galaxies. Source: www.currclick.com.
LMK
LMK (text-speak for “let me know”) is an online safety campaign created by Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft Windows.
The campaign includes an interactive website for girls to help you stay safe online, and an e-newsletter and Web site for adults to help your families understand how you need to safely navigate cyberspace.
There are tips for postings to social networks like Facebook or MySpace. Many girls don’t know that these are permanent, that even if you’ve changed it, someone can always find it. What you say or share about yourself online is public to your friends, neighbors and family. Many colleges and employers are now checking social networking sites before accepting students or hiring.
Beyond revealing “TMI” (too much information), teens may experience “cyber bullying” online. The LMK sites give advice on how to handle messages or activity that turns creepy or could be dangerous. The LMK program is a good place for girls and adults to examine the wonderful potential and possible perils of the worldwide web, and is a natural lead-in to the online safety pledge on page 130 of Safety-Wise. Fun features for girls are forums, Q&A, games, polls, and the first-ever downloadable patch.
Help for Middle School - Grades 6-8 (Girl Scout Cadettes)
Is middle school drama trying to get in the way of all the great opportunities you’re facing? Check out Sister to Sister: The Darker Side of Friendship, a new Girl Scout feature that deals with issues like bullying, relational aggression, cyber bullying and romantic relationships. This cool, interactive piece includes video and provides you and your friends with chances to navigate the pages anyway you'd like! There are also activities you can download and complete offline as part of this experience. Click here for a facilitator guide for Cadettes.
Relationship Matrix - Grades 9-10 (Girl Scout Senior)
High school provides so many opportunities for you to explore who you want to be! In WeBlog: Relationship Matrix, you will meet seven girls who have blogged about the unique issues in their lives, including being the "new" girl, driving a car, helping a friend in crisis and feeling like an outcast. The WeBlog Guide contains activities that follow each girl's story, and can be downloaded as printable resources or viewed on the screen. The Emoticon E-Journal lives behind each of the seven emoticons on the WeBlog: Relationship Matrix homepage, and contains ideas and activities for you to complete offline. There's also a page dedicated to earning your Silver Award! Click here for a facilitator guide for Seniors.
My Planet
My Planet—online games that test how water-, air-, and sun-savvy girls are—was funded in part by the Environmental Protection Agency to encourage environmental awareness. One game, "Map It", allows girls to create their own air-friendly environment.
Play all four games at Go Girls Only: My Planet Games.
Trees for the 21st Century
This easy-to-use tree planting and education toolkit from ERTHNXT connects children and young people to the wonders of trees and the outdoors. The kit includes science-based activities designed for adults working with children and youth ages 6 to 18. As the children learn why and how to plant trees, activities reinforce the value and importance of ongoing care and encourage youth stewardship.
Learn more about Trees for the 21st Century.
Got a few minutes? Check out GSUSA's uniquely ME! site and learn about Girl Scout's newest uniquely ME! spokesperson, SuChin Pak!
Born in Korea, SuChin and her family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was five years old. She graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. SuChin Pak joined MTV News as a correspondent in May 2001. She has co-hosted the Video Music Awards, the Movie Awards and Grammy pre-shows. SuChin has been on the red carpet for the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the Sundance Film Festival. SuChin’s biggest project this past year has been hosting and producing the documentary series, My Life Translated. A series for MTV, the documentaries deal with the lives of young people growing up in America with parents from different countries and cultures. The series was recently highlighted on the Oprah Winfrey Show and SuChin was also part of Oprah’s Oh Girl, Oh Beautiful campaign. SuChin will also be hosting the G-Word, the Discovery Channel’s newest daily show, which focuses on how to be green and eco-friendly in your everyday life.
