UPDATED JUNE 2019 As a teacher since 1987, one of the very first things my principal had me master was classroom management. You see, it isn't enough to have a great lesson plan and implement it well. In a class of 25 children, there will always be kids who finish quickly and those who need the entire period (or longer) to complete a task.
Image created by the author on Canva
Those who finish early can quite easily get themselves into trouble if they are not kept busy in a constructive way. As a second and then a third grade teacher, I had a list of ten different enrichment activities on the blackboard every day. These changed weekly so that no child could ever complain about being bored. I covered all different kinds of learners with my enrichment activities. Some were simple art projects that fit into a holiday or reading theme, others were word puzzles, and the most difficult were fifth and sixth grade brainteasers that all were encouraged to try, but only the top students tended to get correct. Your Daisy meeting is probably an hour long, so there isn't much chance that early finishers on project you are working on will have a ton of time left over. However, any time not spent constructively can lead to unwanted behaviors like running around, bothering the girls who are still working and simple whining. You can prevent these behaviors from happening with free Daisy coloring pages that you can print at home or take to the printers. Here is a list of resources to find different coloring pages. Makingfriends.com has petal pages and Girl Scout Law coloring pages. Twistynoodle.com also has several Daisy flowers from which to choose. This image search produced more coloring pages than you could ever use! Have you used any of the free Girl Scout Daisy coloring pages?
Updated November 2019 One of the most important things I learned during my first year as an elementary school teacher was classroom management. My second grade class had 25 children, and some of them had some very real behavioral issues (Yeah, welcome to teaching. Why give these kids to the teacher across the hall who had over 20 years experience under her belt? But I digress...) Managing your troop of kindergarten and first grade Daisy Scouts is necessary for your meetings to run smoothly. For someone like myself who has been doing this for a living since 1987, it comes as second nature . For those who have never been in charge of a large group of children, the task can seem overwhelming.
Photos from Pixabay
This is where good management comes in. Children will get themselves into mischief or misbehave if they are bored or undirected. If there is nothing to do, then they will find something to do...and it may not be to your liking. There are two times during a meeting when girls typically get into trouble. The first is when the meeting starts. Latecomers take you off task, and waiting for them to arrive causes the others to get antsy. You can use free Girl Scout coloring pages as a "sponge" activity to get the girls who have already arrived on task. Have the girls at the table with the crayons or markers and the page you have run off. Have your co-leader at the table talk about the page, which can be one for earning a petal and a springboard for your meeting. If your troop meets after school like mine did so latecomers are not an issue, then you can use free Daisy coloring pages for those who finish early the craft or activity that you planned. Again, have your co-leader or parent volunteer sit with the girls to keep them focused. Here are some websites to find your free Daisy Girl Scout coloring pages. Coloring Book Fun Colortime Making Friends (Superhero Girl Scout Law Coloring Pages) Twisty Noodle AZ Coloring Best of Coloring Supercoloring For Girls (from Girl Scout website) Remember, if you are printing at a local store like Staples, save your receipt so you can be reimbursed. You might want to run off several meetings worth at a time to save yourself a trip. Girls who miss the meeting can be given the extra paper the next time she shows up.
Learning time management is very important for Girl Scout leaders. Children who are left to their own devices can get into trouble! In a previous blog post that has many sources for free Girl Scout Daisy coloring pages, I shared some reasons why time management is so important.
Now with the Thanksgiving season coming upon us, here are some free printable Thanksgiving coloring pages to have printed out and on hand for your meetings. These can be transformed into cards, glued onto contruction paper for place mats, or cut out and used for other crafts.
*This post contains affiliate links. UPDATED OCTOBER 2019
As a Daisy Scout leader, you are responsible for planning activities to earn Daisy petals. Since a young troop is starting out, there is very little money in the troop bank account. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make good use of whatever dues you collect.
The following activity costs very little money. It is a great craft to do in the spring, especially around Earth Day on April 22nd. This craft is not only inexpensive, but your girls can also earn three Daisy petals:
About two weeks before your meeting, send an email to the parents to let them know that you will be needing a washed out two liter soda bottle that has already been cut in half. The bottom half will be used as a planter. As always, be sure to bring an extra one or two for those girls who forget to bring the needed materials.
Each girl needs to bring an empty, washed out 2 liter soda bottle that has been cut in half. A clear one works best. The bottom half will be used as the planter. As always, be sure to bring an extra one or two for those girls who forget to bring the needed materials.
You will also have to get a copy of one of my favorite children's books, Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney.
As always, at the start of the meeting, we talked about the petals we were going to earn and what they meant. Then I read Miss Rumphius. This story ties in directly with all three petals. Miss Rumphius promises her grandfather that she will make the world a better place. The book tells how she goes about doing this, despite physical obstacles of her own.
After you read and discuss the story, have each girl take out her two liter bottle. Before you begin, write the girls' names on the bottom and at the very top with the Sharpie marker. Help the girls fill them with soil and poke holes in it with the pencil. Drop in the seeds and cover them up with the dirt. Lightly water the soil so it is moist. The girls can decorate the bottle with the stickers that you have brought.
For early finishers, be sure to have some coloring pages or some puzzle pages handy. If you are doing a perpetual Girl Scout scrapbook, be sure to take a photo of the girl and her plant. At the next few meetings, ask the girls about their plant's progress!
This simple activity is perfect for earning the green Daisy petal, yellow Daisy petal and the rose Daisy petal.
*This post contains affiliate links. Updated October 2019 If you have taken on the monumental task of becoming a Daisy Girl Scout leader, then you are going to need a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the girls actively engaged and with you. One tool to have in your leader toolbox is to use coloring pages as a sponge activity when girls first enter the meeting room. This gets them focused while the others are trickling in. These same pages can also be used at the end of an activity to keep those who finish early quietly entertained.
Another activity you will want to do with your Daisy Scouts is sing scouting songs. You have heard the expression “music calms the savage beast?” Well, little girls are not beasts, but things can easily get led astray if you do not keep them on task.
Singing is a great way to begin or end a meeting or do as an activity while you are having you are meeting.
Photos from Pixabay and altered by the author on Canva
Music and Learning Go Hand in Hand Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
There is more to it than fun!
Every culture has a rich history of songs. It one way that stories were told and were passed down from one generation to the next. From an early age, children are taught through song the alphabet, how to count, and other important preschool skills. The hand movements associated with these songs helps develop eye-hand coordination and well as memorization skills. It also helps with listening skills, as children need to hear the words carefully in order to repeat them.
Music is a social activity for children. Rhythm and counting beats is taught with others in a joyful setting in music classes or just marching around the room with Mommy or Daddy at home. Gross motor development is learned when children learn song and dance, like The Alley Cat or The Hokey Pokey. Music does not judge, all children can do it, no matter what their ability level is. This is not a subject that is graded.
That is why a well prepared Girl Scout leader will have a few songs on her phone or other electronic device so their girls can dance and sing. And you can join them! They would get a real kick out of that!
Some adults won't sing in public because they cannot carry a tune. Don't concern yourself with this! The girls will sense your joy and happiness while you are singing and only focus on that.
This album has all the songs a leader needs to bring music to her meetings. This compilation is made just for Girl Scout Daisies. There are other versions for the other levels as the girls get older. Some of the songs you can purchase are:
Amazing Daisies
We Are One Voice
Move Your Dancing Feet
Alice the Camel
Ladybug
The Sun Goes Up, The Sun Comes Down
Olayo
A World of Thanks
Most songs are about a minute long, with some being more and other less. Because they are short, they will be easy for your girls to learn. You can purchase one or all of them and previews are available before you buy.
More Girl Scout Daisy Songs
Here are a few more song ideas to get you started. I'm a Girl Scout Daisy This is sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" Daisy Happy Face Song This is sung to the tune of the "Brownie Smile Song". Daisy This is sung to the tune of "A BIcycle Built for Two". You can find even more Girl Scout Daisy songs here. Here are some cute Daisy videos.
Are you a brand new Daisy Girl Scout leader getting ready for her very first troop meeting? Are you feeling a bit nervous about how you are going to handle and prepare for it?
Take a breath! Every single leader has been there before. Even I get butterflies when it is time for my first meeting of the year, because as the girls mature, I have to make sure that our meetings are as girl led as possible (which is hard for me!), as well as ensure that they are all “considerate and caring” as well as “friendly and helpful” to each other. Group dynamics change as girls get older.
As a veteran Girl Scout leader since 2008, I have been there and done that. Here is some advice taken from my own experience, to help you as you establish your very own troop.
Your audience is only 5 or 6 years old. They are much easier to please than a room full of adults. These little girls are very excited to begin their Girl Scout experience, so just about anything you do is going to go over well.
Just be firm and consistent with the rules, and things should be fine.
2. Be Prepared
This motto is one that I live by as a teacher, a leader and as a mother. Even this week, as I prepared for my very first Senior Girl Scout meeting of the year, I made sure that I had extra activities planned in case things take a shorter amount of time than I anticipated.
Have a few Daisy Girl Scout coloring pages or games as back up. When they were younger, my troop loved to play Chinese jump rope, and it is always in my leader bag if we have a few extra minutes before our meeting ends. It also helps get their energy out if you have been sitting around too long, and it makes clean up go faster. The girls want to play!
This book is filled with classic game for your troop and it is for all levels. There are games for small groups, large groups, indoor activities and outdoors. too. It is also a resource for international games as well.
3. Create a Kaper Chart
Little girls love to help, and a Girl Scout Kaper chart is a great way to have girls participate in their own meeting. Give a girl a job or have two girls share one. It teaches them to be “responsible for what I day and do”.
While there are many wonderful Kaper Chart ideas on the internet, keep it simple for your first year. Think about where you want to invest your energy...making a chart that is used for a few minutes at each meeting or planning for each meeting. I love Pinterest...but it is not necessary to get carried away and spend hours and a lot of money on a Kaper Chart.
I have written several blog posts over the years about creating a simple Kaper Chart with inexpensive ready made items. You can find them here...just keep scrolling for each article.
4. Make Sure Each Meeting Has a Routine
School teachers know that routine is a way to give young children a sense of security and to help them stay on task. Young children need to know what to expect next. For example, each meeting should begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.
Then you do your planned activities. Have a signal for the final five minutes before it is time to clean up. Close your meetings with the Make New Friends song and the Friendship Squeeze (you can find a video tutorial on each in this blog post).
There is no right or wrong way to have a meeting-do what works for your co-leader and you. Just be sure you keep to your schedule so you can complete the activities that you have planned.
5. Have Two Co-Leaders Instead of One
(and make sure your other parents are registered volunteers)
I have seen this time and again on the Girl Scout forums and Facebook groups that I read. There is occasional drama between leaders and co-leaders, and in the end, someone leaves. If you have at least two co-leaders, if someone decides this is not for her or you have some mama drama, your troop can still continue without disruption.
If you think getting parent permission forms on time is difficult, try finding another mom to step up and help you!
An extra co-leader right from the start also makes it easier to delegate tasks and leading meetings. One person can be in charge of field trips, another can be the treasurer, another in charge of buying the craft materials…why have it all of the planning responsibilities on your shoulders?
My book has chapters about how to get organized, launch your troop, and how to keep things going. There are also many useful resources for new leaders to use to help them get on their way to a fun filled year.
I have had different experiences with snack time. When my older daughter was a scout, her leaders requested that one girl bring it in for everybody, as they met directly after school. We had one parent who always forgot, and the leader had to bring it in for the girls. It really wasn’t fair to anybody involved.
That is why I decided that when my troop met after school, girls would bring their own snacks. That way, everyone gets to eat a treat that she likes and I do not have to worry about anybody’s food allergies. I did have a bag of pretzels or a granola bar in my bag because there is usually one child who forgets.
A note about food allergies…if you are meeting in a facility that is not your home, do not permit peanut products as snacks. Many schools and places of worship are peanut-free environments, and parents who have children with food allergies count on those places as being safe for their child.
7. Bring a Camera
My troop has been creating a perpetual Girl Scout scrapbook since their second year of Daisies. It is nice to have some photos of their time together as a troop. These can be shared on a private Shutterfly site or you can use them for your own scrapbooks.
If you decide to print the pictures, save your receipt so you can be reimbursed.
8. Network With Other Daisy Leaders
It is a good idea to attend your monthly Service Unit Meetings. Not only will you get the information you need about what is going on in your local council, you can talk to other leaders on your level. This is how I learned about a few free field trips in my area.
You can also ask Brownie leaders for assistance, as more than likely they were newbies just like you not that long ago. Ask your Service Unit to set time aside for networking at some of your meetings.
9. Don’t Do a Girl Scout Journey Your First Year
Many brand new Daisy leaders do not realize that they do not have to do a Girl Scout Journey until they are Juniors and want to earn the Bronze Award. Before 2008, Daisy Scouts was a one year program for kindergarteners. It was a year based on earning Daisy petals and getting familiar with the Girl Scout Law and Promise.
All that changed with the advent of the Journeys program. You can do it if you want, but my advice would be to wait until the second year and you have earned your Daisy petals. That way you are not trying to do both petals and Journeys at once. Focus on one aspect of the scouting program at a time.
10. You Do Not Have to Sell Cookies
Years ago, selling Girl Scout cookies was only for older girls-Daisies were not permitted to sell them. It gave new leaders a chance to breathe and to get to know how the other aspects of Girl Scout worked.
Now they can.
Selling cookies is an optional activity. I could not imagine selling them my very first year, on top of learning the ropes.
The tips for starting your Daisy Girl Scout troop are meant to help and guide you as you discover the joys of being a leader. Good luck!
*This post contains affiliate links. Updated November 2019
Congratulations! You are finally getting to the end of your first year of being a Daisy Girl Scout leader. If you are not bridging from Daisy Girl Scouts to Brownie Girl Scoutsbecause you are in your first year, there is no reason why you still cannot end your year on a high note with a celebration.
Think of all that you have accomplished. First of all, you made it! Do you remember how nervous you were after you signed up to be a leader? Do you remember feeling overwhelmed at how you were going to do all of this?
Look at you now! You are a woman who can confidently take her troop on field trips (you know how to fill out those forms!), plan meetings (you finally got it all organized) and maybe you even participated in the Girl Scout cookie sale this winter.
And look at your girls! Some may have been shy at the first few meetings, others may have even had tears as her mommy left. Maybe you learned how to calm your rambunctious Daisy. After one year, their vests have petals, maybe Journeys badges, and a vest full ofGirl Scout fun patches. Your entire Daisy journey can be seen on the girls’ vests!
It’s time to celebrate your accomplishments with a Daisy Girl Scout party!
Your co-leader and you should plan on your last meeting of the year to have the party, as the girls already have that time slot blocked on their schedules. If you choose a different date and time, then you not only risk having some of the girls not being able to attend due to scheduling conflicts, but there are also field trip forms that you will have to fill out. Avoid that extra thing to do and just have the Daisy Girl Scout party during your regularly scheduled meeting time.
Let your girls help plan the party by making invitations. You can get free printable Girl Scout coloring pages, print them out and have the girls color them in. On the back, you can print out the important information, like the date and time.
You will also have to decide what you want the girls to bring. As the leader, make it easy on yourself. Create an email sign up list for the parents to respond to, or have them sign up before or after pick up. List easy finger foods, such as cookies, carrots and dip, and pretzels, as well juice boxes and paper goods. (Sign up for the papergoods-it’s easy and since you are the leader, you deserve a break!)
Then send a mass email to everyone so that the parents know who is responsible for bringing what items. It keeps everyone accountable.
If you want a smaller, simpler celebration, then your co-leader and you can use the troop funds to buy some snacks, paper goods and the craft materials.
Party Crafts and Activities for Daisy Girl Scouts
Besides eating, you will want to keep the girls engaged in an activity. You might want to do the craft first, and parents can be there to assist their daughter. This will help you out, as well as keep the parents off their cell phones! When the craft is cleaned up, then the food can come out for all to enjoy.
Here are some ideas for Daisy Girl Scout crafts that are fun to do, age appropriate, and easy to clean up!
This Daisy charm bracelet is from Amazon. It comes in packaged sets and even has extra pieces. There are 12 to a set. You can find it here.
If you prefer to stay with the tea party theme, you can have your girls make this bracelet, There are 12 per set, You can find them on Amazon.
*This post contains affiliate links. Updated October 2019
As a Daisy Girl Scout leader, you will need to help the girls earn the orange Daisy petal, "Responsible for What I Say and Do." As they grow from Daisy Scouts to Brownies, to Juniors and beyond, they will need to run certain parts of the meetings, as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.
The girls will need to have a Kaper chart for different jobs. A chore chart will help the girls be more responsible at home, earning the orange petal. You can also use this craft to earn the yellow petal, "Friendly and Helpful", as they are being helpful, too.
At the beginning of your meeting, ask the girls what the word "responsibility" means. Ask them what they are responsible for at their Daisy meetings, in their classrooms, and in their homes. Then ask them what happens when jobs don't get done. Think of some scenarios, for example, what if a teacher did not prepare her lessons for the day? What happens if you do not take care of your pet? What happens is no one goes to the grocery store? Tell the girls that they are going to make a chart that lists five chores they will be responsible for at home.
Materials
8 x 11 construction paper, all the same light color, one for each girl (prepped for them-see directions)
Markers
Prep Work On a piece of construction paper, write ________________'s Responsibility Chart. Number from 1-5 and write lines. Leave enough room for the girls to trace her hand. Make a few extra copies of the chart in case one of the girls makes a mistake.
Image created by Hannah Gold on Picmonkey
Time for the Craft In pencil, have the girls trace their hand. They can decorate the hand with markers. When they take them home, have their parents talk about what chores they will write in.
At your next Daisy Girl Scout meeting, ask the girls what their chores are and if they are actually doing them! See if they are really earning the orange Daisy petal or if they need a new lesson in being responsible.
Always have some Daisy Girl Scout coloring pages available to keep the early finishers occupied while the others complete their craft. This will keep these girls out of trouble so you can hep the others complete the task at hand.
*This post contains affiliate links. One way your troop and just celebrate the season. You do not want the girls in your troop who do not celebrate Christmas to feel left out or uncomfortable if you make everything about Christmas.
If you have a mixed religious group of girls, then making ornaments is out. However, making crafts with snowmen and snowflakes that celebrate newly arrived winter season, which starts December 21st, is perfect for everyone. These items can be used as gifts for family members-you can add an additional craft of decorating white tissue paper and having the girls wrap it up for the gift recipient. Or the girls can keep them for themselves. Put on the Frozen soundtrack, give the girls a treat of snowflake shaped cookies, have some coloring pages or easy games ready, and have an easy and relaxed meeting because you deserve it! Here are some ready made craft kits for you to use with your troop. All of these kits are from Amazon and come 12 to a set. If you are using one that requires a photo, then either take one of the girls to have cut an ready for your meeting or you can ask the parents for one two meetings in advance. That way, you give yourself the cushion of time and can also take a picture to print out in case the child does not come in with one to use. Magic Scratch Snowman Kit
This sparkling mosaic craft kit is a wonderful activity for those snowy, cold winter days! Easy for little fingers to construct, these signs are a cute way to decorate for Christmas and make a fantastic classroom project. Deck the walls - and the door - in glittering snowmen! Includes self-adhesive foam pieces and satin cord. Makes 12.
This beaded snowman charm bracelet craft kit makes a fun project for frosty winter days. Includes plastic beads and enamel charms on a 12" stretchy cord. All craft kit pieces are pre-packaged for individual use. Kits include instructions and extra pieces.
A wonderfully wintery addition to holiday crafts for kids, these necklaces come with a charm that looks like a mini snow globe with a smiling snowman inside. Includes 2" plastic globe, foam pieces and a nylon breakaway cord. 30" Makes 12. All craft kit pieces are pre-packaged for individual use. Kits include instructions.
