Tips for Teaching Games
- 1. Choose games according to the ages, interests, and abilities of the group you are working with. Make sure you
choose a game appropriate to the site you will be using.
- 2. Know the game well so you don't have to refer to notes while you are teaching.
- 3. Make sure you collect all the supplies and equipment you will need for the game.
- 4. Explain the game briefly and get them playing it as soon as possible. Ask for questions before you begin.
- 5. If the game is complicated, teach a portion at a time letting the girls play each portion as you teach it.
- 6. Let the girls have fun with the game but stop when necessary to clear up any rules or to answer questions regarding
the action of the game.
- 7. Stop the game after a reasonable amount of time even if some girls are begging to continue.
- 8. Make sure you make any adaptations in the action or the rules of the game to accommodate girls with special
needs in the group.
- 9. Make sure you check the playing area for any safety hazards as well as evaluate the game for potential
safety problems before you play the game with the girls.
Tips for Teaching Songs
- 1. Be familiar with the song so you don't need to use a song sheet or book as a "crutch".
- 2. Sing the song through first.
- 3. Say the words phrase by phrase and have the group repeat.
- 4. Sing the words phrase by phrase and have the group repeat.
- 5. Sing the song together 3 times or until known - but don't wear it out.
- 6. If a song has several verses, teach one verse at a time.
- 7. Being with simple songs and move on to ones that are more difficult later on.
- 8. You give the starting note. Avoid pitching the song too high or too low.
- 9. Songs may be taught using tapes or CD's as well, just follow the procedure above.
Tips for Teaching Crafts
Crafts can be a fun addition to a meeting. In fact, many times, recognition work can
be accomplished with "crafts". Therefore, included here are some hints on teaching crafts to children.
- 1. Be sure to include any safety instructions that are necessary for the activity. If you are working
with young Brownie or Daisy
Girl Scouts, don't assume too much. They may not know how to hold the scissors
or the fact that they shouldn't run with them.
- 2. Give adequate instructions for the activity. Keep these instructions simple. If the
activity is simple, little instruction my be necessary; however, it is very involved or is a
new activity, give the instructions twice and then ask if there are any questions. For extremely
complicated activities it may be necessary to break the instructions into sections and teach one section at a time.
- 3. Have enough equipment and supplies on hand. At most, two people can share supplies.
More than that and the girls tend to get frustrated at having to wait and the activity is less enjoyable.
- 4. Be sure that the craft is suitable for the age child you are working with. If the project is
too difficult, the child will become frustrated. If it is too simple, the child may become bored.
- 5. Allow enough time for the activity. Remember that different girls work at different speeds and
most girls will take longer to make a craft than you can make it yourself. Having something extra to do
for those who finish early is also a good idea or you could have them help the girls who have not finished yet.
- 6. If necessary, prepare your meeting for the craft activity. Covering surfaces for messy projects will
make clean-up much easier. If supplies can be divided in advance it is easier to hand them out.
- 7. Do the activity yourself before you give it to the girls to complete. This way, you will be able
to identify the pitfalls and problems that may occur with a particular craft. You can also adjust,
if necessary, the directions to make the project easier.
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