Discovering Our
Promise
From the Arts Team, Girlguiding Birmingham
I promise that I will do my best:
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs,
To serve the Queen and my community,
To help other people
and
To keep the (Brownie) Guide Law
I promise that I will do my best
To think about my beliefs and to be kind and helpful
Welcome to Discovering our Promise Pack
The Promise is one of the central factors in Girlguiding. It is one of the things that makes us
special. It can be one of the hardest things to work into the programme and this pack is designed
to help.
You can use it to work towards the badge that can be ordered using the sheet at the back, or
you can use it as just a resource, or you can just buy the badge. We have tried to put together
ideas to help you weave the Promise into your programme. The ideas start with the more
complicated and work through to simpler ones. We didn’t want to divide into sections as you
know your unit, what will suit you and how you can adapt ideas to make it work for you. You
decide how much your unit needs to do to earn the badge.
If the pack is successful and we are able to issue more editions then we will create a new badge
design so if your unit has ideas for please send them to us.
We are very grateful to the Guiders who have helped us with this – particularly those who have
been generous in sharing their ideas on places such as Pinterest and Guiding forums. We do not
claim all these ideas as our own but have collated, what we think are, brilliant ideas. We have
given credit where we can and if we have used your idea we hope that you are flattered we
included it. If we haven’t credited the idea it is because we didn’t know it was yours so if you
let us know we will add on your name/website and we are so sorry we couldn’t ask your
permission first. We have done our very, very best to ask permission where we could. We have
had many of these ideas, amongst us, for ages, so we have no idea where we got them from and
are aware of copyright issues but have done all we can not to infringe it. If we have missed your
idea it may be because we didn’t see it so please feel free to send it to us for possible inclusion
in later editions of the pack. We would like this to be a growing and changing set of ideas so we
would welcome feedback and more ideas. Please send them to us at
[email protected].
This is us, keeping our Promise, in trying to serve the Guiding community and help
other people. We would love it if you bought the badge to help us raise money for our
County but it is fine if you don’t.
Thank you
Clair Ellinor, Alison Adkins, Emma James, Lin Jenks, Janet Jones, Lizzi Payne
It is always important to remember that the Promise only ever asks us to
do our best. It is not a competition with others and there will be times
when we may not do as well as we would like. We can only try.
Being True to Myself
This is often the hardest part of the Promise as it is asking us to choose to
do the right action in a situation. It means following what we believe over
what people pressure us to do. This is not always the easy way or the way
that our friend is choosing. We need to be comfortable with who we are
and not be influenced by others around us. Peer pressure is sometimes hard
to overcome but over time we learn the skills and develop confidence.
You need to be able to stand up for yourself and others, to make up your
own mind, to recognise and develop your talents, respect yourself and be
happy with who you are.
We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan.
Our statures touch the skies.
(Emily Dickenson, American poet.)
poet.)
What to do:
Give out the quotations and situations (see next 2 pages) to groups of girls.
Look at the quotations then see which one fits in best with each situation.
Get the groups to feed back some of their ideas.
Which is their favourite quotation and why?
Which is the quotation that they think means the least and why?
Quotations
“When one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be
done does away with fear.”
Rosa Parks, African-American civil rights activist
“Life is not easy for any of us. So what? We must have perseverance and
above all confidence in ourselves.”
Marie Curie, chemist and physicist
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they
don’t have any.”
Alice Walker, author
“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your
curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you
can with it and make it the life you want to live.”
Mae C Jemison, first African-American woman astronaut
“To me success means effectiveness in the world, that I am able to carry
my ideas and values into the world – that I am able to change it in positive
ways.”
Maxine Hong Kingston, author
“I’m fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine
clothes ... would make me happy. My concept of happiness is to be filled in
a spiritual sense.”
Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you
concentrate on what you don’t, you will never, ever have enough.”
Oprah Winfrey, television and media personality
“People want what they want. Sometimes you just have to walk in defiance
of it and just be yourself.”
Meryl Streep, actor
“Those that mind don’t matter, those that matter don’t mind.”
Bernard Baruch, US Presidential advisor
Situations
Someone has failed in something eg an exam, audition, getting a job, being
picked for something.
Someone being bullied.
Someone thinking about what being true to themselves means.
Someone nervous about something eg new job, school, college
Someone who has been dumped by their boyfriend.
Someone who thinks that something is unfair/wrong at school.
Someone who has done something embarrassing eg forgotten their lines in a
class assembly.
Guide Foldy Thingy
This fun little game will help girls learn their laws. Print off and give to
girls to complete and keep.
For the full sized version and to see the other brilliant things created by Vicky Smith go
to www.2ndkingsbridgeguides.org.uk.
Friendship Bracelet/Necklace
There are many variations of this craft. You will need appropriate lengths of
coloured wool, loom bands, ribbon or thread, depending on what you are
making.
Brownies need 3 beads or a pattern of 3 recurring colours to remind them of
the 3 parts of their Promise. Older girls can use 3 colours for the Promise
and/or 6 colours for the Laws.
Thread the beads and either plait or knot to keep them in place.
You could add a bell which represents the sound of friendship ringing
throughout the world.
A friendship bracelet or necklace only becomes one when it is given to a
friend.
www.lulabellehandicrafts.wordpress.com has more ideas and this picture came from there.
Extra Resources
Go to www.2ndkingsbridgeguides.org.uk – Guide Law resources
This gives an excellent game of Twister to download and more is added
frequently.
Pinterest has some great ideas. Troop 1094 Girl Scout Troop has some good
ideas but there are lots of others there too.
Girlguiding.co.uk – obviously. If you put Promise Activities into the search
it works – no, really, it is top of the second page!
You are Unique and Not Alone
What you need
A copy of the Trefoil on card or stiff paper. You can make the badge bigger
on a photocopier or by clicking on it and expanding it. We have only made
it this size to fit into the pack.
Magazines
Thanks again to Vicky Smith (2nd Kingsbridge Guides) for her help
What to do
Everyone holds their Promise Badge in the palm of their hand and say (or
something like),
“Your badge is a symbol of the Promise and of your promise – the promise of
how much more brilliant you will be when you build on how wonderful you
are now by keeping your Promise. Your badge is also the symbol of how you
are an important part of the worldwide family of Guiding and our family is
only great because of girls like you.
If you ever think, “I’m not sure I can do this” or “I’m not good at stuff like
this” your badge should remind you of how you have strength in being
unique but also being part a group of brilliant girls here and all over the
world. Remember something you didn’t know how to do but now find easy,
riding a bike, tying a knot, skipping, pitching a tent, tying your shoes.
Find pictures or words to stick on your Trefoil to be a reminder of how
talented and special you are. You could include things you would like to
learn too.
There is an alternative way of doing this on the Girl Guides Australia site www.girlguides.org.au under The
Promise and Law – Discussion and starters as well as Promise and Law resources.
Walk the Talk
We all have different beliefs about things big (eg to do with religion) and little
(favourite TV show or sweets). We all have a right to have our own beliefs and
we are lucky to live somewhere that values tolerance. Learning tolerance is
about accepting others differences but also understanding that many things we
believe in are the same. Also, sometimes we need reminders about our beliefs
and to think about how we will put them into practice and ‘walk the talk’ – horrid
phrase we know but it fits with the imagery! This activity aims to do both!
What you need
Sheets of different coloured paper and a larger piece for display, depending
on how you carry out the activity.
Scissors, felt tips and glue/sticky tape/stapler.
What to do
Talk about your beliefs – God(s), behaviour – eg manners, age you are
allowed to do things – eg staying at home on your own. You can keep things
serious or maybe add in things like what they believe to be their favourite
pop group etc. What about beliefs to do with Community and World? Do
they believe they should pick up litter, donate to charities working abroad?
You could give them categories such as beliefs linked to religion, rights for
eg privacy, best way to spend free time etc.
Give each girl a small sheet of coloured paper, ask her to draw around her
foot and then write one of their beliefs on it. They can repeat as much as
time and paper allow. Ask them to cut out their feet and glue them all
together in a circular shape. It will depend on your age group and how
many ideas you have had if you stick them together toe to heel or like
flower petals. If you want a trefoil in the middle there is a shape above.
Finish with a discussion about the similarities and differences to show how
they are linked through beliefs based on what they have done.
Variations:
If you’ve done categories make rings with the same topics or you could work in
sixes or patrols.
Rainbows may need help with cutting out the feet and with ideas. This does link
to the programme in Laugh as the tickling pencil will cause giggles!
Handy Beliefs
What you need
Sheets of different coloured paper.
Scissors and felt tips.
String or curling ribbon.
Hole punch
What to do
Girls draw round their hands onto the coloured paper as many times as you
think your age group, time and resources allow.
Ask the girls to write or draw some of their beliefs on the hands. The beliefs
may or may not link to religion. You can tailor this to your girls and what
will work for them/the message you want to get across.
Cut out the hands, punch a hole in the hand and tie on the string/ribbon.
Discuss the girls’ ideas with them with the hands hanging from their fingers.
Their neighbour should read the beliefs for them, to the group, and this
shows that while our beliefs are personal to us we may need the support of
others to keep those beliefs. For example, believing in eating well can be
tricky if everyone else brings crisps and chocolate to school.
Variation
If you have more time or for older girls you could then turn the hands into a
mobile for them to display at home using crossed sticks or a coat hanger.
You could simply hang the ribbons from a single coat hanger or make a
more complex mobile depending on time and skill level of your girls. There
are some different ideas about how to make a mobile on
www.artistshelpingchildren.org.
Promise Postcards
What you need
Postcards
Pencils
Stamps – if you choose to do it that way
What you do
Give each girl a post card and ask them to address it to themselves.
On the other side they should write one thing that they resolve to do
connected to their promise.
3 weeks later post the cards to the girls. When they receive them they can
talk about how their resolutions are going.
As the cost of postage is quite high you could instead keep them and give
them out at a future meeting.
We believe
The Promise asks girls to think about or develop their beliefs and this could be a starting
point. You can do it as a unit – possibly best for Rainbows - sixes or patrols.
What you need
Large sheet(s) of paper to record discussion
Individual copies of the sheets and pens/pencils
What you do
Ask the girls to think about their beliefs. For younger girls you might want to give them
areas to focus on like ideas about behaviour, the planet, things they believe in. This is
only to start them thinking about their beliefs and it might be the first time they have
been asked to talk about things like this. You might need to be prepared for it to not
work very well but they may go home and keep thinking.
They need to decide what they are going to record on their sheets. Doing it as a group
and having to decide what they put down will mean they have to really think about their
beliefs and why it should be one of the things written on the group sheet. The group
reports back so that the unit can discuss the ideas. You can then choose whether or not
to ask the girls to write down the unit’s beliefs or their own on their sheets for their
individual beliefs rather than deciding on a set of beliefs for all of them. For Rainbows,
however, it might work to decide as a unit so that you can use this to help them think
about their beliefs throughout the year and do it regularly to reflect the girls’ beliefs.
What Do We Believe In?
For the Promise to make sense the girls have to start thinking about what
they do actually believe in. The new promise allows us to widen the scope
of what this means. For instance Rainbows might want to reconfirm their
belief in Father Christmas (they are little children so why shouldn’t they?)
but it might also give older girls the opportunity to think about more
spiritual things and the things that are important to them.
This idea works around creating a set of beliefs that the unit agrees on –
probably more appropriate for Rainbows and Brownies – or that the
individual believes in – probably more appropriate for older girls.
As we grow our beliefs may change as we experience new things and over
time the things which are important to us personally become our values and
affect our futures.
Our beliefs become our thoughts.
Our thoughts become our words.
Our words become our habits.
Our habits become our values.
Our values become our destiny. - Ghandi
What to do:
Talk about beliefs – God(s), behaviour eg manners, age you can do certain
things like stay at home on your own – whatever is suitable for the age
group.
Give categories – beliefs linked to religion, rights eg right to privacy, best
way to spend free time etc. The Promise lends itself to the 3 areas – self,
others (community, Queen, being helpful), and the law. For Rainbows you
could think about categories linked to a spiritual nature, behaviour and an
area of their choice eg the Easter Bunny.
The 3 following sheets have the relevant Promises on.
On the sheets either write in own ideas/unit agreed ideas, or with Rainbows
take the discussion notes away and type them up for them to colour in
later, maybe adding some clipart linked to their ideas.
I promise that I will do my best
to think about my beliefs
and to be kind and helpful
We believe in
I promise that I will do my best:
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve the Queen and my community
To help other people
And to keep the Brownie Guide Law
We believe in
I promise that I will do my best:
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve the Queen and my community
To help other people
And to keep the Guide Law
We believe in
Brownies are True to Themselves
What you need
The below copied and cut up for each 6
What you do
1
Give out the scenarios and ask the Brownies to pick the option and act it out for the
Brownies.
2
After each six has acted out their decision ask them why they chose that option – why not
the others? Do the other Brownies agree?
On your way home from school you notice a purse on the pavement. Do you…
1. Take it home and ask your mum to hand it over to the police?
2. Take it home and keep it without telling anyone?
3. Look all around and ask people if they know who it belongs to?
You’ve accepted an invitation to a friend’s birthday party, but the day before the
party you get free tickets to your favourite band’s concert. Do you...
1. Tell your friend you’ve been given tickets and won’t be able to go to her
party?
2. Tell your friend you’re poorly and can’t go to the party, but go to the
concert anyway?
3. Give the tickets to your sister and go to the party?
Your aunty asks you to feed her hamster. You forget and when she asks, you say..
1. “Of course I fed the hamster. Would I forget?”
2. “I’m really sorry, I forgot to give him fresh food yesterday, but I made sure
he had new food and clean water as soon as I remembered.”
3. “Um, I think I fed him, why? Does he look hungry?”
Your sister has a favourite game and, without asking her, you borrow it when you
have some friends round. You break a piece from the game. What do you do?
1. Tell your sister straightaway apologising for borrowing it without asking it.
2. Tell your sister after your friends have gone home blaming them for taking
the game and breaking it.
3. Tell your sister you borrowed it but say you know nothing about it being
broken. You think it was broken before you took it.
Being True to Myself
What you need
A sheet for each girl and pencils.
What you do
Ask the girls to fill in what they think goes in each box eg Is-tidy, Does-what she is
asked, Says-nice things, Is not-unkind etc. Her name goes in the middle. You could
write in “A great Brownie/Guide” before copying.
IS
DOES
SAYS
IS NOT
Bookmarks
What you need
Bookmark blanks – see template or create your own.
Copies of the words.
What to do
Ask the girls to write their name down the left hand side of the bookmark.
From the lists choose one word for each letter of their name to remind them how unique
and amazing they are, or they could choose their own words.
Decorate the bookmark and if they use it they will remember what sort of person they
are.
Amazing
Compassionate
Forgiving
Athletic
Cheerful
Fearless
Awesome
Comical
Great
Adventurous
Capable
Good
Ace
Comforting
Gentle
Adorable
Content
Graceful
Authoritative
Clever
Generous
Accomplished
Dainty
Glorious
Admired
Dreamy
Humorous
Assertive
Delightful
Happy
Astonishing
Determined
Honest
Attractive
Dazzling
Helpful
Beautiful
Energetic
Handsome
Best
Enthusiastic
Inventive
Brave
Efficient
Imaginative
Brilliant
Excellent
Interesting
Bubbly
Effective
Impressive
Blessed
Eager
Inspirational
Bright
Effervescent
Invincible
Creative
Encouraging
Intelligent
Cool
Energetic
Independent
Courageous
Fun
Joyful
Confident
Friendly
Jolly
Considerate
Focused
Jovial
Joker
Pretty
Thoughtful
Kind
Quiet
Trusting
Knowledgeable
Quick
Trustworthy
Loving
Relaxing
Triumphant
Loyal
Remarkable
Unbelievable
Likeable
Respectful
Undefeatable
Lovely
Stunning
Unforgettable
Loved
Strong
Unusual
Marvellous
Special
Useful
Magnificent
Splendid
Virtuous
Miraculous
Successful
Valued
Motivated
Smart
Vibrant
Nice
Sensitive
Wonderful
Normal
Serene
Witty
Natural
Sincere
Worthy
No nonsense
Spirited
Wise
Open
Sensible
Young
Outstanding
Tremendous
Youthful
Optimistic
True
Zealous
Obedient
Tidy
Zesty
Perfect
Thankful
Zingy
Peaceful
Tranquil
Positive
Truthful
Polite
Talented
Promise Trefoils
What you need
Coloured or black paper. Using A4 paper will make it easier to match up.
A template of a trefoil – you can enlarge the above to the size you want.
Plain paper – it can be used paper so this is a good way to use up spoilt sheets.
Sheets of words – in a variety of fonts and sizes for the best effect - and/or
newspaper and magazines.
Scissors and pencils/pens
What to do
Cut out the shape of a trefoil so you have a plain piece of coloured paper with a
trefoil in the middle. For Rainbows you may need to do this yourself and for
Brownies you may need to start them off.
Either cut words from newspapers/magazines relating to the Promise or use the
sheets of words. Arrange and glue the words onto the plain paper being careful
not to overlap the edges.
Glue the cut out outline of the Trefoil onto the words.
Examples for sheets of words – copy and paste then enlarge:
Beliefs kind helpful community queen true best promise people law
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs
people
beliefs
people
kind
Law
kind
Law
helpful community Queen true best Promise
myself
helpful community Queen true best Promise
myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
Beliefs
kind
helpful
community
queen
true
best
promise
people
law
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
beliefs kind helpful community Queen true best Promise people Law myself
it
Li
Challenge envelopes
What you need
A set of envelopes that each contain a question relating to the Promise and Law
for the girls to discuss.
Topics could include:
Which part of the Guide Law is hardest to keep at school, at camp, in the family
etc?
Which part is easiest to keep?
Which part is the most important?
What are some of the ways in which you try to live with courage or fairness or
honesty etc?
Is it easier to respect people of your own age or adults and why?
Name some ways that you use resources wisely.
How are you true to yourself?
List the talents that your patrol/six/group has.
What you do
Give each group an envelope and ask them to discuss. They could all have the
same topic or each group could have a different one.
Bring all the groups back together after a while and compare thoughts and ideas.
This exercise brings out leadership abilities and gives the girls the opportunities to
be listen, to be heard and to express their opinions.
Do Your Best and Think of Others Game
What you need:
Cards with the following suggestions.
On the bus
In the street
At the table
When using library books
At the swimming pool
On a unit trip/holiday
At Brownies
In the classroom
Out playing
On your bike
At home
In the garden
At church/temple/mosque
In the kitchen
Playing with friends
On holiday
On the beach
At the cinema
Walking to school
At the bus stop
At the supermarket
What you do
Cards are distributed in the way you think most suitable. The girls take it in turns
to think of a way of doing their best and/or thinking of others in that situation.
Older girls could make up their own scenarios.
Role Play Skit
What you need
A small bag containing three unrelated objects eg coin, piece of string, safety
pin, match, lipstick, chewing gum etc.
What you do
Give each group a small bag
Ask them to use at least one item to make up a short skit about part of the
Promise or Law. The others have to guess which part.
An alternative could be to make up a short play to illustrate how the Promise and
Law can be applied in scenarios such as:
Be honest and trustworthy when peers are pressurising them to misbehave
How to share in the sisterhood of Guiding on Mars
Using talents and abilities wisely in a crisis
The Promise Boomerang
Copy the boomerang onto white card and cut it out. Write on the Promise as shown.
Each arm of the boomerang has a different meaning:
1. “What you are goes out”
2. “And touches others”
3. “And comes back”
Now practice throwing – gently and slightly upwards. It should come
back to you – just as your Promise will.
Correction to above that should read Adapted from Girl Guides Australia
Promise Flowers
What you need
The flower or star printed onto thin paper. For Brownies they could have a template and make
the shape and put the Promise in themselves.
What you do
Ask the girls to colour in the shape and fold the petals/edges of the flower/star into the centre.
Put the flower/star into a tray of water and watch the shape unfold. You could use the imagery
of how they will grow if they keep their Promises.
This idea is from Tigi Higgins of Blagdon Rainbows of Wrington Vale.
Promise Basket – Brownies & Rainbows
What you need
1 Photocopied sheets onto very stiff paper or card
2 Glue
What you do
Glue white flaps to the unprinted side of the basket. Make a handle using the width of the page
and cutting about 2 cm along the top. The girls could decorate it. Attach a handle by gluing
1cm of each end inside the top edge.
The basket could be used to put Good Turns to be done or done inside, Promise cards, or maybe
a small gift for someone.
This idea is also from Tigi Higgins of Blagdon Rainbows of Wrington Vale. Many thanks for her help &
support with her fabulous ideas. We have more ideas from her to include as we shuffle things around!
You can get other lovely things from www.blagdonrainbows.co.uk/printables.htm.
Rainbow Promise Activity
You will need 3 or 4 tables with a leader assigned to each table. You could
combine 3 and 4 if need be. Obviously you can vary the ideas and we would be
glad to hear them.
Table 1
Table 2
To do my best
To think about my beliefs
Tasting different foods with closed eyes.
Doing their best to try new things, trust
others, use their senses.
Make a box lined with foil, or with a mirror
in the bottom, and ask the Rainbows to
think about what is important to them.
When they look inside they will see
themselves which will remind them it is up
to them to look after those things.
Table 3
Table 4
To be kind
And helpful
Make thank you cards for someone who has
done something special for them – parent,
friend, neighbour, leader etc.
Fantasticat could be used here.
Think of different ways that they could
help at home and draw pictures.
Promise House
What you need
Sheets of A5 card and A5 paper.
What to do
Mark out the card as shown on the template and cut along the bold lines to make doors and
windows. Colour the house and fold in half. Trim the paper so that it is slightly smaller than the
card and fold in half. Glue the paper inside the house shape. Each door and window has a
different number and represents a part of the house where a good turn is done during the week.
1 – hall
2 – living room
5 – bathroom
3 – bedroom
4 – kitchen
6 – back door/verandah
7 – garden
With thanks to Janice Addison who remembers this idea from when she was a young Guider in the 60s
Promise Stick
Eye = I
Hand = Promise
Heart = to do my best
Smiley face = to be true to myself
Glitter = and develop my beliefs
Flag = to serve the Queen and
my community
“Help” = to help other people
Eye = I
Star = and to keep the (Brownie)
Hand = Promise
Guide law
These are only suggestions and you may have
better ideas especially for beliefs and for the
Queen
Being True to Myself
Fantasticat Card
This activity makes the girls think about what they are fantastic-at, what qualities they
value and to think about what makes the sort of person you would think of as 'good' - a
good friend, a loyal person, a person with good values, someone who can be trusted. If
they value them in others do they have those qualities themselves? If not could they
work on that? Or is there a quality they would like to develop so someone could send
them a card like this.
The conversation/activity can be tailored to your group and be very simple for Rainbows
as they only be promise to be kind and this is being kind to someone. For Brownies you
might want to have some words/phrases up around the room for them to think about.
Guides and Senior Section should be able to cope with a more in depth conversation.
To
I think you are fantastic at
Love from
I think you are fantastic at I
_____________________________
Rainbow Activities
Promise Caterpillar
What you need
Copied sheets
Pencils
Prize/badge for completion
What you do
To take home and fill the circles with how they have kept their promise. Return for a
fun badge? The Discovering our Promise badge? Or a little prize? Or just a well done!
Promise Flower Pot
What you need
Promise pots copied onto paper – brown or coloured if possible. Or foam with the pots
cut out and stuck on.
Scissors
Something to make the stems; Paper, pipe cleaners, lolly sticks/craft sticks, sticks
Something to stick it all together – glue and sticky tape
Flowers copied
Prize/badge for completion
What you do
The girls can do as much or as little as you think you have ability/time for. So, much
preparation can be done before in cutting things out for a gluing session and you might
spend the time looking for sticks! Or you may want the girls to cut everything out. Or
somewhere in the middle. Either way the end product should be a pot with flowers
sticking out for them to take home and fill (colour in or write in what they have done) in
a flower when they have done something for that bit of their promise.
Again, what they get when they bring it back, complete is up to you – see above.
The things you need to copy are on the next page.
Promise Flip Book
This is a quick and easy activity, ideal for new girls to introduce them (and their
families) to the Promise.
Please look on 2 pages for the flip book, after the Promise Flower Pot pages.
From Guider Lee Ann, Owl and Toadstool Blog. She has some more lovely ideas so check her out.
Space doesn’t allow us to include the Brownie and Guide one but if you would like it get in touch.
Games
Tumbling Tower Wooden Brick Block Game
Play a game of Tumbling Tower Wooden Brick Blocks - £1 shops sell them.
Each block is independent of the others. It will touch or interact with other blocks and
may move about and change which blocks it interacts with. No one block is able to
support all the others but every block helps to support all the others even if it doesn’t
touch them. Finally when one block is missing the whole structure falls down.
Write your name of one side of a small block and something you are good at on the other
side. Now play the game again and see how important your block is.
Take your block home with you.
I am….
Read out the following statements and the girls can go to one side if they agree, the
other side to disagree, and stay in the middle if they are not sure.
I am great
I am forgiving
I am powerful
I am thankful
I am beautiful
I am grateful for all the
good in my life
I am full of good ideas
I am very creative
I am always in the right
place at the right time
I am a good influence on
others
I am safe
I am unique and valuable
I am unique and special
I am perfect just the way I
am
I am truthful
I am a good friend to
myself
I am kind to others and
they are kind to me
I am helpful
I am a good listener
I am healthy
I am loved
I am loving
I am strong
I am beautiful inside and
outside
I am friendly
Think about who you are and how others might describe you. Look at all the faces.
Choose which fits you best and draw yourself a badge.
I believe ….
Do you believe? – believing is about accepting things as true even though there may not
be any proof.
True or false?
The earth is round
true
You have a heart
true
A man has walked on the moon true
The sun is a star
Dragons exist
true
they might
All dinosaurs were gigantic false
The colour orange was named after the
fruit and not the other round
true
(before the late 15th century orange was
also called red)
The air is mostly oxygen false (it is
mainly nitrogen, about 78%)
Men and women’s brains are different
true (there are differences in the ways
they are ‘wired’)
Most of the earth’s oxygen is produced
by the rainforest false (most is
produced by marine algae)
Ostriches bury their heads in the sand
when there is danger false (they would
suffocate, they run away)
There are aliens
who knows?
Promises in the Nest
This is an adaption of Birds in the Nest.
Before playing discuss the idea of promises that can and cannot be kept not just so the
girls understand how to play but also to help them understand the importance of a
promise.
Choose someone to be in the middle, the cat, – it could be a leader.
The girls, the birds, stand at one end of the room waiting to run to the other end.
The cat, in the middle, calls out promises that can be kept but when she calls out one
that can’t the girls run from their ‘nest’ to the other ‘nest’ at the end of the hall.
If a bird is caught she is the next one to be a cat – maybe with the help of a leader to
help her think of things.
Variation
You could change it from promises to things that are ‘right’ and things that are ‘wrong’.
So, they run on statements that would be the wrong thing to do.
For older girls you could have a ‘stooge’ who runs at the wrong time to see if peer
pressure makes a difference.
Promises that can be kept and
Right
Promises that can’t be kept and
Wrong
To keep my room tidy
To help my mum/dad/aunt/grandma
To try not to get cross
To put all the DVDs/Playstation games
away after I’ve played
To do my best to be truthful
To try and be nice to my brother/sister
To lay the table at least twice a week
To try to remember to brush my teeth in
the morning and at night
To give some of my pocket money to
charity
To try to do what my teacher asks every
time she asks me to do something
To do my homework on time
To try new things when I have the chance
To bring One Direction next week
To cook all the meals next month
To never get cross ever again
To give up sweets and chocolate for a
year
To never make a mistake
To never eat unhealthy food - ever
To never lose my temper
To always do what my parents ask straight
away
To never tell a lie – even a little one about
To be truthful
To be polite and considerate
whether or not my mum’s bum looks big!
To be a pop star when I grow up
To learn how to jump out of an aeroplane
To never talk in class, even to my friends
To keep something you find
To be unkind to someone when all my
friends don’t like them
To pick up litter – then wash my hands
To see a 15 certificate film when I am 14
To think about how my actions can care
To be running late so my Dad has to break
for the planet, like turning off lights
the speed limit to get to Guides on time
To be helpful
To take drugs
To take care of yourself with things like
To be rude to someone when I don’t like
getting good sleep and brushing teeth
the way they spoke to me
To try to learn new things and skills
To eat too many sweets
To use your time wisely
To copy in a test/exam
To be a good friend and listener
To spend all day watching TV
To play with people who are on their own To not wait my turn for a toy at school
To listen to the adults who care for me
To not keep my things/toys tidy
To tidy up my own things and toys
To ignore rules
To try and be kind
To be spiteful and unfriendly
To do what I know is the right thing to do To make fun of what someone looks like
To think about other people before myself To forget the things I need for
and do a good turn every day
school/Rainbows/Brownies etc
To remember to recycle
To drop litter
Pause and Reflect
This is an activity for Adult leaders. It can be considered while sitting alone or in the quiet
company of others. Prepare a pack for each person as follows:
A short length of string
A lemon sherbet sweet
A sheet of paper
A paperclip
A plaster
A small piece of rock or stone
A small flag with the letters S O S
A candle and a match
An envelope containing a large blue star and several small stars
A printed sheet with the following instructions:
* Use this kit to pause and reflect on the wealth of gifts you are giving through Girlguiding.
* Slip the string onto your finger to remind yourself of how much you are secretly appreciated.
* Unwrap the sweet and put into your mouth. As you suck on it remind yourself of all the girls who may
have a “sour” outlook on life but who are really sweet within. Guiding helps to bring the sweetness out.
* The blank paper is to remind you of the need to plan far more than you actually require so that you can
make the most of the brief time you have with the girls.
* Clip the paperclip to the paper and think of it as a reminder of the organisation it takes to pull off a
well-run Guiding programme.
* Use the plaster to remind you of the girl who has come to you wounded and is in need of healing through
caring and respect.
* Take out the rock and rub it on your hand knowing that you are gently smoothing its rough places, just as
you help girls to smooth out the rough spots in their lives.
* Wave the flag with the S O S to remind you of all the willing team members around you who will give you
a hand, from other Leaders to Advisors and Commissioners.
* Hold the match and the candle and think about how they must work together to create a flame, just as
Leaders work with girls to spark and nurture their interest in the world around them through knowledge,
caring and love.
* Take out the large blue star and the little stars – remember that each one is a shining light in its own
way, and keep in mind that both you and the girls are essential to an enthusiastic and rewarding
programme.
* Lastly take the blue star and attach it somewhere you’ll be able to see it each day reminding you that
you are the most important link between the girls and the whole of Girlguiding.