To p j o b
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Top job
Welcome to Go For It! Top job
What’s this Go For It! about?
Have you thought about what your future might hold? What kind of job you would
want? Maybe you’d like to travel the world, carry on studying after you leave school or
run your own business? You could volunteer abroad or in your community – or will you
do both with Girlguiding?
There are so many options out there and you don’t have to pick just one! But with so
much choice it can feel overwhelming. To make it a little less scary, Go For It! Top job
will explore some of these possibilities with you. Whether you already know what your
job will be, need a little more direction, or have absolutely no idea where to start,
there are loads of activities here to help you explore, discover and have lots of fun
while you get ready for your future career.
You can do anything from presenting a radio show to running a unit meeting,
volunteering abroad or making delicious pizzas – and plenty in between. After you’ve
finished this Go For It!, your Patrol will be feeling confident and prepared, and totally
ready to take on the future.
How does it work?
For your first session, have a go at some of the activities in the ‘Get started’ section to
find out which activities in Go For It! Top job interest you. Then choose three more
sessions’ worth of activities in the rest of the pack. You should spend four Patrol times
(including planning time) on the Go For It! to gain the badge.
If you enjoy Go For It! Top job, check out the ideas in the ‘Take it further’ section
on page 23.
Team work
You’ll need to work together all the way on this Go For It! – there are lots of decisions
and plans to be made. How will you make sure everyone’s voice is heard? Think about
everyone’s strengths and how best to use them.
Go For It! Top job badge
When your Patrol has completed Go For It! Top job you will each gain this great badge!
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Top job
Get started
The activities below are designed to introduce you to Go For It! Top job. Pick at least
one of the activities from this section to get started. This will help you decide what
activities from the rest of the pack you would like to do as a Patrol for the next three
Go For It! sessions.
These activities are about you, what you can do now and what you have the potential
for in the future.
This is your life…
The future is filled with opportunity, but with all this choice it can be
confusing trying to decide what path is right for you! Try this activity to
identify what you’re good at, what you like or don’t like and what
interests you.
You will need
P A3 paper
P Pens
P Pencils
P Photographs, images, material/fabric (optional)
ll t
It wi ake:
30-40 minutes
What to do
1. Each person in your Patrol needs a sheet of paper. Divide the page into three
sections: past, present and future.
2. In each section, write down the things that make up your life. For the past, think
about the kind of person you were five years ago – use images, icons, symbols, words,
lyrics or photos to describe who you were, what you liked to do and how you felt.
Were you shy and quiet, or outgoing and bubbly? Do the same for the present,
thinking about how you may have changed.
3. Now think about your future. Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years’ time?
Will you be living in the same place, have a job or a family, be travelling the world – or
all of these things?
4. Think about how the things you do now might influence your future. For example, a
school trip to France might inspire you to take a gap year later on that could give you
valuable work experience.
5. Share your display with the rest of your Patrol, but don’t forget to keep it safe – you
may need to remind yourself what you wrote down in the future!
Take it further
Now that you’ve identified the things you’re good at and what interests you,
have a go at writing your CV (check out the activity on page 3).
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Go For It! Top job
What is a CV?
A CV (curriculum vitae) is a document all about you and your skills. It’s a
list of your education, work experience, skills and strengths that
introduces you to an employer. Make a CV with a difference…
You will need
P Paper
P Pens
P Video camera
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
What to do
1. Write out your CV using the headings listed below to help you. It’s best to keep your
CV to two pages of A4. Write your information in bullet points, be clear and keep to the
point.
PP
ersonal details: name, address, home and mobile numbers, and email address if
you have one.
PE
ducation and qualifications: set these out, giving your most recent apprenticeship/
school/college/training first.
PW
ork experience: most people have done some ‘work’, even if they did not
get paid for it. Include school work experience, events, helping family or neighbours,
and things that you may have done at Guides, such as helping out at a meeting or
introducing a Brownie to Guides.
2. Think about the skills you used or learned during your work experience.
P Teamwork skills – when working together on a project.
PO
rganisational skills – when planning an activity with your Patrol or helping
out at a Guide event.
P Interpersonal skills – when dealing with people.
3. Using the video camera, create an alternative collective CV for your Patrol. Make a
video about who you are and what you can do. You can talk about things you’ve
learned at Guides, or from other Patrol members. Help each other by pointing out the
brilliant skills your Patrol members have!
4. When you have finished, ask your Leader if you can show the rest of your unit your
Patrol’s CV video.
Take the lead
This fun game will energise you! Have a go at leading and following.
You will need
P Nothing!
What to do
ll t
It wi ake:
15 minutes
1. Everyone walks around the room silently in any direction. At any time,
one person can suddenly choose to ‘freeze’ by standing completely still.
2. As soon as anyone notices that someone else has frozen, they immediately freeze
too, until everyone in the room is frozen.
3. When everyone is completely still, any one person can decide to begin walking
around again, and the group unfreezes.
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Go For It! Top job
4. The goal is to see how quickly the group can follow the lead.
5. As a twist, try this activity again with players making a noise as they walk around.
See what difference this makes to the speed of the game.
When I grow up I want to be…
Play this game to get you thinking differently when it comes to possible
careers!
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
15 minutes
P Nothing!
What to do
1. Sit with your Patrol in a circle and pick a person to go first.
The first person says, ‘When I grow up I want to be…
…something beginning with A – ‘an architect’.
2. The next person repeats the first job and adds one beginning with B – for example,
‘When I grow up I want to be… an architect, a builder…’
3. Go round the circle. Everyone repeats the previous jobs and then adds something
beginning with the next letter in the alphabet.
4. See how far you can progress before you get it wrong! What jobs did you come up
with? What jobs appeal to you?
Try it this way
1. If you get through the whole alphabet, start the game again using actions, as well
as words, for each job.
2. Put a time limit on how long a person has to think – 30 seconds? Ten seconds?
Five seconds?
Taking charge
ll t
It wi ake:
20-40 minutes
You will need
P Depends on activities chosen
la
n
p
1. Together, discuss what type of unit meeting you would like to run.
to
What to do
Think of the different strengths in your Patrol as this will help
you decide what to do! You could do a craft activity, run an activity
outdoors or teach the others in your unit a new skill. Ensure that
everyone in the Patrol takes on a different role or task.
in
g
Are you responsible? Good at working with others? Organised?
Your Guide Leader has to be all these things! Your challenge is
to plan, prepare and run a unit meeting.
t
ee
a nd
m
1
to c evaluate, plus an
arry out your pl
2. Together, make a plan for how the unit meeting will run – think about how
your Leader runs your unit and use this as a template. Think about some of the
following to help you plan.
PW
hat activities do you have to include, for example checking the register?
PW
hat activity will you do with the unit? This may depend on what equipment is
available so speak to your Leader.
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Go For It! Top job
P How long will the activity last?
P How will you explain the activity to your unit?
P What equipment will you need?
P What safety measures might you need to take?
P Who will be the spokesperson, or will you share this role?
P Do you have members with disabilities or food allergies that will need to be taken
into account?
P How will you make sure everyone enjoys the evening?
3. Once you have planned your meeting, decide with your Leader on a date to carry it
out.
4. Lead your meeting, trying to keep to your plan.
5. When you have finished your evening, evaluate it as a Patrol.
P How easy did you find it?
P What were some of the challenges?
P What could you have done better?
P What skills or lessons do you think you have learned?
PY
ou might like to ask your Leader or other Patrols what they thought – ask them to
give you some positive and some constructive feedback.
Top tip
Make sure your Leader knows in advance that you’d like
to run a meeting!
Common thread
We all have our quirks and eccentricities, things that make us individuals.
But when it comes down to it we’re not as different as we might think!
We all have things in common and experiences that connect us. Play this
game and see just how much you have in common with your Patrol!
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
20-25 minutes
P One ball of different coloured wool per person
P Scissors
What to do
1. Give each person in your Patrol a ball of wool to tie loosely around her waist.
2. Each girl takes it in turns to shout out something about herself such as ‘I have one
sister’, ‘I live in a bungalow’ or ‘I love science’.
3. If someone else has one sister, lives in a bungalow or loves science, throw the wool
to them, for them to wrap around their waist. Pass the wool to as many girls as have
the same thing in common.
4. The next person in the circle then says something. You might have a few balls of
wool in your hands at any one time – or none!
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Go For It! Top job
5. Try to shout a mixture of things that you know you have in common with others and
some that you think are individual to you – you might be surprised by some of the
links you make!
6. You should end up with a beautiful web that connects your lives.
7. The game ends when you run out of things to say, or run out of wool!
8. Carefully cut yourself out of the web at the end of the game.
Take care
Be careful when using scissors.
What next?
Now you have had a chance to think about different aspects of potential jobs, what
interests you the most? Check out the activities in the following sections:
P Discovering your future
P Take on the future.
Choose which ones you want to do for the rest of your sessions on this Go For It!.
Over the next three sessions you should make sure you do activities from both
sections. You can either plan the next three sessions in one go or allow time at the
end of each one to plan the following session. Your Leaders will be able to help you
with the planning.
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Go For It! Top job
Discovering your future
The activities in this section will introduce you to a variety of different jobs you might
fancy in the future. Have a go and explore the different careers – you never know what
might inspire you!
Logo-a-go-go
Like the sound of a job in advertising? Have a go at designing a logo for
your Patrol that shows who you are and what you do, and makes your
Patrol look fabulous.
You will need
P Paper
P Pens
P Magazines/internet access
P Plain white T-shirts
P Fabric pens/paint
P Newspaper
ll t
It wi ake:
1 meeting
What to do
A logo is a design or symbol used by an organisation to show its identity. For example,
you’re probably wearing something with the Guides or Girlguiding logo on it. How many
things are you wearing that have logos? Think about your trousers, top or trainers.
1. As a group, design a logo for your Patrol. You could include your Patrol name, the
personalities of each member (their qualities, likes and dislikes) or the kinds of things
you do at Guides. What type of logo best represents your Patrol?
2. Once you are all agreed on your final Patrol logo, draw it on to the front of your
T-shirts using fabric pens or paint. Make sure that you put some newspaper inside the
T-shirt so that it doesn’t soak through to the other side.
3. Leave it to dry.
Take it further
Think about where your Patrol might be in five years. What will you all look like?
What will you be doing? Where will you all be? Will you still be friends? What logo
might represent you then? You could put your future Patrol logo on the back of your
T-shirt.
Behind the scenes of sport!
Do you love being fit and active, or are you interested in motivating
others to reach their goals? A career in sports science might be just the
thing for you. Sports scientists work behind the scenes of sports and
fitness in areas such as nutrition, psychology, sports coaching, teaching
and physical therapy.
Create your own fitness class – one that is so much fun, everyone will
want to join in and get fit!
ll t
It wi ake:
1 meeting
You will need
P CDs and CD player/iPod/MP3 player and speakers
P Sports equipment such as small cones, hula-hoops, skipping ropes and foam balls
(optional)
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Go For It! Top job
What to do
1. In your Patrol, come up with an exercise routine to music of your choice.
2. Your routine can involve any moves you like: star jumps, running on the spot, spins,
tumbles, turns and rolls!
3. If you want to use some sports equipment, you can add in exercises with hulahoops, skipping ropes or foam balls.
4. Make sure it’s fun and that everyone in your unit will be able to do all the moves
or steps. See how many people you can get to join in!
Loading…please wait!
Are you someone who’s creative, loves staying up to date with all the
latest technology and gadgets, or is always on your computer? Then
being a web designer could be just the career for you.
Have a go at designing a website for your unit – perhaps your Leader
could set it up and make it ‘live’ for you.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
P Paper
P Colouring pencils and pens
P Magazines (optional)
P Computer and internet access (optional)
What to do
1. In your Patrol, discuss what you would like to say about your unit and write down
the top five ideas. Have a brainstorm about the following to help you out.
P How do you actually set up a website? Use the internet to find out. Do you or your
Leaders know any experts in web design who can talk to your unit?
P How will you introduce the Leaders in your unit?
P Do you want to have interactive games, activities or songs on your website?
P How will you encourage people to join your unit?
P Will you use pictures? If so, why not take pictures of your unit doing
a selection of activities?
2. Draw out how your webpage will look, using as many colours and images (from
magazines if you’re using them) as you like. Be imaginative when thinking about the
colours, font, images and text you want to use.
3. Write out an introduction – this should be short and sweet! It will tell people
about your unit and what they will find on your website. Have a look at
www.girlguiding.org.uk and the websites we have especially for Rainbows, Brownies,
Guides and The Senior Section for some ideas. Ask your Leader to show you what
other units have done at www.girlguiding.org.uk > Members’ area > Resource library
> Website directory.
4. If your unit doesn’t already have a website, you could actually build it and use it to
promote your unit, and guiding in general.
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Online safety tips
PA
void mentioning the specific time and place of your meetings.
P If you use text or images from other sites you will need to seek
permission.
P I f you want to include pictures of yourselves, you will need
parental permission.
PA
lways ask permission before uploading photos or videos of
other people.
PD
on’t publish any personal details such as your address or
mobile number.
P If you send pictures, be aware that these can be forwarded on
to others.
PR
emember that online friends are really strangers, no matter
how long you have been talking to them or how friendly they
seem. Don’t arrange to meet up with anyone you have been
chatting
to online.
P Tell a trusted adult if something online upsets you.
For more information on how you can stay safe on the web, take
a look at the Guide web safe code at www.girlguiding.org.uk/
guides > Guides web safe code.
Take it further
Take it one step further and ask your Leader to link your site into Girlguiding. Your
Leader can do this by emailing [email protected].
Apprenticeships
Do you learn better by doing – by trying things out and taking a more hands-on
approach? It could be that an apprenticeship is a good route for you. Apprenticeships
are open to those aged over 16 and combine practical training with study, so you
learn skills on the job. You can do an apprenticeship in a huge range of different
areas: media, business, accounting, horticulture, marine engineering, laboratory
science, carpentry or law – the list goes on and on!
Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with these tasters of apprenticeships in
horticulture and construction.
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Go For It! Top job
Green fingers
Do you like being outdoors, seeing how things grow and caring for
the environment? Perhaps you should consider an apprenticeship in
horticulture. This covers a lot of different jobs – creating and designing
gardens, looking after parks and sports grounds, caring for plants or
discovering how we can encourage them to grow better.
As a Patrol, have a go at planting your own vegetable patch! You can
grow vegetables like courgettes, carrots and tomatoes.
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
You will need
plus
growing time
P A small plastic plant pot per person (at least 20cm deep)
P Multi-purpose compost
P Trowel
P Vegetable seeds – courgette, carrot and/or tomato
P Acrylic paints and paint tubs
P Paintbrushes
P Water
P Card
P Pen
What to do
1. Start by decorating your plastic pot using the paints to make it personal to you.
2. Check the seed packets for details on the best planting and harvesting times.
3. Carefully fill your pot with compost to just below the rim.
4. Pick which vegetable you would like to grow and plant your seeds. If you pick
courgettes, make sure they are planted vertically as your vegetables won’t
grow sideways!
5. Pour some water over the seeds, making the compost nice and wet.
6. Use the card to make a label that says what the seeds are and the date you
planted them. Then stick this in the compost.
7. Put your pots in a warm place, making sure they get plenty of sunlight. Bring your
pots home if there’s not space to leave them in your meeting place.
8. Water your pot regularly so that the soil doesn’t dry out.
9. After a week your vegetables should begin to grow. When your seedlings are nice
and tall (about 10cm), transplant them into a larger pot or the garden.
Take it further
Create a design for your Patrol’s ideal public garden – will your garden have lots of
grass, flowers and trees? Or will it be like a skate park, with lots of pavement for
skating and cycling?
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Go For It! Top job
Building your future
The construction industry is part of our everyday lives. Just look around
at all the roads, bridges, schools, skyscrapers, stadiums and airports!
Through an apprenticeship in construction you could be a town planner,
site manager, architect or engineer. Our 2012 Girls’ Attitudes Survey
found that 60 per cent of girls are put off a career in engineering
because of a lack of female role models. Could you be the one to
change this?
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
Build a bridge out of spaghetti and marshmallows that is strong enough
to support a golf ball – maybe you could be the next top engineer!
You will need
P Pack of spaghetti
P Bag of marshmallows
P Golf ball or paper cup of water
P Newspaper
P Paper
P Pens
P Towel
What to do
1. In your Patrol, design your bridge structure on paper. Use your imagination! It will
need to be strong enough to support a golf ball, or if you’re very brave, a paper cup of
water!
2. Put down sheets of newspaper so the marshmallows don’t stick to the floor.
Then build your bridge by sticking the spaghetti together with marshmallows.
3. Once you are happy with your construction, test your bridge’s strength by placing
a golf ball or a paper cup of water on it.
Top tip
Triangles are stronger than squares! This might help when
you’re making the support structure for your bridge.
Take it further
Find out about National Apprenticeship Week. Then see if you and your Patrol can go
along and learn more about apprenticeships and the opportunities they can offer
young people. Read more at www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
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Go For It! Top job
Take over the airwaves!
Are you enthusiastic, creative and bubbly? Want to share your
thoughts, ideas, loves and hates with others? Maybe a career
in radio is right up your street! Whether you want to be a
newscaster, DJ/presenter or producer, radio offers plenty of
exciting opportunities.
Have a go at writing and recording a piece for radio – this could be an
advert, a news item or a mini drama. Or pretend you’re all DJs on a
famous radio breakfast show.
ll t
It wi ake:
30-40 minutes
You will need
P Voice recorder
P Microphone (optional)
P Pen
P Paper
P Equipment for sound effects
What to do
1. In your Patrol, think about what type of programme or piece you want to record.
P If it’s an advert, you’ll need to think up a creative name for the product you’re
selling. Will you record a catchy jingle or use music? Tell people where they can buy
it and how much it will cost. Remember, people can’t see the product so make sure
you describe it well.
PY
ou could write about where your unit will be in the future – you might choose to
perform a mini drama about it.
PO
r you could write and present a news item about your unit in the future.
2. Work in pairs or groups, and make sure everyone has a job or a part.
3. Write a script, including details of any sound effects that you want to include – you
can’t see a radio advert so you’ll need to think in terms of sound!
4. Perform your script and then listen to your finished piece.
Take it further
If you feel like a career in radio might be for you, then why not try and get some work
experience at your local community station or on hospital radio?
Ask your Leader about Thinking Day On the Air! This is a fantastic opportunity
for girls from around the world to make contact with each other over the radio.
Read more at www.girlguiding.org.uk > Members’ area > What’s happening? > World
Thinking Day > World Thinking Day on the air.
Take it even further!
Do you have something that you’re passionate about? Perhaps you have a particular
taste in music and want to share it with others?
Or maybe you just like talking! Think about starting up your own podcast.
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Go For It! Top job
Act the part
Have a go with your Patrol at making up, acting and filming your
own short film or TV show.
You will need
P Props and costumes
P Video camera
P Imagination!
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
What to do
1. Imagine that your Patrol has been invited to a Guide unit reunion ten years
from now. Come up with a story, using this as the starting point. Each Guide in the
Patrol should pick a role they would like to have in the future – perhaps a marine
biologist, a teacher, a politician or a lion tamer! Think about how all these characters
will interact at their ten-year reunion.
2. Practise acting out your story, then film your performance and show your film to
the rest of your unit.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Do you enjoy writing, getting all the facts of a story and keeping up to
date with the news? Have you thought about a career in journalism –
perhaps writing for a newspaper, a magazine or online? Have a go at
writing an article for a newsletter about all the great things your unit
does.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
30-40 minutes
P Pen
P Paper
P Scissors
P Glue
P Ruler
P Pencils and colouring pencils
P Photo or picture (optional)
P Collage materials (glitter, coloured paper, ribbon etc)
What to do
1. In your Patrol, write an exciting newsletter about your unit. Your newsletter can
include news articles, upcoming events, comment and debate – for example,
where should you go on your next trip? It could also have cartoons, jokes,
weather reports, sport (perhaps reporting on a unit sports competition),
and community issues.
2. Think about the layout of your newsletter. You could start with one main news
article about what your unit has been up to recently and add a short book review,
a small article about an event happening in your community, information about some
upcoming days out and a cartoon or jokes section.
3. You can include photos or draw pictures. Make it colourful and eye-catching
so people will want to read it!
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Top job
Top tip
When writing your article, keep in mind that people will usually
want to know the answer to these questions: who, what, where,
when, why, how?
P Who was the event for?
P What was it about?
P When did the event/campaign take place?
P Where did the event/campaign take place?
P How did the event/campaign go?
Food for thought
Being a chef is not as easy as you might think. It’s not just about cooking
food – it’s about managing a kitchen, planning the menus, budgeting,
ordering food and keeping customers happy. Make a delicious pizza
while planning and budgeting to make sure you make a profit!
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
45–60 minutes
P Pens
P Paper
P Calculator
P Bagel or pitta bread (one per person)
P Tomato sauce
P Cheese
P Toppings such as peppers, sweetcorn, mushrooms, pepperoni
P Chopping board
P Sharp knife
P Cheese grater
P Oven
Take care
P Be careful when using sharp knives.
P Be aware of any food allergies in your Patrol.
P Follow good hygiene practice, eg washing hands,
tying back long hair.
What to do
1. T he first thing to do is create a menu that looks and sounds appealing and inspires
people to eat the food you are going to cook. Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser!
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Go For It! Top job
2. A
s a Patrol, have a go at making the pizzas. Cut the bagel or pitta bread in half and
spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over it.
3. Add your toppings, then some cheese and pop it under a grill for five minutes.
4. W
hile you’re eating your creations, work out how much you will have to charge for
each pizza at your restaurant. Find out from your Leader how much the ingredients
cost and how much you used for each pizza. For example, if a tin of sweetcorn cost
40 pence and you used the tin for five pizzas, you would use this equation: 40 ÷ 5.
That means you used 8 pence worth of sweetcorn for each pizza. Once you have
added up all the ingredients you used and have a final cost, you need to decide if
you will charge more than this final cost in order to make a profit.
Ingredient
Cost
Number of
pizzas
Total cost per pizza
(Cost divided by number
of pizzas)
Sweetcorn
40p per tin
5
8p per pizza
5. Add the prices to your menu.
Take it further
Ask your Leader if your Patrol can be involved in planning the menus and budgets for
a Guide camp, holiday or sleepover.
Going global
Have you ever thought about travelling the world and exploring new
places? A job involving travel could be just what you’re looking for!
There are lots of options when it comes to jobs involving travel:
you could be a travel writer, tour guide, international school teacher,
au pair, pilot or international development worker.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
45 minutes
P Travel magazines
P Information on your chosen location from magazines or the internet
P Globe or atlas (optional)
P Pens
P Paper
P Scissors
P Glue
P Sticky tape
What to do
1. As a Patrol, choose a town, city or country – it could be anywhere in the world!
You will act as a tour guide for your chosen area.
2. To be a tour guide, you should find out information about the place, such as:
P where the town/city/country is
P famous landmarks and tourist attractions
P local food traditions
P how you would get there and travel within the place
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P what makes this place different to where you live.
3. Have a go at planning a tour that would interest visitors. Each member of your Patrol
can explain a different area, but you should all work together to plan the route. Include
all the information you have learned about the place, including the route you might
take through the city or country and how long it would take to travel.
4. Now take the rest of your unit on an imaginary guided tour!
Take it further
Ask your Leader about going on a unit trip to a local attraction – you can see how a
real tour guide works.
Hands on history
Do you like to get your hands dirty? Solving mysteries by discovering
clues? Putting the pieces of a puzzle together? These are some of the
things that archaeologists do – maybe you’re one, too! Archaeologists
study lots of things, from people to rocks and ancient bones. They look at
old things and places to investigate how people lived in the past, why they
moved around and what kinds of foods they ate. Have a go at making your
own fossils!
ll t
It wi ake:
plu
30 minutes to
prepare
so
You will need
te
ple
n e we
m
o
ek t o c
P Plastic container such as an ice-cream tub
P Sponge
P Fine sand – enough to half-fill your container
PE
psom salts/bath salts (containing magnesium sulphate)
P Plate
P Scissors
P Spoon
P Warm water
P Camera (optional)
What to do
1. Cut out the shape of your fossil from the sponge – it could be a shell, a bone or a
whole dinosaur.
2. Make three small holes in the bottom of your plastic container and put it on the plate.
3. Pour the sand into the container about 1cm of the way up, then place your sponge
shape on top and cover with another 2cm of sand.
4. Dissolve four spoonfuls of bath salts in four spoonfuls of warm water and pour
into your container, letting the mix sink through the sand. Leave it somewhere safe
and warm.
5. Add more of the water and bath salts mixture at least once a day for five days. The
longer you leave it, the more fossilised your sponge will become!
6. Leave the sand to dry out for two days before removing the ‘fossil’ sponge. If it is
still a little wet, leave the fossil for a few days before handling it.
7. The holes in the sponge trap the salts, ‘mineralising’ the sponge. As they dry out,
the salts come together and harden to create a fossil.
8. Bring your fossil into your next unit meeting – or if it is too crumbly to move, take
a photograph to show your unit.
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Fill in the gap
Many people decide to take a gap year before going to university or
starting an apprenticeship or job. There’s lots you can do on your gap
year – you can travel, work or volunteer (see more about volunteering on
page 18), either abroad or in the UK. It can be a great opportunity to
develop your skills and gain valuable work experience for your future
career. Plan out a gap year project, prepare a budget and think about
what you hope to gain from taking this year out.
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
You will need
P Information on gap year programmes – you can find this
online from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/gapyear.
P Paper
P Pen
P Map of the world
P Calculator
What to do
1. In your Patrol, look at the information on gap year opportunities and make a gap
year plan from July to September of the following year.
2. Think about what type of gap year you would like to take – will you travel the world,
help build a school in Peru, fit water pipes in Ghana or teach English to school
children in Cambodia?
3. Once you have decided what you would like to do, there are some important
details to consider.
P What are you hoping to achieve by going on this gap year trip?
P How will you get from place to place and, most importantly, how will you pay for it?
PH
ow long will you be away for? When does your university/college term start again?
Or do you need to be back by a certain date to begin work?
P Will you go alone or in a group?
P Do you need to learn a language before travelling?
4. Plan your budget! How much money will you need? In your Patrol, think about the
expenses you might have while on your gap year. You may need to do some
fundraising to raise the money for your gap year. In your Patrol, write down what kind
of fundraising you could do – for example, organise a bake sale or hold a sponsored
silence.
Take it further
If you think volunteering abroad is something you would love to do, how about
volunteering with Guiding Overseas Linked with Development (GOLD)? Find out
whether anyone from your local area has been on GOLD, and have a chat with them
about their experience – what they enjoyed, what they found challenging and what
they learned from their trip.
Members of guiding aged between 18 and 30 can take part in GOLD, doing voluntary
work or taking part in community projects all around the world. See www.girlguiding.
org.uk > About us > International Guiding for more information on GOLD and many
other gap year opportunities.
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Helping hands
There are a lot of jobs that you can do in the voluntary sector, many of
which benefit communities or people in need. Volunteering may be
something you could do both now and in the future.
What exactly is volunteering?
ll t
It wi ake:
1 meeting
Volunteering is working for an organisation without pay because you
agree with their aims and want to support their work. Charities or other
organisations that don’t make a profit need the help of those who are
willing to give their time and energy for free. Volunteers can also learn a lot from the
experience and gain valuable work skills that they can use to continue a career in the
charity sector or in other jobs.
There are plenty of ways you can volunteer in your local community.
You could help out at a local charity shop, help another young person to develop a
skill, spend some time at a local nursing home, work at local community events or raise
awareness at school about a particular issue that concerns you. You can also volunteer
with guiding by becoming a Unit Helper or Young Leader. Find out more about how you
can do this at www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested.
Global future
How would you like to work for the global community in your future?
You will need
P Pens
P Paper
What to do
1. Find out about some international charities such as UNICEF, Plan International,
Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, Action Aid or the Red Cross. What do they do?
Who do they help? What global problems do they address?
2. Decide which global issue is most important to your Patrol and make up your
own global charity, dedicated to fighting that cause. This could be ending poverty,
helping street children, providing girls with an education, preventing global warming or
stopping animal cruelty.
3. Who would you like to help around the world? What would your charity be called
and what would its main aims be? Discuss these things as a Patrol.
4. Assign each Patrol member a particular role in running your charity and begin your
first campaign. What can your charity do to help your cause? For example, if your
cause is the environment, you could organise a recycling drive or do some litter
picking. Or, if your charity wants to fight poverty or homelessness, you could write to
your MP – or, even better, start a campaign at your school to get everyone to write to
your MP and take the hundreds of letters to their office. Or, if you want to stop
bullying, you could write an anti-bullying pledge for everyone in your unit to read and
sign or ask your school to help with your campaign.
Take it further
Perhaps you could join a larger charity and find out how to support their work.
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Take on the future
These activities are a chance for you to think about what you want for your future, and
for the world you’ll live in – what can you do to make the future bright for others as
well as yourself?
Make your mark
Design a bookmark that represents your future and reminds you of your
goals and potential every day.
You will need
P Pens
P Thick card
P Laminator or sticky-back plastic
P Glue
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
1. On a strip of thick card, draw something that you want to be in the future. For
example, you could draw yourself as a doctor, a businesswoman, or a world traveller.
2. On the back of your bookmark, write some steps that you could take to help you
achieve this goal – for example, work hard, develop my interests or volunteer at
a local charity.
3. Decorate your bookmark however you wish.
4. Use your bookmark as a reminder of your goal and what you need to do to achieve it.
Future treasures
Make a treasure chest about your Patrol members’ futures.
You will need
P Shoebox
P Colouring pens, pencils or paints
P Decorating materials, such as stickers, fabric, glue
P Pens
P Paper
ll t
It wi ake:
35 minutes
What to do
1. Make your treasure chest personal to your Patrol by decorating the shoebox with
your names or pictures.
2. Write a list of your personal goals. What would you like to have achieved when you
reach a certain age – 25? 35? 45? Make sure they are realistic goals that you believe
you can achieve.
3. You can also include short term goals to set you on the path for achieving a long
term goal. What can you do right now to work towards those goals further down the
line?
4. Put your lists in the treasure chest.
5. You could ask other Guides in your unit or your Leader to take it in turns to take out
a goals list and read it out – can they guess which goals are whose? Maybe they have
skills or know of people who can help you on your way to achieving your goals.
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This is me!
It can be difficult to remember all our achievements – make a list so you
can keep track of all the fantastic things you have done!
You will need
P Glue
P A5 paper
P Camera (optional)
P Pen
P Colouring pens or pencils
ll t
It wi ake:
15 minutes
What to do
1. Using sheets of A5 paper, make a record of achievement to go in your G-file. For
each page take a photo or draw a picture of something you have already achieved. For
example, playing a musical instrument, wearing medals or sports trophies you have
won, holding certificates you received for passing an exam, helping someone out by
lending a hand or learning a new skill – anything you feel has been an achievement
for you!
2. Glue your photos or drawings on to the page and write down next to each one
what your achievement was and when you achieved it. Decorate the page and add to
your record of achievement every time you achieve something.
The voice of change
No matter what we want for our future, we all need a safe and happy
place to be. It might be your own street, your country or the whole world
– but it’s important to be aware of the world around us and protect our
global future. This activity will give you the chance to speak out about the
issue that is important to you and begin to make a change!
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
20-30 minutes
P Leaflets from different charities
P Computer and internet access (optional)
What to do
1. Each member of your Patrol picks one topic – either from the list overleaf,
or another topic that they are particularly passionate about.
2. Each girl should then take it in turns to tell the rest of the Patrol why they feel that
theirs is the most important global issue.
3. As a Patrol, decide who has been the most convincing.
4. Now design a campaign to tell your unit about the issue and encourage them to
take action. Make sure you have a clear message so people can understand exactly
what your topic is. Then tell people what they can do about the issue or how they can
help to change things.
5. Find out more about your chosen topic by collecting leaflets from charities already
working in that area or by looking online.
6. You could make campaign posters, hold a fundraising event, make a film or
perform a play.
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The issues
Poverty
Right now there are 1.4 billion people in our world living in extreme poverty – this
means that billions of people are surviving on less than £1 ($1.25) a day. The tragic
reality of this, according to UNICEF, is that 22,000 children die each day due to poverty.
www.globalpovertyproject.com
Conflict
Some of the people worst affected by war are women and children. In war-torn
countries they can face sexual violence and exploitation, are forced to leave their
homes, lose out on education, face the threat of kidnapping and are sometimes made
to become soldiers. Women tend to be left out of peace talks – leading to their needs
and concerns being ignored. www.womenwarpeace.org
Violence against women
In the UK, one in four women experience violence from a partner in their lifetime. For
teenagers this figure increases to 40 per cent! If you want to take action on this topic,
check out our Girls in Action resource, written in partnership with Against Violence
and Abuse (AVA), at www.girlguiding.org.uk/girlsinaction.
www.avaproject.org.uk
Climate change
Carbon dioxide and other fumes from things like cars and factories are causing the
earth to heat up. This will have a devastating impact on nature and people, particularly
the world’s poorest – already it is causing soil erosion, landslides, severe storms,
extremes of drought and flooding, which will force people to leave their homes and
lands. www.foe.co.uk.
HIV and AIDS
There were more than 700,000 fewer new HIV infections globally in 2011 than in 2001.
This is due to better access and use of treatment services – it’s fantastic progress but
the UN World Aids Day report 2012 says there are still 7 million people yet to be
reached. www.unaids.org
Endangered animals
According to WWF, the most endangered animals around the world are tigers, polar
bears, mountain gorillas, bluefin tuna and giant pandas. They are at risk from climate
change, their homes being destroyed and poaching. www.wwf.org.uk
Racism
Racism is the belief that race or ethnicity accounts for differences in human character
or ability and that a particular race is better than others. This often results in bullying,
discrimination or prejudice based on race. www.tackling-racism.co.uk
Education
Across the world, 39 million 11- to 15-year-old girls are not in school – that’s over half
the population of the UK! This makes it very difficult for girls to get a job, earn money
and escape a life of poverty. To speak out for girls’ education, try the Plan UK and
Girlguiding Girls in Action project at www.girlguiding.org.uk/girlsinaction.
www.plan-international.org
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Lesbian, gay and bisexual rights
Research from Young Stonewall, a lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, shows that more
than half of gay young people are bullied in our schools every day – with two in five
attempting or considering suicide as a direct result. www.youngstonewall.org.uk
Keeping the balance
Thinking about what your future holds is really exciting – new
opportunities, new relationships and new challenges! But all these
changes can be stressful so it’s important that we take care of ourselves.
Our emotional health is important and we need to take care of it. Make
your own candle to help you relax and reflect on decisions or choices
that are causing you stress.
ll t
It wi ake:
1 hour
You will need
P Small glasses
P Glass paints
P Old candles or wax crayons
P Old saucepan
P Heatproof bowl
P 1 wick per person
P Pencil per person
P Aprons
P Stove
P Spoon
What to do
1. Each member of your Patrol should think of a positive word that represents them.
Here are some positive words to start you thinking:
P confident
P individual
P intelligent
P creative
P happy
P calm
P friendly.
2. When you have chosen your word, use the glass paints to write it on to your glass
and decorate it, then leave to dry.
3. Now you are ready to make your candle. Make sure you have an adult to supervise
this part. Melt the old candles or crayons in a bowl set over your saucepan on a hot
stove.
4. If you have more than one colour you may want to melt each colour individually.
5. Once melted, carefully pour the wax into your glasses and insert your wick.
Wind the top of the wick around a pencil laid across the top of the glass to keep
it out of the wax as it sets.
6. Now leave the candle to set and cool.
7. Light your candle when you need to take some time out to focus on your strengths
and reflect on the decisions you need to make.
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Take it further
If you want to know more about your emotional health, take a look at our Me in Mind
resource.
Take care
P Be careful when using hot wax.
P Never leave a lit candle unattended.
Take it further
If you enjoyed this Go For It!, why not try…
P Independent living badge
P Go For It! Life wise
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Notes for Leaders
A balanced programme
One of your responsibilities is to ensure that your Guides experience a balanced and
varied programme. Chat to the Patrol members and find out what their plans are –
encourage them to choose a variety of different activities.
Remember you can ensure a balance by doing unit activities, games and so on in
addition to Go For Its!.
Safety
Ensure the Guides are safe. You should always adhere to the rules within
The Guiding Manual and, depending on the girls’ ages and abilities, you may need
to give extra support with:
P going outside the normal meeting place
P inviting members of the public into the meeting place
P staying away from home in unfamiliar surroundings
P the use of specialist equipment, such as tents, knives and cooking appliances
P personal and food hygiene
P allergies and what to do in the event of an allergic reaction
P using the internet safely – see A Safe Cyber Space, www.girlguiding.org.uk >
Members’ area > Running your unit > Safety > Communication & online safety.
©The Guide Association 2013
Project Coordinator: Laura Burke
Project Editors: Alison Shaw, Helen Thomas
Series Designer: Yuan Zhuang
Designer: Angie Daniel
Girlguiding is an operating name of The Guide Association.
Registered charity number 306016. Incorporated by Royal Charter.
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
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