Games can be used to develop skills in the Girl Guide program like knot tying, rolling bedrolls or learning new information in a fun and active way. Many skills that can be taught or practiced with the girls in your unit can be changed into a game to engage the girls actively. In addition to the knowledge based games provided below, Active Game Templates (Section 8) can be used to develop your own games to teach and practice knowledge and skills for the Girl Guide program.
Active Scrabble
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Dice; Scrabble tiles; fact sheets; question cards
Each group sits together with one die and fact sheet page(s) on a specific topic. The Scrabble tiles and question cards are placed face down on a table in front of the leader at one end of the room. A number is picked as the target number. Girls take turns rolling the die in their group. When the target number is rolled, the girl runs to the leader’s table for a question card, while the others continue rolling. The girl returns to the group with the question, reads it and tells them the answer if she knows it. Otherwise they all look for the answer on the fact sheet. The girl returns to the leader with the answer and picks a Scrabble tile if she has the correct answer (if she does not have the correct answer, she can go back to look again). The groups continue until one group has answered all the questions. At the end, the groups use their Scrabble tiles to make up words as per a regular scrabble (crossword) game.
Stop, Drop and Roll
For
Brownies,
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment - None
Review, according to the age of the girls, what you do if someone’s clothing is on fire.
Then explain game to group: girls will shut their eyes and wander around the room.
The leader will tap some girls on the back, one time or two times. Girls will open their eyes when told, and continue walking around the room. Shortly after that the girls who received one tap will scream and stop, drop and roll. Girls who received two taps will not stop, drop or roll; they will panic and scream and run around the room. The other girls will react appropriately and help the burning girls. Hopefully they will call for help, stop the running girls, help the girls roll; cover them with a jacket, etc. Debriefing is necessary after one round. Then the game can be played a few more times.
Knot Tying Playoffs
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Pieces of rope two to three feet long for each girl, and a thicker (or coloured) demo rope for the leader(s); sticks for tying the knots if needed
The leader(s) demonstrate a knot with the whole group standing in a circle by reviewing what it is for, and demonstrating several times. Then the girls get into groups of mixed ages and abilities. They practice the knot and help teach each other. Leaders move from group to group to give added instruction. When most girls are able to do the knot, the groups have a “play off”. On a signal they tie the knot. The first girl to complete the knot correctly drops out of the next round, but she can help another girl. Continue the rounds until there is only one girl left. Have a final “play off” with the last girl from each group. This game is non-competitive since even the last girl is cheered by all of the others, and she knows how to tie the knot by the end. A new knot can be learned each week, with a short review of the previous knots. After all knots are taught, a final challenge can be for each group to demonstrate their knowledge by cooperatively tying and using each knot appropriately, using as few ropes as necessary.
Untie the Knots
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: A long enough rope (six metres) to accommodate six or so girls. A thicker rope works better.
The leader prepares the rope by tying five loose knots in the rope. Each girl takes hold of the rope, between two knots and must never let go of the rope. The other hand unties the knot with no help from the first hand. Girls may use their free hand to help untie another’s knot. Object is to untie all the knots without letting go of the rope. Hands may be slid along the rope, but never let go. Let older girls figure it out themselves. You may need to remind girls to all listen to all ideas.
Tie the Giant Knot
For
Brownies,
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Two long, thick ropes
Girls are divided into two teams, each spread out along the rope they are holding (group size is not important). The object is to tie the two ropes together in a reef knot, by walking around, over, under, through, but not letting go of the rope. They must be proficient in tying the reef knot with their hands. The girls may need some starting direction if they are not familiar with knot tying. When accomplished the reef knot, suggest choosing a different knot. When proficient, the whole process may be done to marching music.
Knot Relay
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Rope to tie, obstacle course
The girls line up teams at one end of the obstacle course. A leader calls out the name of a knot. As soon as the first girl has the knot tied she runs to the leader, through the obstacle course. The girl may receive verbal help from her teammates. If a knot needs to be tied around something, it can be tied around another girl’s arm, and both girls must go through the obstacle course to the leader.
Compass Activities
For
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: Eight main points of the compass posted around the room
Compass Switch
Call out a direction and have the girls run to that spot. Repeat. After a few runs start removing the compass point cards, leaving North as an orientation point).
Select the Point
Have the girls move to specific points based on their answer to a question. Examples:
If you have a sister move to W; girls with brown hair move to NE
Compass Drawing
Have a blank circle drawn for each group with small blank circles drawn at the eight main compass points. The leader calls out an object and the girls run up in turn to draw the object in the right place i.e. draw a happy face in the E circle; draw a sad face in the S circle; draw a star in the NW
Where is it?
Based on the answer to the question, girls run to the correct compass point. Examples: Where Santa lives? What side of Canada that has the Pacific Ocean? What direction is Florida from here? etc.
WAGGGS
For
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: Label each wall of the room with the name of a World Centre
The caller/leader calls out the name of a World Centre and the girls run to that wall. Then give clues about each World Centre and the girls run to the correct wall.
Examples: The World Centre located in Switzerland (Our Chalet), the World Centre that has a swimming pool (Sangam & Our Cabana), the World Centre that used to be called Olave House (Pax Lodge)
Variation: Stick the name of a World Centre on the back of each girl so she cannot see it. The object of the game is to figure out who you are. Everyone goes around and asks the other players questions that can be answered only with yes or no. They cannot directly ask if they are a certain World Centre but must ask questions like – Am I located in Europe? Are there mountains nearby?
Pitching Tents
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Tents that the girls are familiar with setting up. You can practice by putting them up indoors any time of year.
Once the girls have some experience with pitching the tents you can give them some challenges i.e. pitching the tent in the dark; have all the girls blindfolded except one who can give directions but not touch the tent; have two girls in the team with oven mitts on.
Bedroll Relay
For
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: One set of bedroll items for each relay team: sleeping bag, ground sheet, foam pad, blanket and rope.
You can make miniature bed rolls but practicing with the real thing helps girls understand that it’s easier if you work in pairs. Once they know the steps, use a relay race to tie up a bedroll. The size of the groundsheet and rope are important to making the bedroll waterproof.
Pack a Bag Relay
For
Brownies or
Guides
Equipment: One set of items for each relay team: backpack or duffle bag, one set of camping clothes, camp toiletries and other camp items (flashlight, dishes, etc.).
The articles of clothing are placed at one end of the room. Each person runs up, chooses an article of clothing, folds it and puts it in a duffle. Let them plan the order they think things should be packed before starting.
Active Kit List
For
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Flipchart paper, markers or sticky notes
Have each of the girls brainstorm their ideas for items that need to be on their camp kit list (can be done individually or in pairs). Set up four pieces of chart paper titled: Bedding, Clothing, Personal and Equipment. Put the papers and markers/sticky notes on four tables, as far apart as possible, or on four walls. Start the girls at different tables/walls and have them put one item only on each list, then move onto the next list. The girls continue running to the different charts, reading what others have put down, and adding another new item until no one can think of anything else to add. Then the “Active” part is over and the girls will need to use their paper/pencil to make their own list, as the Guider reads out the girls’ contributions, having further discussion about what is and isn’t really needed. The same can be done for Group Equipment: Cooking, Sanitation, General, and Things to Buy.
Fire Building
For
Brownies,
Guides or
Pathfinders
Equipment: Outdoor wooded area, campfire pit
Prepare the campfire pit by clearing away debris. Have the girls go around the camping area and find the pieces to build a campfire: stones or large logs can form a frame for the firewood; tinder can be made from natural materials like birch bark, dry grasses/twigs, wood shavings, dry pine cones; kindling is small, dry wood or dead branches of evergreen trees, that burns easily and quickly. Kindling is placed over the tinder in a tepee. Finally the firewood is placed on the campfire either in a teepee or log cabin formation. Firewood is the slow burning, long lasting wood that gives the steady heat and long lasting coals.
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