Step 6: Develop Your Project

The sixth step in the Silver Award Pyramid is "Develop Your Project." With the development of this blog, we have fulfilled this step.  As we have traveled on this journey, we have developed all three of our projects: the blog, the podcast, and the presentation.  This step included lots of brainstorming... our troop never just does something, we plan it!  This step was the last in our Silver Award, and we're not completely finished with it yet.  We haven't finished the presentation or the podcast, but we will soon!  As this is our last week of posting the Pyramid steps, next week you'll be in for a surprise when you see what we post!

~Troop 60435

Step 5: Pick Your Take Action Project

The fifth step on the Silver Award Pyramid is "Pick your take action project."  Well, you're looking at ours!  This step probably took us the most time out of all our steps.  For the longest time, we couldn't figure out how to verbalize all of our ideas into a simple project that people could relate to.  We actually thought of three different projects: a blog, a podcast, and a pro-peace presentation.  We started out with the blog, but then we thought that we should do all we could to spread our message: so now, we are actively working on all three projects.  The blog is almost done, and we hope that all those who see our presentation will check out our activities and posts, as well!
~Troop 60435

Our ideas!

Activity: Stand Up

This week I have a game that you can do with two people. This activity deals with trust and strength without being dangerous(how many times have you been "almost" or "accidentally" dropped?). Here are the instructions:

Two players sit back-to-back with their legs stretched out in front of them.  The players link arms behind their backs.  They then proceed to try to stand up without using their arms.  The players must work together to reach the goal!

As you may have noticed, I am posting my activity during a meeting! Whenever one of us can't make it, the troop decides that it just wouldn't make sense to have a two-person meeting. Don't worry, next week the meeting is on!

~Alison

Updated Pyramid

Breaking news!  Recently, the Girl Scout Silver Award pyramid has been modified.  Remember our first post, about the Pyramid?  We had eight steps in our post.  Well, now the Pyramid only has six steps!  The last two steps, "Make a plan and put it into motion," and "Reflect and celebrate," have gotten the cut.  The first six steps, though, are exactly the same, fortunately!  So, to refresh your memory, the Pyramid now looks like this:

1. Go on a journey.
2. Identify issues you care about.
3. Build your team.
4. Identify issues in your community.
5. Pick your take-action project.
6. Develop your project.

Fewer steps is alright with us!  Although... now we have only two weeks of posting our steps left!
~ Troop 60435

Activity: Word Search

This activity is just like any other word search. You look for the hidden words and you find them. All of these words have to do with pro-peace or anti-bullying. That's all for now!
~Alison

Stop 4: Explore Your Community

The idea behind this step is for each member of your Silver Award team to list the communities they are part of, and what the needs of those communities are.  "Communities are groups of people who have something in common."  By this definition, a community can be almost anything!  Your math class is a community, your family is a community, and your friends group is a community.  For this step, we got started by brainstorming three communities that we are part of.  Alison is part of: Girl Scouts, North Andover Middle School, and her family.  Jillian is part of: synchronized swimming, Girl Scouts, and North Andover Middle School, and Margaret is part of Windrush farm, Girl Scouts, and St. Michael School.  This step is actually a good activity for everyone to do; even if you aren't working on a Silver Award, considering the needs of your community is valuable.  Once you know what your community needs, you can even volunteer to help out!  After all, everyone appreciates a helping hand!

Our Communities!

~Troop 60435

Activity: Peacemaker Kit

When my troop did the aMAZE journey, we had these little boxes called Peacemaker Kits. One meeting, we (four) dequpaged little boxes (shown below) then we filled it with reflections on quotes, moments that can relate to aMAZE, or tokens of friendship. Try it out!
~Alison

This is my paecemaker kit . . .

When I unfloded the quotes, it was overflowing!

Step 3: Build Your Team

The third step in the Silver Award was "build your team." You can work on your Silver Award in a group of three or four people, or you can work alone. Our troop chose to work as a group. We had all done our bronze award individually, so we wanted to work together this time. So far, it has been an exciting experience!
~Troop 60435

Activity: Acrostic Poem

Can you create a poem out of the word 'Peace'? Print out the sheet to aspire your poetic creativity!

This activity is great for both young and old. I remember two years ago my girl scout troop (of four then) and leaders both enjoyed this activity as we were doing our aMAZE journey. I think I still have mine . . .
~Alison

Step 2: Identify Issues You Care About

Step 2 in the pyramid is "Identify Issues You Care About."  We did this step individually, but also as a troop.Some of the issues in the world we decided we care about:

1.) Bullying - We decided that we don't want to be bullied, and neither do other people.  As mentioned in our aMAZE post, everyone deserves the right to be accepted.  Bullying prevents world-wide acceptance, which is why we think that pro-peace is an important cause to fight for.

2.) Global Warming - Once our atmosphere is destroyed, there is nothing we can do to fix it.  What will the world come to?  Recycling or a recycling project would be a good way to solve on millionth of this enormous problem, which is why we considered a project such as this for our Silver Award.

3.) Lack of Education - Children need a proper education.  Without proper knowledge of the world and society around them, children are seriously stunted in their ability to go through life in an informed and connected.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Perhaps obliviousness is bliss, but ignorance certainly isn't.  We weren't sure how we could remedy this issue, which is why we decided to leave such an important topic to the professionals.

~Troop 60435