Celebrate August

   When working with kids, one of the things I've quickly discovered is that they love a good party. While it would be more chaos than I could cover to celebrate every single day, that doesn't mean that there isn't something worth celebrating everyday so that you can easily find what works best for you and your kiddos.

Monthly Observations

International Pirate Month
Family Fun Month
American Adventures Month
American Art Appreciation Month
National Language Month
Summer Sun Safety Month
Dog Days of Summer (July 3 - August 11)

Weekly Observations

August 1-7
    International Clown Week

August 3-10
    Ottawa County Free Fair

Week 1

    National Simplify Your Life Week
    National Farmer's Market Week

Week 2
    National Smile Week
    National Science Week

Week 3
    National Friendship Week

Week 4
    Be Kind to Humankind Week

Daily Observations

August 1:  Women Astronomers Day, National Planner Day, Lughnasadh

August  2:  National Coloring Book Day, National Water Balloon Day, Find a Four Leaf Clover Day

August 3:  Sandcastle Day, National Campfire Day

August 4:  National Friendship Day, National Sisters' Day, National Hooray for Kids Day

August 5: National Blogger Day, Festival Day (UK)

August 6: National Wiggle Your Toes Day, National Root Beer Float Day

August 7: National Sea Serpent Day, Regatta Day (Canada), Professional Speakers Day

August 8: Happiness Happens Day, International Cat Day, National Perler Day
August 9: Book Lovers' Day, National Kool Aid Day

August 10: National S'mores Day, National Bowling Day, World Lion Day

August 11: Mountain Day, Son & Daughter Day, National Face Mask Day, Summer Olympics Closing

August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower, World Elephant Day, National Vinyl Record Day, Middle Child Day, National Milkman Day

August 13: Left Hander Day

August 14: Navajo Code Talker Day, World Calligraphy Day, World Lizard Day

August 15: Chant at the Moon Day, World Greatness Day

August 16: National Roller Coaster Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day

August 17: National Honeybee Day, Black Cat Appreciation Day, International Geocaching Day, National Nonprofit Day
August 18: Serendipity Day, Green Man Festival

August 19: Aviation Day, World Photography Day, International Orangutang Day, National Potato Day

August 20: National Radio Day, World Mosquito Day

August 21: National Poet's Day, National Spumoni Day

August 22: Folklore Day (Brazil), National Tooth Fairy Day

August 23: Find Your Inner Nerd Day, National Ride the Wind Day

August 24: Vesuvius Day, National Waffle Day, International Bat Night

August 25: National Park Service Day, National Banana Split Day, Burning Man Festival

August 26: National Dog Day, National Spark the World Day

August 27: National Petroleum Day, International Lottery Day

August 28: Power Rangers Day

August 29: National Sports Day, Individual Rights Day

August 30: Frankenstein Day, National Beach Day, National Toasted Marshmallow Day
August 31: National Zoo Awareness Day

With so many great options in August there's sure to be lots of ways you and yours can celebrate the season!

Graphics used in this post have been purchased from EduClips and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)

High Yield Activities - Family Portraits

Family Portraits is one of my favorite activities because it lets the kids get some of their sillies out while also expanding some thinking about what the term family can encompass. This activity can be done at any level of drama skill. It can be conducted outside, in a gym space, or anywhere that the kiddos have plenty of space to move around.

Target Area: Any large open space

Objective: To incorporate drama into your daily Club activity programs by having Club members work in groups, take chances, and lessen inhibitions

Target Age Group: Ages 9-12 years

Time to Complete: 20-30 minutes

Skills Taught: Creativity; Public performance

Materials Needed: None

Instructions: 

Split members into groups of three to five people. One group starts out by standing facing the rest of the group. Chose a member from a different group to be the "photographer". The photographer shouts out a type of family for the group to pose as in a family portrait. The group cannot talk about how they are going to pose; they just have to get into a position that captures the assigned character and freeze. Encourage the photographer to come up with creative and unusual types of families. Here are some examples:

Pirate Family
Cowboy Family
Athletic Family
Wizard Family
Superhero Family

Clipart used in this post was purchased from Creative Clips
 

Back Pocket Game: As If

As If is another great back pocket game that requires no staff prep or extra supplies. While the time frame is listed as a 45 minute rotation, you can easily do this as a movement break or as a time filler for transitions. 

Target Area: Any

Objective: To incorporate physical fitness activities in a small area of the Club.

Target Age Group: Ages 6-9

Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation

Materials Needed: None

Instructions: 

Have all of the members stand up and act out the following scenarios for 20-30 seconds each. If using this as a full rotation, invite members come create their own activities to act out choosing a new member each time to share an idea.

Jog in place as if a big scary bear is chasing you.

Walk forward as if you're walking through chocolate pudding.

Jump in place as if you are popcorn popping.

Reach up as if grabbing balloons out of the air.

March in place and play drums as if you are in a marching band.

Swim as if you are in a giant pool of Jell-O.

Reach down and stand up as if you are picking up a very heavy weight.

High Yield Activity: Fruit Salad Toss Up

Are you looking for a fun way to liven up your Healthy Habits or TRAIL programs? This is a fun game to play with the kiddos to help them become more familiar with different fruits. As a bonus, let the kids make their own fruit salads by having a variety of fruits for them to select from to mix into their own salads.

Target Area: Program room with tables and chairs

Objective: Members learn about healthy snack options

Target Age Group: Ages 6-9

Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation

Skills Taught: Healthy Lifestyles

Materials Needed: none for the game, a variety of prewashed bite sized fruits, bowls, and spoons for snack

Instructions:

Have the group sit chairs in a circle. Once person stands in the middle of the circle and does not have a chair. All players are assigned fruit names: apple, orange, pear, plum (use names of fruits you have for the fruit salad if you're doing the snack option with the activity). The middle person calls out one or more fruit names. The called fruits must change chairs. The middle player tries to sit in an empty chair before the fruits do. The middle person may also call "Fruit salad toss up" for which all players must change chairs. The player left without a chair becomes the middle person. Repeat the game as time allows.

High Yield Activity: Invisible Ink

Here's a fun activity that serves as a High Yield activity that can be used for Project Learn, STEM, and to meet a badge requirement for Junior Girl Scout Detective Badge and the vintage Brownie Girl Scout Try It Science Wonders.

Target Area: Science Lab, Art Studio, or Cafeteria

Objective: Members learn how chemistry is used practically in real life.

Target Age Group: Tweens Age 10-12 years

Time to Complete: one 45 minute rotation

Materials Needed: lemon juice (other safe liquids are optional), paper, heat source (iron or light bulb) and paint brushes or cotton swabs

Instructions:

Ask members how they would pass secret messages if they were spies. After giving them time to share their answers, tell them some stories of spies how used secret ink to pass messages.

FOR STAFF/VOLUNTEER USE: Science Daily Article

Using lemon juice, have members write or paint a short, secret message on a piece of paper. After letting each piece of paper dry, members trade papers and use heat to reveal the words. Lightbulbs and irons are sufficient heat sources to reveal the letters. Be careful not to burn the paper when revealing the letters.

Ask the members why they think this happens. Explain that this is possible due to the chemistry involved. In the case of lemon juice, its acidity makes it easily oxidize (combine with oxygen in the air) when heated, which makes the paper turn browner where the lemon juice has been applied.

Encourage members to experiment with other liquids including milk, soda, juices, and other safe liquids. What can be used for secret writing? (Orange juice, vinegar, and apple juice will react similarly.)

Back Pocket Game - Zip! Zap! Zop!

Back Pocket games are something I've been using since my Girl Scout days (which began over twenty years ago, oh my!) Basically, they are something you can pull out of your back pocket and use at a moment's notice because they need no additional supplies. This game, Zip, Zap, Zop, is multifunctional. You can play it as a round robin game where you just go around the circle or it can be used as an elimination game where the person who drops the rhythm is out. Another suggestion is to use it as a vocal warm up for your performing arts programs.

Target Area: Gym (or on stage if performing arts or in homeroom if a time filler)

Age Group: Any and all

Time to Complete: 15 minutes

Materials Needed: None

Instructions:

Invite all members to stand in a circle. Start out by pointing to one person (it's a good idea to make eye contact so they know you're pointing at them) and saying Zip. That person points to someone else and says Zap. That person then points to a third and says Zop. Keep going and pick up speed as you go. 

Rules to Share:

No pausing allowed. Keep it moving!
Pay attention! You have to watch the game to know when it's your turn.
Do not point at the person who just pointed to you.

Graphics used in this post are from Thistle Girl Designs, now closed

High Yield Activity - Career Alphabet

We're always looking for a fun new way to reach our required numbers in targeted programs without having the kids do the same things over and over. This is a high yield activity adapted from a 2012 resource from national. In that resource, teens used a career launch specific website that is no longer functional but this can easily be replaced with Google (or any other search engine).

Target Club Area: Computer Lab/Tech Center

Core Program Area: Character & Leadership Development

Objective: Teens gain knowledge about various careers, and the types of training and education needed to pursue them.

Age Group: Teens 13-15 years

Time to Complete: 45 minute rotation

Materials Needed: Computers or tablets with search feature, paper, pens/pencils

Skills Taught: Career Exploration

Instructions:

Tell teens to write at least one career that starts with each letter of the alphabet (e.g. A=astronaut). Make it a completion by awarding a prize to the member who can come up with the most career titles in the shortest amount of time. After teen shave completed the activity, discuss the career titles with the entire group.

Extension: 

After the teens have completed the alphabet activity, have them circle at least three careers they would like to explore. Have them research to find additional information on their career choices, including the educational requirements, licenses, training, and salary.

Graphics used in this post are from Thistle Girl Designs, now closed
Original activity idea found in The Outcome-Driven Club Experience in Action July 2012