Junior Girl Scouts: aMUSE Journey Day Three

This month, our troop has been working on the aMUSE Journey.  The girls have been meeting once a week to learn about different stereotypes and the various roles that women play in the world around us.  To read about our first Journey meeting, check out this link: Day One.  Our second Journey meeting is detailed here:  Day Two.  

In preparation for today's meeting, the girls were asked to complete the Stereotype Tracker chart on pg. 27 of the Junior Journey Book.  During this past week, our family has been very aware of and had many conversations about stereotypes.  On Sunday morning, it was obvious I was annoying my family with the stereotype discussions.  When we entered church, we passed a police officer eating a doughnut.  NO JOKE!!!  On the way home, we were giggling about the police officer's breakfast, and my younger daughter laughed and said, "He was?"  I couldn't let this one go...the police officer was a WOMAN!  Even though we have probably run this topic into the ground at our house, at least I know our daughters have gained an appreciation for stereotypes and how their lives are affected by them.  During this third Journey meeting, our troop was challenged to write a story to educate an audience about stereotypes and inspire others to support women and girls.  Here is how we spent our meeting time:

4:15pm  Girls arrive.

4:30pm  Girl Scout Promise and Sharing.  The girls were asked to refer to pg. 31 in the Junior Journey Book.  They each shared something they learned when they interviewed someone from their Casting Call Log (pg. 16-17 in the Junior Journey Book).  

Watch the Always Like a Girl video.  My neighbor shared this video with me when she learned our troop was doing the aMUSE Journey.  It ties in with the lessons perfectly, but I will let the video speak for itself...  

4:45pm  First, the Stereotype.

1. Read pg. 50-51 in Junior Journey Book.
2.  Refer to Stereotype Tracker on pg. 27 in Junior Journey Book.
3.  Each girl shares one stereotype from her list.  Make a troop list of stereotypes (refer to left margin of pg. 58 in Adult Guide for examples if needed).  
4.  Answer the following questions (pg. 58 in Adult Guide):

•  Which stereotype on our lists limits you and other girls the most?
•  Is there one stereotype that you hear a lot in our community? Why?
•  What can be done to stop that stereotype?

The girls chose to bust this stereotype:
All Girl Scouts do is knock on doors and sell cookies.

5:00pm  Your Heart, Your Art, Your Part (pg.  44-45 in Junior Journey Book)

Find your talent or what you love to do--that's what's in your heart.  Next, find a creative way that you can use what you love to do--that's your art.  Then see what role you can play when you and your troop tell a story about stereotypes--that's your part!  (The girls were given a couple minutes to review the chart on pg. 45 in the Junior Journey Book.  They were asked to mark their interests in the left column).  Everyone share the top two things you like to do from the left column...

Turn to pg. 47.  Can you see how some of the values of the Girl Scout Law can apply to creative people like artists and leaders?

• Artists and leaders are "courageous and strong" when they...

•  Artists and leaders are "honest and fair" when they...

• Artists and leaders are "responsible for what they say and do" because they...

To be honest, our girls stuck with me up until I asked them these questions from pg. 47.  By the second question, I was starting at glazed eyes.  Though I know it's important to tie the lesson or activity back to the Girl Scout Law, I didn't want to lose them completely.  We moved on to the next part of the meeting.

5:15pm  Choosing our Audience and Deciding How to Tell Our Story (pg. 62-63 Adult Guide)

1. Read pg. 53 in Junior Journey Book
2. Brainstorm Audience Ideas
3. Choose Audience
4. Decide how to tell the story--musical performance, a picture book, mural, puppet show, or skit? 

The girls decided they wanted to do a puppet show, and they would like to perform for their families and the three Brownies who will be joining our troop in October.

 5:20pm  Next, the Storyline.  (pg. 60-61 Adult Guide)

Now you're going to work together to create a puppet show about the stereotype you chose.  You can create whatever kind of story you want:  serious, funny, real, fantasy.  No matter what kind of story you create, the big message should be how stopping the stereotype can benefit girls, women, and everyone!

(Review Tips for Creating a Story Line on pg. 61 of Adult Guide.  Provide list of questions for reference).

Use the paper and pens to brainstorm ideas.  Then develop a basic story line with beginning, middle, and end.  You can change it later if desired.

6:00pm  Closing.  Even though the girls were given 40 minutes to write their puppet show, they didn't come close to finishing.  They will have the entire time next week to write the rest of the story and decorate poster board to set the stage for their audience.  Our Service Unit has a Registration Event at the end of this month.  I'm hoping we can encourage the girls to step outside their comfort zone and perform their puppet show for all the girls at the Registration Event. 

HOMEWORK:  Thinking Like a Storyteller (pg. 52 Junior Journey Book)
                      Bring in one accessory or article of clothing that reflects something
                          about yourself to the next meeting.