Junior Girl Scouts Badge: Detective

Step 1:  Practice the power of observation.  We played the Tray Game at our Christmas Party this year to satisfy this badge step.  I provided a detailed description of this game in my post titled Christmas Party 2014.  Additionally, our Brownies were working on their Senses badge.  To meet the requirements of one of their badge steps, we talked about Braille.  We discussed the ways blind people can be observant even though they can't see and how those ways are similar and different from observation skills used by people without impaired sight.  You can read more about that meeting here. 

Step 2:  Communicate in Code. 
As mentioned in Step 1 above, the Brownies in our troop were working on the Senses badge.  Visit this post to discover how we used the same activity to help our Brownies satisfy Step 5 of the Senses badge and our Juniors meet the requirements of Steps 1 and 2 for the Detective badge.

Step 3:  Fingerprint for Fun.  When we had a few minutes to spare during one of our meetings, I had the girls use a thumb to stamp a fingerprint on a 1.5" square piece of white cardstock.  I happen to have ink pads in a variety of colors, so the girls had a choice when making the print.  Once the cards were dry, the girls inspected each fingerprint, noticing that every fingerprint is unique.  I collected the squares to be used for a craft during our Self Esteem Workshop that is scheduled for March.  Please check back to read more about that meeting.

 

Step 4:  Try Out Detective Science.  I love to scrapbook.  Years ago, I was really into writing titles for my pages.  I purchased a book called Love Your Handwriting by Heidi Swapp.  When I read one of the choices to satisfy this badge step was to examine different handwriting samples, I dug that book out of the closet and searched for the perfect activity.  I modified one of Heidi's exercises, creating a worksheet for our girls.  They were asked to write the word trefoil in a variety of different ways.  Once everyone had finished, the girls exchanged papers.  They examined the similarities and differences in their handwriting.  




Step 5:  Follow the clues to solve a real mystery.  During our Christmas Party this year (December 2014), we had a mystery party.  We solved the "Who Stole the Cookies" (mini version) that we purchased from Merri Mysteries.  Check out this post to read all about our party.  

As a leader, I loved this badge.  I thought we could have easily completed more than one of the choices provided for each step in the listed as badge requirements.  Even after completing all five steps, I know our girls would be interested in continuing their work on this badge.  Maybe they will decide to do Detective badge, Part 2 next year?  I'm sure it won't be difficult to order a detective or mystery-related fun patch for their vests.  Thank you for reading!