More Zooming Brownies

[smallhobbit]

The good news is that although we were missing two of our Zoom Brownies before half term, we've had all eleven for the last two meetings, so clearly they're enjoying it, even if it's not the best way to run a Brownie meeting.

First week back was UK Parliament Week.  We've taken part for the last couple of years, so gave it a go again.  I ran a couple of activities where I told a little story and they had to do basic actions - making an X with their arms for voting, running on the spot for 'in the running' etc.  There was a quiz to see what they knew - not that much, but I didn't expect they would - it was quite funny hearing them calling out to whichever parent was around (one of the conditions is that there is an adult in the vicinity) to see if they knew the answers.  We had sent out a Spot the Difference sheet in advance, which most of them had printed off, so they tried that.  Every year we've had a vote, with a ballot box - sadly we couldn't do that this year, but I had prepared a ballot paper, which again most had printed and the one who hadn't was able to write down their choice.  This year was to select the Brownie Christmas gift and they would all receive the item with the most votes: Brownie cup, 2 Brownie pencils, rubber pin badge, cloth badge.  The overwhelming vote went for the teddy bear pin badge.  We always try to vote on something relevant and how they vote makes a difference.

This week Doodles was running an activity to help them obtain their Brownies Have Adventures badge, which was the one we'd been working on last spring before everything shut.  So they were making hedgehog homes out of a cardboard box and part of a plastic drinks bottle.  It was quite funny watching the various assistant adults having to do the role we'd normally be doing.  I'm not convinced the hedgehog holmes were very successful, but that didn't matter - they tried which is what counts to get their badge.

We've found that even an hour is hard to fill and keep their interest.  Normally we'd run a game or something similar if we had some spare time, but that's not practical, so we tend to finish a few minutes early.  The Brownies remain enthusiastic so that's good.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Glad to hear what you're up to with the Brownies. Sounds like you're providing a worthwhile experience despite the circumstances.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes - I think they're happy to have something different to do.

[corvidology]

Sounds great... and I love your Freudian slip. :D

I'm not convinced the hedgehog holmes were very successful

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - that does give me a lovely picture! (Spot the word I'm normally typing!)

[adafrog]

That's great.

[margaret_r]

Lovely to hear your Brownies are enjoying their meetings. It must be hard to plan a zoom session to last a full hour, especially for young children, but you seem to be doing it extremely well:)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Overall we're happy with it.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It's always been difficult to judge how long an activity will take, but now we can't use active fillers and games. Also there's no need to allow time to tidy up!

[shallowness]

We always try to vote on something relevant and how they vote makes a difference.

That's great. I'm glad you found a way to do it this year too, along with everything else. Are you hearing what other Brownie packs are coming up to see if you can pinch ideas?

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - I think it's important that they see that voting for something can make a difference.

We have district meetings (which are for other packs in our area) which come up with ideas we can use. HQ also have suggestions, but their typical pack seems to be a reasonably well-off one with plenty of facilities, which bears little resemblance to who we are.

[debriswoman]

Well done in keeping the brownie posse engaged, and I would love to hear more about Hedgehog Holmes:-p

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

Well, Further Festive Miscellany will be published next month, so there's an opening there.

[debriswoman]

Looking forward to it:-p

[rusty_armour]

While the Zoom meetings are obviously not ideal, it's great that the Brownies remain enthusiastic. It is very difficult to keep the attention of any child in that age group for a full hour, so I can understand why you often finish a few minutes early. I really like the way that you tackled UK Parliament Week, and I think the vote for this year's Brownie gift was a great activity to accompany this unit.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, we're very pleased the Brownies turn up every week. It's very different from our normal meetings - they don't chat to each other, which forms a large part of our meetings, both deliberate in working together and just general chatting. I was pleased with the vote, it seemed a good way of letting them experience it.

[luthienberen]

I admire how inventive you are being with the Brownies! Keeping children entertained plus engaged via Zoom must be hard. I am glad it is working 😊

[smallhobbit]

We normally have a theme - it's changing the activities, or adapting them, so they work on zoom which is the challenge!

[scfrankles]

I loved your title ^__^ And it's good to hear the Brownies are still enthusiastic - it's a tough time to be a child ^^"

I'm another one looking forward to seeing what you do with "Hedgehog Holmes" ^____^

[smallhobbit]

Yes - it's not an easy time for them.

You'll just have to buy a copy of Marylebone Monthly Illustrated