I’M SPECIAL

 

Leader Information: Helping to build self-esteem is an important task for a Girl Scout leader.  Self esteem is the difference between self-concept and self ideal.  Self-concept is how we see ourselves and self-ideal is how we would like to be.  Girls may succeed in many areas but still have a low self-esteem if there is a large gap between her self-concept and self- ideal. Girl  Scouting is a safe and secure, non-judgmental outlet for expressing emotions and attitudes.  At the same time, be aware of your responsibility to control discussions, channeling them so that feelings and emotions do not overwhelm or hurt individuals in the troop.

 

I’m Special is part of the GSWP Looking Good/Feeling Good patch program. The other two patches are Heart Healthy and Sun Safe.

 

Resources: Use appropriate chapters in your handbooks and the Contemporary Issues booklets for help.

 

Requirements:  Complete 3 requirements from Developing Self; 3 requirements from Relating to Others; one requirement from Developing Values; and one requirement from Contributing to Society.

 

DEVELOPING SELF

Br & Jr    Create a “Me Outline” by having another member of your troop draw around you on a sheet of brown paper.  Cutout magazine pictures of things you think about, have done or want to do.  The things thought about are pasted on the head.  Things you love on the heart. Things you do on the arms and places go on the legs.

 

Br,Jr,Cd  Knowing about yourself.  List 6 things that make you happy. List 6 things that make you sad.  List 4 things that you do very well.  List 4 things that you would like to do better.  List 4 people who care about you.  List 4 people whom you care about.

 

Br,Jr,Cd  Decorate a “Me” shoebox. Inside the box, on pieces of paper, write the names of your favorite games, foods, places to go, the church or synagogue you attend, your place in the family and your best subject in school.  Each girl in your troop can take turns trying to guess who you are from the clues in the box.  Discuss how people are many things and if you take just one fact out of the box it won’t explain the whole you.

 

Jr &Cd    Is it important to be part of a group? With your troop brainstorm how it can help and how it can hurt.

 

DEVELOPING VALUES

Br & Jr    Create a booklet and illustrate the Girl Scout Promise and the 10 parts of the Law.  Now keep a diary for one month  recording how you have lived by the Promise and Law.

 

Jr & Cd   AIDS, drug abuse, toxic shock syndrome and eating disorders are but a few of the issues confronting girls today. Choose one of these topics to learn more about.  Present your research to your troop or another group.

 

Jr & Cd   Conduct a values auction with your troop.  Each girl starts with a sum of  fake money, it could be $100 or $1000.  Create a list of items that a teen might want, ie health, wealth, love, kindness, glamour, pride, friendship, being “in”, safe, wanted, cool etc.  With your leader as the auctioneer, bid on those items you  want until your money is gone or the items are used up.  What does this tell you about yourself?

 

Br,Jr,Cd  Role play saying “no” to situations that can be harmful to you.

 

CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY

Jr & Cd   Pretend you are giving a talk to a community group such as a PTA.  Explain the Girl Scout program emphases and talk about one in depth.

 

All           You feel good about yourself when you do things for others.  Select, plan and implement a service project for your community, Girl Scout group or family.

 

All           Have the girls in your troop put their names in a hat or box.  Each member randomly picks a name out of the hat and does a good deed or something special for that girl for one month.  It’s more fun not to reveal who is doing the good deeds.  After a month, talk with your troop about how it made you feel.

 

Br & Jr    Make a paper bag puppet for the following emotions: frustrated, happy, sad, depressed, overjoyed.  Put on a skit using your puppets and their emotions.

 

Jr & Cd   Each week for one month do something that challenges you.  This can be something for yourself or another person. With each challenge you will become more proud of yourself.  You may not fully succeed with each challenge, but you will feel good trying.  Remember, you can always try again.

 

Jr & Cd   Create a Looking Good/Feeling Good portfolio and include: a) Your body type. Are you romantic and rounded like Elizabeth Taylor or straight and dramatic like Cher?  What style of clothing is the real you?

                b) Your best colors. Holding  colored construction paper next to your face, you and the members of your troop can decide which colors look best. c) Your skin type. Invite a beauty professional to your meeting or visit a cosmetics section of a department store and learn about proper skin care and make up application. d) Goals you may have and how you want to achieve these goals.

 

All           Loving yourself helps you to love others.  Make two lists: I AM and I AM GOOD AT.  Fill up the two lists.

 

RELATING TO OTHERS                            

Br & Jr    Give a ME gift to someone such as your hand print on a t shirt.

 

All           Design a “what makes a friend bingo game” and include the following statements with space below to fill in a name ( you can use the same name more than once):  loyal, has the same interests as you, you can tell secrets to, you enjoy doing things with, has a pet you like, somebody you helped, somebody that helped you, you like eating lunch with etc.

 

Jr & Cd   Keep a log for one week of things you did or said to others that made you feel happy.

 

Jr & Cd   Communication and listening skills are vital components to maintaining good relationships.  Say what you really mean and be a good listener.  Practice these skills by role playing the following scenarios, taking turns to act both parts. 1. (a) someone changes the subject in the middle of your thoughts (b) someone interrupts while you are speaking (c) someone makes a value judgment (d) someone is sarcastic or makes a joke at your expense #2 Relate a story to someone and have them retell it. ( think telephone game)

 

Application for I’m Special Patch

 

1.        # of patches requested______________________

2.        Cost of Patch (Call GSWP)

3.        Total cost to troop (due at pick up)___________________________

 

4.     Leader’s Name__________________________________  Phone__________________________

 

5.        Address____________________________________________________________________________

6.        Troop #________________________    Level_________________________________________________

7.        Did you work on this as a troop?___ If yes, what requirements did your troop complete_____________________________________________

8.        Briefly evaluate this program: