Pipe Cleaner Badge

For the month of October, we worked on the Pipe Cleaner Badge.  During our first meeting, we tried making flowers, wreaths and our names.  One child was brave enough to attempt the 3d pumpkin!  We realized that pipe cleaners are very versatile and many creative ideas were shared.  During our second meeting, we learned about the history of pipe cleaners and the many different uses for them.  We also watched a video about a young man in Alaska who makes a living at creating amazing items out of pipe cleaners!  Then we attempted to make pipe cleaner baskets.

About Me Badge

To kick of the new year, we began with the "About Me" badge.  At our first meeting, each child filled out a simple "About Me" booklet with information such as their birthday, family, favorite things, and a self-portrait then they shared with the group.  We read Bible passages about God creating us and how valuable we are to Him.  During our second meeting, we wrote acrostic poems with our names and did a craft using our handprint. 

I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvelous are your works;
and that my soul knows right well. 
~Psalm 139:14

Board Game Night

Board game night! We talked about board game etiquette (Who goes first? Should you let a little kid win?), types of games (strategy, party, educational, etc), and I encouraged everyone to try something they hadn't played before. Games we had were Life, Yahtzee, 3D Connect 4, Blokus, Run For President, and cards.

Fun With Science badge

In February, we worked on the Fun With Science badge.  The Ouelette family hosted the meeting.  Mrs. O explained what science is and the scientific method.  We explored light in different way.  Mrs. O brought an electronic microscope and the kids had fun looking at all sorts of objects such as clothing, hair, skin, sugar, wood, water and more.  Jacob O brought a glider he designed and created and showed how it worked.  He also led the other children in paper airplane-making.

Glider demonstration

Libby O and Sarah D each demonstrated an experiment on the topic of Bending Light.   Libby showed a variety of glass prisms and made a rainbow.  (Sorry, no photos!)  The final topic was Phases of the Moon, which the children displayed with Oreo cookies.

Crescent Moon

New Moon

Another crescent moon

Service Project

In November, our club volunteered to do yard work for an elderly couple who was facing some health challenges.  Adults and children worked together to rake leaves, clean out flower beds and do general yard cleanup.  We learned some new skills and also had some fun!

Dad & son working together

Siblings cooperating!

Teaching the younger ones

Working on flower beds

Many, many leaves were raked!

Fire Safety

In October, we worked on the Home Fire Safety badge.  We covered: what to do if you catch on fire (Stop, Drop & Roll), why you should never play with matches, lighters or other fire sources, having a fire escape plan at home and finding 2 exits out of every room, candle safety, and types of fire extinguishers and their uses.  We played a game where we put a piece of felt "fire" on the child, then they had to stop, drop and roll to get the "fire" off.  The children had a lot of fun with it!

 

We learned in a fire department video, that when you stop, drop and roll, you should also cover your face!