Activities for First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low
by Ginger Wadsworth
1. National History Day. Go to: www.nhd.org for details and guidelines. For 2012-13, the theme is Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, and Events. Consider doing a project on how Juliette Gordon Low turned her life around to create an organization called Girl Scouts of the USA, with over 3.4 million members.
2. Wanted Poster Book Report Projects. Make a “Wanted” Poster about Juliette Gordon Low, using FIRST GIRL SCOUT: THE LIFE OF JULIETTE GORDON LOW. Categories for your poster: Wanted (person’s name and why wanted – Juliette Gordon Low, for creating the longest running, volunteer organizations for girls); Physical Description (Juliette Gordon Low); Photograph (copy an existing image or draw your own picture); Wanted For (description of what she accomplished in her lifetime); and Book Description (include title, author, genre). Finally, you could add the Reward Amount (what do you think the value of Juliette Gordon Low was/is?)
Use a foam core board to create your poster, single, double, or tri-folded.
3. Make a Video. One person interviews Juliette Gordon Low (she might wear a Girl Scout uniform or one of her fancy ball gowns). The person of interest (JGL) has to know all her stuff; the interviewer will have to have the questions formulated. Present the video to your troop, classmates, or as part of an oral history presentation. This video would be perfect to run on a TV screen or computer for Open House or during Women’s History Month in March.
4. Wars. Juliette Gordon Low was born in Savannah, Georgia on October 31, 1860, just before the start of the Civil War. She lived through two other wars, the Spanish-American War and World War I. Compare the Civil War to current wars the United States has been involved in during the last 50 years. Learn about the different uniforms, weapons, and causes of these wars. Juliette was separated from her father during the Civil War. Have students interview someone who has had a family member away at war to understand what it is like.
5. “Who Am I?” Do a power point presentation with clues and give the answer to students at the end. Or you can have a contest with prizes. You can give students some time to do quick research during class or library time.
6. Hearing Impairment. Juliette lost most of her hearing by the time she was twenty-six. She tried many hearing devices and sought medical treatments to improve her hearing. Make a hearing horn (or ear trumpet as it was sometimes called), with some heavy construction paper. (See pages 77 and 96 in FIRST GIRL SCOUT for images of early devices.) Try a hearing horn in class or at home around the dining table. What is does it do to your hearing? How do people treat you? Go to an online hearing device museum. Example: www.hearingaidmuseum.com
7. Badges. Today’s Girl Scouts can earn a variety of badges. Create a badge of your own and design it. Then list ten things you would be required to do to earn this badge.
**For additional information and links, go to the official website of the Girl Scouts of the USA at:
The Birthplace in Savannah, GA where Juliette Gordon Low was born and raised at: www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org
Girl Scouts of the USA, National Historic Center for Preservation, New York at:
www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/museum
Save the date! June 23, 2012 Nonfiction Book Blast 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Natasha Wing
April 23, 2012
Hurray for Ginger!