Writing news articles allows young Girl Scouts to enhance their writing and perception skills while learning about their community. Report on a recent event at school, review a kid-friendly venue or give an opinion about a new law. Articles should answer the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why and how. Submit to the Girl Scout's website, school or local newspaper. For a long-term project, start a troop newsletter, contribute to an existing one or create a blog with updates on the troop's activities and events.
Encourage young girls to be aware of the impact advertising has on their opinions about products and self-image. Observe the different forms of advertising, such as print, outdoor, digital, TV and radio. Create an advertisement for the Girl Scout troop, school, product or charity that uses techniques from effective advertising campaigns. Girls can make their own commercial, print ad, billboard or radio promotion. Share opinions on whether advertising should be limited and how companies target girls in their age group. Discuss career options in the advertising industry.
Public relations is an industry that helps businesses and individuals promote their ideas, products or events. Create a plan outlining ways to share information about a certain event and attract visitors via the Internet, newspapers, magazines, flyers or text campaign. Example events include a block party to celebrate a holiday or historic event, tours that visit places of interest in the community or a new exhibit at a nearby museum. Prepare visual aids to enhance the presentation to the troop, such as flyers or potential advertisements.
Learn to communicate in clear and effective ways through a number of badge-earning projects, such as a debate, speech or idea-sharing event. Girls can work together to choose a debate topic, prepare their opinions and perform the debate in front of the troop. Debate topics include school uniforms, Internet censoring or a cigarette smoking ban. After the debate, review what approaches were effective and what stood out as the most convincing ideas. An alternate project is to select a message to share with the rest of the troop. Consider the most effective way to share that message, such as through video, photographs, storytelling or role-play. Discuss if the method was appropriate for communicating the idea and if others understood the message clearly.
There are a variety of other projects to help Junior Girl Scouts earn their communication badge. Create a play, either a one-girl show or with other members from the troop, to communicate an important message to other girls. Examples include positive self-esteem, healthy living or being a good friend.
Other examples include:
• Learn about Braille. Teach the alphabet or different words to another girl in the troop or a family member. Create a story using Braille letters.
• Create your own radio show. Write a script and present the radio show to the troop. Ideas include an interview with a guest, new music segment or comedy sketch.
• Study the ways signals communicate messages, such as road signs, sign language or scuba diving hand signals. Present the ideas to the troop using visual aids.
• Research careers in communication and make a presentation or write an essay on aspects of the job what type of schooling is necessary to obtain that job. Examples include TV anchor, radio DJ, journalist, editor or public relations executive.