Between Earth and Sky - Firefly Award

It's Your Planet - Love It!: A Leadership Journey
Girl Scout Daisies

I can't tell you how much fun Tessa has been having with this Journey. Her excitement level while completing the activities has been through the roof, so I know ditching the suggested plant science studies for some higher-level learning was the right thing to do. (Does it sound like I'm asking for someone to pat me on the back? Well, maybe. I just love that she's loving it! Makes a mama happy.)

The activities Tessa completed to earn her Firefly Award are outlined in Day 2.

Between Earth and Sky - Firefly Award

This second award is earned as the Daisies recognize and develop their skills and then choose a skill they will educate and inspire others about. By making an effort that moves beyond themselves, the girls begin to realize the impact that they can have on others around them.

To earn the award, the girls:

• think about and talk about their own skills and those of their sister Daisies.
• choose a skill they can teach others, either at home or in their community.

Day 1

• Read “Maine and the Many Ways Life Can Be" (pages 24-37) from Between Earth and Sky girls’ book. Completed associated questions and activities orally along the way.
• Started mapping the Flower Friends' journey across the US. (See pic and info from Day 2.)
• Read Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawes via OpenLibrary.org.
• Watched Steve Spangler Science "Light Sticks - Cool Halloween Science" via YouTube.com.
• Discussed the differences between various types of luminescence (bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, fluorescence and phosphorescence) using information from the previously mentioned book and video, plus "Science of Glow" by Steve Spangler Science.
• Tested the fluorescence and phosphorescence properties of various items around the house with a black light flashlight in a darkened room (i.e. fluorescent pompoms, paper and crayons; glow-in-the-dark stars).
• Hypothesized and conducted glow stick experiment. Placed one glow stick bracelet (.99 for a tube at Hobby Lobby) in ice water and another in hot water.
• Crafted "Glow-in-the-Dark Firefly Jar" by Come Together Kids blog.

Tessa and I conducted an experiment to find out what might happen when glow stick bracelets are placed in ice water and hot water. As it turned out, the chemical reaction of the glow stick placed in ice water slowed way down...so much so that it didn't really glow at all. Conversely, the chemical reaction of the glow stick placed in hot water sped way up and glowed super bright! 

Tessa painted "fireflies" inside of a recycled plastic peanut butter jar with glow-in-the-dark paint.

Afterward, she drew antennae and wings onto the "fireflies" on the outside of the jar with a fine-tip black Sharpie marker.

Tessa's completed "Glow-in-the-Dark Firefly Jar." Pretty cool, huh? Tessa adores it so much that she keeps it beside her bed at night.

Day 2

• Read "Sunny's Summer and the Road to Dairyland" (pages 38-51) from Between Earth and Sky girls’ book. Completed associated questions and activities orally along the way.
• Continued mapping the Flower Friends' journey across the US.
• Talked about Sunny's unique skill of being able to cleanse soil of toxicities. Brainstormed various skills that Tessa, her dad and I possess.
• Tessa wrote down three of her favorite skills on the "Bandage Lightning Bugs" craftivity by No Time for Flash Cards blog pictured below. She also identified and wrote down one skill she can teach others.

To help Tessa learn some of the states, she is mapping the Flower Friends' journey across the US. I bought an inexpensive United States map learning chart to use and scanned in (flipped and reduced) the sticker of Lupe and her petal-powered car found at the back of the The Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. We use yarn, foil star stickers on circle cutouts, Scotch tape and poster putty to chart their progress.

While researching possible crafts and activities for the Firefly Award, I ran across "Bandage Lightning Bugs" on Pinterest. Like most kids her age, Tessa's addicted to bandages, so I thought this was a great way to let her play with some. I had her label each firefly with a skill she possesses. Then, she chose one extra special skill to highlight at the bottom of the page. The neon bandages run around a dollar at Wal-Mart. Tessa used a florescent yellow colored pencil for writing and drawing. She painted the fireflies' tails with glow-in-the-dark craft paint.

Tessa's completed "Bandage Lightning Bugs" craftivity as it appears under a black light in a darkened room.