How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie Bugs Badge

*This post contains affiliate links.

Updated April 2023

Insects may creep some people out, but there are millions of them out there. If you plan on doing any kind of outdoor activities with your girls, then they are going to encounter several of them, especially if you take them camping!

The Bugs Try It can easily be earned with a trip to the zoo or a science museum with an insect exhibit or program. It can also be earned if you have a local person who does school assemblies and teaches about insects and can visit with your troop.

If none of these fit into your time or financial budget, then here is a lesson plan to help you earn the Bugs Badge.


How to Earn the Brownie Bugs Badge

Materials


Step 1 Learn About Bugs

In the Brownie Guidebook, the first suggested step is to draw a poster of a bug. As a former elementary school teacher who did this activity with her class, this is a very intensive project if you wish the girls to learn anything about the insect they select. My students spent at least two weeks researching and writing about the insect s/he selected.It takes time to research and draw, and that is a lot like schoolwork to me!

Instead, give the girls a brief overview of the difference between a bug, an insect and an arachnid. You can run off a worksheet if you want of their different body parts or you can bring in a book about insects and have them see close up pictures.

Then ask them how bugs and insects are helpful and harmful. They can be both!

How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie Bugs Badge

Image created by the author in Canva

Step 2, 3, and 4 See Bugs in Action/Explore Bug Homes/Take a Bug Field Trip

Now is the time to go out and explore what bugs are in your area. Have the girls take a piece of paper, a clipboard and a pencil to write and sketch what they see. can they see and anthill or other insect home?

This would be a great time to hand out magnifying glasses to the girls.

Then go back inside and make a bug jar. These are inexpensive and are easy for the girls to make. Use the insect stickers to decorate the outside of the jars.


How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie Bugs Badge by making a bug jar



Decorate bug jars with insect stickers to earn the Girl Scout Brownie Bugs badge



Step 5 Do a Bug Craft

This is a fun way to end your meeting and it does require a lot of planning on your part. There are literally dozens of different bug craft kits that will fulfill this requirement and not require you to research and collect things to make one yourself.



How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie Bugs Badge make a bug craft

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts and suggestions on what worked for you!