How to Earn the Girl Scout Brownie Potter Badge (It's Your Planet-Love It WOW! Journey)

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Updated April 2023

Crafting badges are easily the most popular with girls. Yes, many like to go outdoors and do activities, but when the weather does not permit going outside, badges that focus on making things save the day for leaders.

Girls can earn the Brownie Potter badge by taking a field trip to a pottery store and painting an object of their choice. This will fulfill the requirements, but it may also empty your troop bank account, as these places are on the expensive side.

Instead of a field trip, why not do this fun activity with your girls? Masterpieces cannot be rushed, so if necessary, use two meeting times to complete the five requirements.

Step 1 Find Some Pottery

Bring some pottery pieces from home and let the girls touch them. Talk about how it is useful for everyday items.

Step 2 Learn More About Clay

Since you want to keep the girls interested, you can play a quick fact game with them.

You stand in front of the room with the word “True” written on a piece of paper while your co-leader holds one that reads “False”. The read facts about clay and see which side of the room the girls will go to. Of course, you will have to change up the true facts to false, but that is easy to do.

Here are some sources for facts.

7 Interesting Clay Facts

Clay Facts and Word Search (good for early finishers)

Step 3 Make a Pinch Pot

Materials

• Plastic tablecloth
• Box of Mexican Clay
• Sharp pencil for each girl or plastic knife and fork
• Foam plate to carry project home

Mexican Potter from Amazon

Now is the time for the girls to get busy! Making a pinch pot is a simple thing for girls to do and can be finished during your meeting.

Here is a short YouTube video tutorial for you to have the girls view or to watch yourself so you are prepared for the meeting.

If you have extra clay and time, you can also make a coil pot as well.

Step 4 Make an Art Piece (craft)

Art is one of the best ways for a child to express herself. What constitutes a piece of art? That is up to you. Something the girls will enjoy making is their own polymer beads. When these dry, they can be made into necklaces or bracelets.

Sculpey Clay is one of the best things to use to make beads.

Sculpey Clay from Amazon

Here is a tutorial on how to make beads-she provides a supply list in the beginning. If you make some in advance, store the open clay in a plastic bag so it will not dry out.

Step 5 Paint and Glaze

Glazing is the part of pottery where the finished piece is sealed. If you are not going to go on a field trip to see this in action, you can do this step with this fun activity.

Materials

• White tiles, 4 x 4 in size
• Sharpies
• Scrap paper
• Pencils
• Spray Sealant
• Plates for carrying the tile

On scrap paper, the girls are going to create a design that they will transfer to the tile. Once they are happy with the design, they can use Sharpies to create it.

Once that is complete, take the tile outdoors and spray it with sealant so it will not smudge.

How has your troop earned the Brownie Potter badge?