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5 Fun Activities To Earn the Brownie Computer Expert Badge
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Time to read 3 min
Never Struggle Planning Activities Again
Easy to use activity booklets for your troop meeting.Never Struggle Planning Activities Again
Easy to use activity booklets for your troop meeting.|
Time to read 3 min
If you’re looking for ideas to make your meeting more fun while teaching your girls how computers work and how to use them, you have come to the right place. Using some of these activities below to help your girls master key computer skills.
Below are a few ideas to get you started.
We partnered with CodeSpeak Labs, which specializes in computer science education for kids, to bring you these resources.
Before jumping into some ideas, do you want to skip all the planning? If so, use this Activity Booklet which is packed full of exercises that teach girls how computers work and how to use them. These activities include making art on a computer, conducting online research, coding an e-card, and building a website. With step-by-step activities, you can’t ask for a easier way to run your meeting. Learn more and get yours today!
Be sure to also checkout these other activities your girls will love:
Watch this 5 minute video, “How Computers Work: What Makes a Computer, a Computer?” In this video, girls will learn a brief history of computers and the features they all share. There are 4 main things that all computers do: input, storage, processing, and output.
It also features diverse engineers!
After watching this 5 minute video, your group can discuss:
There’s all kinds of computer games that the girls can play to help get their badge. You can use a coding game to get double the impact– the girls can experience digital gaming while learning the fundamentals of computer programming!
Here’s a coding game we particularly like: Star Wars. The game features characters from the movies. It starts with guided activities, and then the girls can progress to the final stage where they can make their own game.
You can play this game on any computer browser or a tablet.
Typing is a critical computer skill, but it can be really boring to do repetitive exercises.
On this website, you can play a typing game created by the BBC called Dance Mat Typing.
Kids progress through different levels where they practice using correct finger placement. The program assesses typing speed at each level, which can motivate students to keep practicing.
If the girls are really motivated, they can build their own computer! This Piper kit includes everything you need to do it. It’s a bit like constructing IKEA furniture– the girls need to follow a visual blueprint and put in screws in pre-existing holes.
After the computer is constructed, girls will discover that the Raspberry Pi “brain” of the computer has a Minecraft game that they play. Through the game, they build power-ups within the game through physical controls, switches, buttons, & lights.
You can order one on Amazon here. It costs over $200, and ideally only 2 students work on it at a time.
If you don’t want to make an expensive purchase or do any planning, our Activity Booklet has step-by-step instructions with activities that don’t require any materials other than a regular computer or laptop.
Well of course give them the badge to display proudly on their vest, they earned it! Additionally If you are like many leaders we want to award our girls when they complete something even beyond just the patch. One great way to show achievement is with a certificate. Don’t worry you don’t have to make them, I found a resource that has done all the work for you and all you have to do is print them and customize the certificates with each girl’s name, badge or award earned, date, and troop leader. Editable certificates perfect for awarding girls after earning a badge.
With this 25-page planner, you'll have everything you need to stay organized and focused as a Girl Scout leader. Being prepared and having all your troop information in one place will save you time and stress, allowing you to focus on creating memorable experiences for your girls. Get your planner today and unleash your organizational superpowers! The planner contains your calendar, meeting planners, rosters and badge trackers in one safe place for when you need it. Read more
