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The girls should stand for this activity and should have a partner – if you have an odd number of girls, the helper leader can partner with one of the girls. Otherwise the helper leader can have an imaginary partner.

Have one leader read the “Information about Thinking Day” sheet. Pause a bit when the children should be doing an action and/or do the action while reading the story.

When you hear:	You should:
Thinking Day	Tap the side of your head and look thoughtful
Birthday	Say, “Happy Birthday!” and blow out imaginary candles
Party or Parties	Say, “Yahoo!” with one hand raised in the air
Lord Baden-Powell	Bow
Lady Baden-Powell	Curtsy
London	Make a bridge with a partner
Boy Scouts	Hold up two fingers and say, “Be Prepared”
Girl Guides or Girl Scouts	Say, “You Go Girl” with fisted hands on hips
Friends	Shake hands with your partner
World	Spin in a circle (like a globe)

THE STORY

Thinking Day is a very special birthday. It is the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Baden-Powell.

On Thinking Day, girls all over the world have parties to celebrate Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Baden-Powell’s birthdays. On this special birthday we think of the Sparks, Brownies and Guides all over the world. And they think of us in the same way on this day.

Lord Baden-Powell was born in England about 150 years ago! When he was an adult he wrote a book about camping, first aid, animals and lots of other things. He called this book “Scouting for Boys”. Lots of boys in England bought the book. They loved it so much, they started little groups called Boy Scouts. In the groups they did all the activities Lord Baden-Powell talked about in his book and they talked to their friends about how much fun it was. In just a little while, Boy Scout groups began popping up all over the world.

Lord Baden-Powell had no idea how many boys there were in these groups so he decided to call them all together for a big party in London. He invited ‘anyone doing Scouting’ to come to the party. Was he ever surprised when eleven thousand boys showed up. But he was even more surprised by the small group of girls that came as well!

Lord Baden-Powell’s sister Lady Agnes Baden-Powell was at the party too. She smiled at the girls, then turned to Lord Baden-Powell and said, “It looks like you’re going to have to have to write a book for the girls too.”

And so Lady Agnes Baden-Powell wrote a handbook for the girls. Over time younger girls wanted to join in the fun too, so the Brownies were formed.

Just like the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts spread all over the world!

The idea for a special day each year on which Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world think of each other with friendship started at the 4^th International Conference (USA, 1926). The date chosen was February 22, because it was the birthdays of both the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell, and his wife, the World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell. At the 7th World Conference (Poland, 1932), a Belgian delegate suggested that all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts give "a penny for their thoughts." The suggestion caught on quickly, and the Thinking Day Fund was started to help Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting wherever the need was greatest. Some units collect money weekly for the World Friendship Fund – WFF. Others wait until the month of February. Girls often make individual banks or cover a poster in coins. Some units hold a special event to raise money for the WFF - events such as a penny sale, bingo or an auction.

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Canada Flag Game
Each Patrol or small group has a piece of plain paper, crayons, colored pencils or markers and a dice. Each girl throws the dice in turn. The first to throw a 6 will draw the flagpole on the paper. After this, the first to throw a 5 will draw the outline of the flag. After this, the first to throw a 4 will draw one red end. Then, the first to throw a 3 will draw the other red end. The first girl to throw a 2 will draw a maple leaf. Finally, as soon as the 1 is thrown, everyone stands to attention.

World Flag Game (variation of above)
Each patrol or small group receives a piece of plain paper, crayons, colored pencils or markers and a dice. Each girl throws the dice in turn. The first to throw a six draws the flagpole. After this, the first to throw a five draws the outline of the flag. After this, the first girl to throw a four draws the three leaves of the trefoil. Then, the first to throw a three draws the base of the trefoil. The first girl after this to throw a two draws the two stars. The girl who next throws the one draws the point, and then all of the girls stand up and make the Guide sign.

Puzzling Over the World Flag

Puzzles: You need one puzzle per team. Make puzzles from pictures of the World Flag and place in envelopes.

Place a picture of the World Flag at front of the room for reference for the girls.

The first girl on each team randomly selects a puzzle piece from the envelope, runs up to the front of the room and lays the piece down then runs back to her team.

Each following girl has a choice to either select a piece from the envelope, run up and add it correctly to the puzzle or run up and correct or switch a piece around.

Note: A picture of the World Flag can be found on the Girl Guides National website.

The Meaning of the World Flag

The gold on the blue background represents the sun shining over the children of the world.

The vein pointing upwards through the centre of the Trefoil represents a compass needle, pointing the way.

The blaze of white in the lower right corner is for our commitment to world peace.

The three leaves and the three gold squares represent our three-fold Promise.

'World Thinking Day' February 22, 2008

ACTION GAME: What is Thinking Day?

Instructions :

Give the girls the instructions on what to do when certain words are spoken. Give the helper leader(s) this sheet so they can help remind the girls when they should be doing their actions.

THE STORY

Thinking Day is a very special birthday. It is the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Baden-Powell.

The Meaning of the World Flag