Recognition and Rewards
“At least twice a year, a Primary activity day (or a Cub Scout Pack meeting) should include opportunities for the children to share what they have learned and accomplished. Parents and leaders should help the children understand that the joy of living the gospel is the most important reward.”
Faith in God guidebook p.19
ARTICLE OF FAITH RECOGNITION: For recognition for learning the Articles of Faith we are combining the "Mixed Menu" idea with an Ice Cream Social. When each girl can recite an article of faith to their leader they earn a scoop of ice cream for their chart. (You could also use the punch cards), Each scoop of ice cream will coincide with a particular Article of Faith and also represent a menu item for the recognition night. For example, if a girl learns the third Article of Faith she may earn a spoon, if she learns the ninth she may earn hot fudge topping, the fifth may link to nuts, etc... The trick is the girls do not know which Article of Faith matches with which menu item therefore they are encouraged to learn them all so they will have a "full" menu to choose from. Just as when they learn to live the gospel and endure to the end they will have a "full" menu in the kingdom of God.
~Nikki Ritter
Surprise, AZ
FATHER/DAUGHTER BREAKFAST: We invited the girls and their fathers to a breakfast. Before we ate, we had fun doing a version of the Newlywed Game where we asked the fathers different questions to find out how well they new their daughters (What is their favorite television show? Who is their Primary teacher? What is their favorite school subject? etc.) After we sat down at the table, we tied every ones wrists to the person sitting next to them's wrist so that we all formed one big circle and then served the food. It was a lot of fun watching everyone learn to cooperate together to eat their breakfast! At the end we handed out the awards that the girls had earned that quarter.
RECORD KEEPING: I ran across a record keeping page that is available at www.scoutsoft.net. It might be of interest to others.
KILL 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE: I was having trouble with some rowdy girls in my AD group, so I came up with this idea that has worked GREAT for us. I took a large (#10) can with a plastic lid, and made a label on the computer that said "LDS Activity Days" at the top, and "Service, Example, and Integrity" at the bottom with flower clipart in-between. Anyway, at the beginning of each meeting, we take a few minutes for the girls to report something they have done since our last meeting that goes along with the themes on the label. Have they done service for someone (I emphasize that it's better if they weren't asked to do it and if they weren't paid to do it - I want it to be something they take the initiative for all by themselves). Have they set a good example? I had a couple of girls bear their testimonies in the last Fast and Testimony meeting at church, so I told them I apprecieated the example they set for ME, and I put their names in the jar for them. Have they showed integrity? I explained to them that this means standing up for what is right and sticking to your beliefs.
The girls can have their names in the jar as many times as they can think of good things they've done. It has almost started to become a competition between them to see who can do the most! Anyway, this encourages them to apply prrinciples they have learned, and allows them to hear what other girls in the group are doing when they aren't together. I have also gotten a few ideas for activities from some of the girls' reports.
The second thing, is that I have solved the behavior problems during meetings with this as well, because at the end of each meeting, I draw names out of the can for little treats (tootsie rolls, etc.). The more reverent and good they are (as a group) during the meeting, the more names I draw! Of course they want me to draw more names because then they will have more chances to get a treat, so they behave. I leave the can where they can see it during the meeting and it serves as a reminder to them.
ARTICLES OF FAITH RECOGNITION: For the Articles of Faith, I will give each girl a small bead as she passes it and tells me(or a parent or primary teacher)what it means. At the end of the year, we will be making friendship bracelets and weaving the beads into them. it's small, but personal, and hopefully by wearing them, it can be a reminder to think of what the articles of faith mean and help the girls when they need to make choices.
RECOGNITION IDEAS: We started our girls with Boondoggles. They get a bead for every Article of Faith they memorize, they also get some sort of bead/button that they add to their boondoggle (necklace) symbolizing the activity we did. Such as...a headstone made out of fun foam with a hole punched in it for a cemetary scavenger hunt; a Christmas tree button for a Christmas Activity that we did; a little wooden angel with a hole drilled to signify service. We try to have something different for each activity. It really gets them excited to see what the bead will be.
RECOGNITION IDEAS: We started our girls with Boondoggles. They get a bead for every Article of Faith they memorize, they also get some sort of bead/button that they add to their boondoggle (necklace) symbolizing the activity we did. Such as...a headstone made out of fun foam with a hole punched in it for a cemetary scavenger hunt; a Christmas tree button for a Christmas Activity that we did; a little wooden angel with a hole drilled to signify service. We try to have something different for each activity. It really gets them excited to see what the bead will be.
TEMPLE TREC W/ PEDOMETERS: Each child is given a pedometer to wear. At the next meeting we add up the miles walked during those two weeks. I took pictures of the temples in Utah off the internet, cut them out and posted them on a map of Utah as they reached each Temple. We started at the Logan Temple and will end at the Monticello Temple. When they have completed the task then it's pizza party time.
I considered this as Physical Fitness and Recognizing the Temples. Also it is good to have each child pick a Temple of their choice and tell something about that Temple.
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