STEM

Activity Details

Time needed: 20–30 minutes

Materials needed:

• Community Map Example (meeting aid)
• Paper
• Pencils
• Markers or crayons
• Stickers (optional)

Setup:

A community is a group of people. They might live near each other. They might like the same things. They might like different things. A family or school is a community. A sports team is a community. Girl Scouts is a community, too!

Communities can be in the real world. They can be online, too. You can play video games with other people. You can video chat with your class. You can connect with people from all over the world. This is your digital world!

A map is a picture of a place. It’s drawn from above. It shows what a bird sees when it flies over and looks down. It can show streets, museums, subways, or other places. Maps use symbols to show important places. Symbols are shapes or little pictures that stand for things. Every map has a key or legend that tells you what the symbols mean.

Activity:

First, search for different maps with an adult. Look at home, the library, or online. What maps did you find? What different places did they show? Notice how each map shows the place from above. Then, choose one map to examine. What symbols do you see? What does each mean? Find places on the map that are in both the real world and the digital world. Some people buy food in a store. Some order it online. Some people visit their doctor’s office. Some people video chat with their doctor online.

Next, make a map of the community you live in. Ask yourself: what are the important places in my community? Where do people meet? Use paper and pencil, crayons, or markers. Draw it from above, like a bird looking down. Show homes, schools, and buildings. Add parks and other places you like.

Then ask yourself: do people in any of these places also meet online? You may go to school online or in a building. You can find books at the library or online. You can watch movies on a computer or at a movie theater. You can go to the zoo or watch the animals online. Choose a special symbol for digital places. Draw your symbol or use stickers. Add it to any place on your map that’s in both the real and digital worlds.

Afterwards, share your map with your family. Point out parts of your neighborhood that are in the digital world, too. And when you’re online, remember to stay safe and find a balance.

Check out these ideas to take care of yourself both online and offline:

• Be SAFE all the time: Check with an adult before you go online. And make sure to log off when you’re done!

• Mealtime: Put any screens aside to enjoy your meal. Talk with family or friends.

• Bedtime: Turn off your screens at least an hour before bed. You may sleep better when you do.

• Play time: Spend time every day playing without a screen. Run, jump, and dance. Go for a walk. Do a puzzle, build a fort, or play a board game.

• Be YOU all the time: Not everything you see online is real or honest. You might see something online that makes you feel funny, sad, or angry. Reach out to someone you trust for help.

What else can you do? Connect with friends and family online and offline. Make a difference. Do something you love. That’s how you lead, in both the real and digital worlds.

Download the Badge Requirements.

Troop Leaders:  The instructions for all badge steps are available free of charge in your  Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit.

Girl Scouts at Home activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming and optimized for use during virtual troop meetings or for Girl Scouts at home.