Conducting an Animal Dance Party
1 Learning Objectives
• Understand the research behind the Animal Dance Party
• Understand the structure and outline of the activity for in-person and virtual parties
• Review tips for running a successful recruitment party
2 Agenda • Why run a dance party?
• Supplies, Set Up and Schedules
• Running an In-Person Animal Dance Party
• Running a Virtual Animal Dance Party
• Tips & Tricks For Successful Recruitment Parties
3 Why run a dance party?
• The goal of all You’re Invited parties are to spark interest in the girls so they will ask their parents/caregivers to attend.
• Girls in Kindergarten – 3rd grade said they were likely to ask their parents to attend a dance party.
• The dance party activity is adapted directly from our programming: Brownie Outdoor Art Creator badge.
• Girls will earn their first Girl Scout patch for participating in the activity. 4 In-Person Party Supplies
• At least 2-3 staff or volunteers • Council or event banner, tablecloth and decorations • Laptop or tablet to play music & register new families • Sign in sheets, pens/markers, name tags, index cards • Coloring books or games for younger siblings • Council Information Cards • What is Girl Scouts/Why Girl Scouts flyer • Calendar of upcoming council activities
5 In-Person Party Set Up Follow local + council guidelines on social distancing
• Provide multiple sign-in sheets for parents to provide their contact information. 1. Registration • Display council branded signage and tablecloths; What is Girl Scouts/Why Girl Scouts flyer; council information cards; calendar of upcoming council events
• Decorate for a party! Consider the theme but generally focus on bright and fun decorations 2. Girl Space • Play age-appropriate music at a lower volume as families arrive • Configure tables and chairs in a circle (with dance floor in the middle for Animal Dance Party) • Greet families as they arrive and pair girls with a buddy
• Arrange chairs and/or tables in a circle with staff/volunteers as participants, not at the “head” of the group • Keep the girl and childcare space in view of adults, especially if this is an unfamiliar space for 3. Adult Space families • If possible, decorate with signage with the Promise & Law, diverse photos of Girl Scouts in action, or inspiring quotes by girls
• If space, set up a space for younger siblings to play under the supervision of volunteers or 4. Childcare older Girl Scouts. • Make sure the space is in view of the adult space, but encourage parents/caregivers to let their little ones play so they can focus on the conversation 6 In-Person Party Schedule 75 minutes
• Greet every family, ask them to sign in, fill out a name tag, collect collateral and pick up some refreshments before settling in a chair or at a table 1. Welcome • If you collected RSVPs, consider printing simple information (name, email) and just ask (15 min) families to initial by their name or fill in missing information • Make sure you have enough staff/volunteers to keep the line moving and ensure families know what to expect by periodically telling families when you will be starting
• Welcome families and introduce all staff/volunteers 2. Party + Plática • Thank families for coming and explain the flow of the party before asking parents/caregivers (45 min) to separate from girls and younger children. • See Plática document for more information.
• Bring parents/caregivers together with girls for one final activity. Distribute patches and any 3. Closing other product giveaways. (15 min) • Make sure to thank families for coming and ensure staff/volunteers are available to answer questions or help families register after the party ends.
7 In-Person Animal Dance Party 60 minutes
1. Introduce the party activity. Animals communicate through movements, like dancing, and so do humans—ballet, tap and hip-hop dancing are all ways that humans share their emotions and even tell stories! Today, we are going to dance like animals to express ourselves.
1. Hand out one index card to each girl. Ask girls to draw how an animal moves when it’s happy. 2. Girls draw 2. Group girls into pairs – preferably with a girl who was not sitting next to them while drawing. Ask girls to introduce themselves to their new friend. their animals. 3. Tell girls to keep their animal card secret and take turns showing their friend how their animal moves. Can their new friend guess their animal?
4. After both girls have shared their animals, ask them to join you again in the circle. Tell the girls that when the music starts, they can start dancing like their animals. 5. Every now and then, turn the music down and call out a girl’s name. The girl should say a new 3. Girls dance animal, and everyone can dance like the new animal. Practice with the girls by giving 1-3 directions like animals. before starting the dance party. 6. After one song, ask girls to sit back in a circle to catch their breath. When you start the dancing again but this time, call out an animal with an emotion – a tired elephant, an angry fish, an excited seagull, a silly kangaroo. 4. Closing with adults. Ask parents to join their girls in the circle. Ask the girls to share their animal cards with their parents/caregivers and ask the adults to demonstrate how they would dance like the animal. When they are finished, ask everyone to join you back in a Friendship Circle 8 Virtual Party Schedule 45 minutes
Detailed instructions are provided in the Virtual Recruitment training 1. Welcome series. (5 min) Welcome families as they log on and share the flow of activities for the party.
2. Party with Girls Explain that we are going to spend about 20 minutes in the animal dance (20 min) party with the girls and parents/caregivers are welcome to dance, too!
After about 20 minutes, the girls will do an activity on their own away from 3. Plática with Adults the video while the adults talk together. (20 min) When the adults are done talking, the girls will share their work with everyone, and we will do one last dance together.
9 Virtual Party Schedule 45 minutes
1. Introduce the party activity. Animals communicate through movements, like dancing, and so do humans—ballet, tap and hip-hop dancing are all ways that humans share their emotions and even tell stories! Today, we are going to dance like animals to express ourselves.
2. Girls dance In the virtual party, start with the dance party. like animals. Follow the same instructions as the in-person party, except for pairing the girls with buddies.
After about 15 minutes, ask the girls to think about their favorite animal. Tell girls that while their parents/caregivers are talking, they should draw their animals dancing in as many different moves as 3. Girls draw possible. Think about how your animal would dance to fast music or slow music. How would your animal their animals. dance to your favorite song? How do animals dance when they are happy or sad?
During this time, the parents/caregivers engage in the Plática.
4. Closing with adults. After parents/caregivers have conducted the Plática, ask girls to join the video again and go around the virtual circle to share their drawings. Play one more song and ask all the girls to dance like their favorite animals with their parents/caregivers.
10 Tips For Running A Successful Party
• Consider inviting local older girl troops to help facilitate the dance party. Nothing shows off Girl Scouts better than our own girls!
• If leading an event virtually or under social distancing guidelines, think about fun ways to incorporate best practices for those formats.
• Explain the connection between these activities and their first Girl Scout badge.
• Focus on white glove treatment: how the families feel is more important than what they do.
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