Listening to the Past (Brownie Try-it)

This Try-it was introduced in 1989 and retired in 2011. A Revised version was issues in 2011 as the My Family Story (Brownie Try-it).

When you listen to the past, what will you hear? You will hear stories about how people used to live and what children did a long time ago.

When you listen to people talk about their past, you are participating in oral history.

You can also listen to or see the past in museums, storybooks, skits, and movies. Listen carefully and see what you can learn.

As with all older Brownie Try-its, scouts need to complete 4 activities to earn the badge.

Community Stories
Listen to the stories of some of the oldest people in your community. Find them through a senior citizen's organization a religious group, a nursing home, or even in your family. Tape their stories or take notes. Share the stories with members of your family and your Brownie Girl Scout troop or group.

If These Buildings Could Talk
With an adult, visit the historic buildings, monuments, and sites in your neighborhood or in the nearest city. Learn an interesting story or fact about each.

Visit the Cemetery
Get permission to visit the oldest cemetery in your area. Do the following activities:

Find the oldest dates on the gravestones. Write them down. How old were the people when they died? Write down some of the most unusual names. What is the most common name? Take photographs, make rubbings, or draw pictures of the most unusual graves.

Stories of the Past
Read two stories written in the past or about the past, and tell them to others.

Acting Out
Act out a scene from the past. Choose a favorite person or fictional character from the past. Do one of these activities.

Act out a scene from her life or from the fictional story. Dress up like her and act like her during your Girl Scout Meeting.

Here are some suggestions: Joan of Arc, Sacajawea, Anne Frank, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller.

Games of the Past
It may be hard to believe, but years ago your mother, father, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles were all young children. They played some fun games.

Here is a list: Dodge ball</li> Red light/green light</li> Tic-tac-toe</li> Simon says</li> Guess what I am</li> Kick the can</li> Jump rope rhymes</li> Jacks</li> Doggy, doggy, where is your bone?</li> Crack the whip</li> Sharks and minnows</li></ol>

Ask family members and neighbors if they have ever played any of these games. Then select a game and learn how to play it. Teach the game to others.