Pipe Cleaner Turkey
The Pipe Cleaner Turkey is a terrific Thanksgiving project! This project is perfect for Brownies and Juniors, and can be easily done in 30-60 minutes. I would be helpful for the leader to complete one before the girls attempt it so it’s easier to help them. As well, the girls may need a model in person to refer to.
Want to share photos of your troop and finished projects? Contact Us!
Materials Needed:
Directions:
- Bend 1 brown chenille in half. Set on work surface. To make head, connect 6 brown chenille by twisting ends together. Wrap around the large round marker overlapping so that the length does not exceed 2 inches. Glue the bent brown chenille into the head piece. Set aside.
- Take one brown chenille and wrap around the highlighter without overlapping to make the neck. Slip over the remaining chenille sticking out of head. Glue the top edge into head. Bend the chenille wire holding head/neck assembly into an upside down U shape. Set aside.
- The body requires 24 brown chenille stems that are connected and wrapped around the large paint bottle. Slip off bottle and gently squeeze into an oval shape. Pick up head/neck assembly, and glue into the body. Make sure the head is bent over the top of body, as if turkey is looking at you. Set aside.
- To make a wing, connect two brown chenille stems. Refer to photo to see shape of wings. They are shaped by hand. The stems touch only at the top of the wings. Glue them together along top to hold shape. Repeat for second wing. Twist wing ends together, so that they are 2 ½ inches apart. Glue wings onto turkey back.
- Bend the wire at the top of the back in, to close off opening behind head. Set aside. Cut one yellow chenille in half to make feet. Take one of the halves, and bend it in half. Measure ¾ ” back from bend, and bend the chenille at a 90 degree angle. Twist the ¾” together then separate the strands. Bend one piece up to make a V shape for the second toe. Measure and bend stem back at the ¾” mark. Repeat for third toe.
- Repeat step to shape other foot. Bend the leg ends up ½” from end, and glue into body base front edge. Set aside.
- Cut a 4″ piece of yellow to form beak. Bend in half, and then half again. Attach to head with glue. See photo for placement. Set in front of you. Cut a 4″ piece of red to form warble. Bend one end to fit over top of beak, allowing 1-¾” to hang down. Bend remaining back up, and twist to secure. Glue onto top of beak. See photo if necessary. Place turkey in front of you.
- Roll one end of black chenille into a little ball. Cut stem 1″ from rolled end. Stick stem end into head, and glue into place. Repeat for second eye. Refer to photo if necessary.
- You need five stems for each feather: 15 green, 5 red, 5 yellow, 5 purple and 5 orange. Twist 5 of the same color together and make a bend 7″ from one end to form an upside down V. The next bend should be 6″ further. Each time you go up into the feather shape, the next V should be slightly smaller to fit inside the previous one. Repeat until all the feathers are assembled.
- Lay 2 green feathers with their twisted ends together forming a horizontal line. Glue the purple and yellow feathers on top of the green ends to form a V shape at the top. Attach the orange and red feathers in like manner so they lay above the 2 green feathers at base. Glue the last green feather slightly above the orange/red ends. Refer to photo if necessary. Glue entire tail onto back base of your turkey.
Safety Tips!
- When twisting the chenille stems together to connect, be careful because the ends can be sharp.
- Adult supervision is required.
Nationwide Survey Finds a Disconnect Between How Teenage Girls Portray Themselves Online and in Person
The increased exposure to social media puts teenage girls in a confusing situation where a girl’s image is not always what it seems, as nearly 74% of girls believe other girls their age use social networking sites to make themselves “cooler than they really are,” according to a national survey released by Girl Scouts of the USA.
The nationwide survey, which included more than 1,000 girls ages 14 through 17, finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently their intelligence, kindness, and efforts to be a positive influence. In person, girls say they come across as smart (82%), kind (76%), and a good influence (59%), whereas online, girls consider themselves fun (54%), funny (52%), and social (48%). Girls with low self-esteem are more likely to admit their social networking image doesn’t match their in-person image (33% vs. 18% of girls with high self- esteem) and are also more likely to claim that the image they portray online is sexy (22% vs. 14%) and crazy (35% vs. 28%).
“Adults and teens alike need greater understanding about the ways girls represent themselves and communicate on social networking sites,” said Kimberlee Salmond, senior researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute. “If girls are portraying themselves differently online than they are in person, this can impact their identity, sense of self, and relationships.”
The Girl Scout survey also sheds light on the fact that a majority of girls understand their emotional safety and reputations are at risk online, yet 50% admit to not always being as careful as they should be online. Sixty-eight percent of girls have had a negative experience on a social networking site, such as having someone gossip about them or being bullied. Furthermore, many girls are concerned that they won’t get into their college of choice (42%), will miss a job opportunity (40%), and will get into trouble with parents and teachers (40%).
In contrast, the vast majority of girls prefer face-to-face communication. Ninety-two percent would give up all of their social networking friends if it meant keeping their best friend. The study also finds that social networking provides an avenue for girls to maintain better relationships and feel more connected to causes they care about. Fifty-six percent of girls agree that social networking helps them feel closer to their friends, and 36% think that social networks have increased the quality of their relationships. Fifty-two percent of girls have gotten involved in a cause they care about through a social network.
CONTACTS:
Girl Scouts of the USA
Josh Ackley 212.852.8038
jackley@girlscouts.org
Girl Scouts Together
This might be one of the first songs ever taught when you join Girl Scouts! This song was actually an Honorable Mention from the Girl Scout Nation Song Contest in 1941. Way to go, Gladys Cornwall Goff!
Girl Scouts together, That is our song,
Winding the old trails, rocky and long.
Leaning our motto, living our creed,
Girl Scouts together in every good deed.Girl Scouts together, Happy are we,
Friendly to neighbors far over the sea,
Faithful to country, loyal to home,
Known as true Girl Scouts wherever we roam.
Buy the Girl Scout Pocket Songbook here for full sheet music.
