Cookies Count Try-It
For Girl Scout Brownies

	TIPS FOR LEADERS Many of the activities in this Try-It deal with the values of the Girl Scout Law: To sell cookies or any other product, girls need to demonstrate good manners and be friendly. Girls should be honest when telling potential customers about the cookies and explaining how the money will be used. Girls will probably need permission to set up cookie booths in certain locations, and should be respectful when dealing with public officials. Girl Scout cookie boxes are recyclable, and girls will learn to use resources wisely. Explain how the cookie sale reinforces the values of the Girl Scout Law.

Every year, Girl Scouts across the country sell Girl Scout cookies as a fun way to support their projects and activities. It's a great way to learn new things like how to get along with people, work with a team, set goals, improve math skills, and make new friends. Girl Scout cookies taste good and lots of people buy them.

Girl Scout Brownies who want to help with the cookie sale should talk to their leader. And remember:

1. Girls must have a note from a parent or guardian giving permission.
2. A parent or guardian must always know where girls are when they are helping with a cookie sale.
3. Girl Scout Brownies must always have an adult with them when they sell cookies.

To earn this patch, Girl Scout Brownies must complete at least four activities below.

1. Setting Goals

• Do you ever wish you could win a prize for being the best? Or buy your sister a birthday present? Or get an "A" in school? Most of the time, there are ways to reach your goal. Making plans is important.



• With your Girl Scout friends, set goals for things you would like to do. Goals could be having a holiday party, going on a picnic, or having enough money to go on a special trip to the zoo.



• With the help of your leader, think of things your troop/group would like to do, and make plans. Think about: How much would it cost? How would you get there? Who would help? Plan how the cookie sale can help you reach your goals.

2. Good Manners

• Good manners, being polite, and always saying "please" and "thank you," are an important part of selling Girl Scout cookies.



• Think of all the ways you can show good manners. For example, suppose someone buys a lot of cookies or helps you, then you could write a thank-you note. If someone doesn't buy cookies, you can still say "thank you." Decide how you and your friends can practice good manners. You might write thank-you notes from the whole troop.

3. Advertising

• There are many different kinds of commercials and advertisements. An advertisement is a way to tell people about things they can buy.



• Find some advertisements you like on TV or in newspapers and magazines. What does it tell you? Why do you like it? Is it the music or the funny character in it? Make up a commercial for Girl Scout cookies. Or if you like to draw, make up an advertisement—a picture of the cookies and why they are so good.

4. Being a Good Friend or Neighbor

• Girl Scouts try to be helpful and kind to their friends and neighbors.



• Think about ways to help others through the cookie sale. For example, set aside some of your troop/group money to buy cookies and give them to someone as a present. Get together with some Girl Scout Brownie friends and decide who might like them. You might visit a child who is sick or a senior citizen celebrating a birthday. This will be an opportunity to spend time with someone who would enjoy some company.

5. Fun with Change

• Before buying or selling something, you need to know how to make change. Find out how much a box of Girl Scout cookies costs. Then ask your leader or another adult to help you learn about coins that make up a dollar. How many pennies are in a dollar? How many nickels and dimes? How many quarters? Practice buying and selling cookies, and making change.



• Ask if anyone in your troop has a coin from a different country. Look at the pictures on that coin and on ours. If you could create a new coin, what would you put on it?



• Find out about Susan B. Anthony dollar coins or the Sacajawea gold $1 coins.

6. Fun on the Job

• Many jobs are connected with buying and selling cookies and other products. Find out about some of them by taking a little trip around the with your leader or another adult. Stop by a bakery to see how cookies are made. Go to a supermarket to see how products are displayed. Visit a store and ask a salesperson to explain her job.



• Talk to an artist to find out how she decides what pictures to draw for an advertisement.



• Read page 122 in the Brownie Girl Scout Handbook to learn more about selling cookies.

7. Cookie Talk

• Practice what you would say to a customer (the person buying cookies). What would you say about the cookies? Do you know what they taste like and how much they cost? Be able to tell the customer what your troop/group plans to do with money earned from the cookies that are sold and about some special things Girl Scouts do.

Adapted from Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts, © 2000 by Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Note: Participation patches must be worn on the back of the uniform only.

Girl Scout badges, patches, awards, and other insignia that are earned for the accomplishment of skill-building activities or any set requirements should be presented, worn, or displayed only after Girl Scouts have completed the requirements outlined in the appropriate program materials.

All insignia are owned by Girl Scouts of the United States of America and are protected by law for use by GSUSA. None of the insignia may be copied, duplicated, or reproduced without prior express written authorization from Girl Scouts of the USA. All rights reserved.