1. No category

Hi Leaders
Our team decided to create this Celebrating England Challenge because we found that our girls
had little knowledge or experience of traditional English culture, heritage and festivals.
Moreover, it was something that they really wanted to know about. With the Diamond Jubilee
this year and the Olympics in London, we consider it a truly appropriate time to look at the
Best of England and enjoy it. We hope you have fun joining in and find it simple to use, with
good references to supporting material to make activities easy to organise.
Maybe you would just like to take one or two of the suggested activities on board or perhaps
you would like to complete the whole challenge, in which case badges are available using the
application form at the end of this document. There are four sections to the challenge. To
earn your badge, Rainbows and Brownies should complete at least 1 activity from each section
plus 2 more from any section. Guides and Senior Section should undertake at least 2 from
each section. Trefoil Guild members should carry out a minimum of 2 challenges from each of
the four sections with a total of 10 in all.
NB Some of the activities may also contribute towards other badges.
We would love to hear what you have been up to and whether you enjoyed yourselves.
Happy guiding
Helena Gates*, Emma Brown, Emma Hale and Becky Morris
Leaders, 1st Wilnecote Brownies
Staffordshire
February 2012
Key
Challenges are in black
Optional extensions are in
brown
Helpful information for leaders is
in blue
st
Although this Challenge was created by 1 Winecote Brownie Leaders, it was intended that any profits from the
sale of badges would go to Girlguiding Tamworth Division.
*After changes in Wilnecote Brownies’ Leadership team in 2012, it was agreed that Tamworth Division would
take on the administration of the Challenge.
Section 1
A Taste of England
1 Find out how to make Creme Anglaise (custard) Try it with some old English puddings and see what you think. What do
you notice about the ingredients to many traditional English puddings and consider why do you think such desserts were
particularly popular during the Second World War?
Suggested puddings:- Spotted dick; bread and butter pudding; roly-poly pudding; treacle pudding; apple crumble; mince pies
Optional Extension Choose a traditional English pudding such as Semolina, Rice Pudding or one of the above and re-design it on paper to
suit what we now know about good nutrition. E.g. using skimmed milk; whole-foods; increasing the fibre content, reducing the sugar or
lowering the carbohydrates. Do you think it will taste as good? Try cooking your recipe or design a new dessert which you think would
give a good taste of England without being loaded with calories, carbohydrates or sugars.
2 Take a hike, or set a trail to follow, down to your local Fish and Chip shop and taste some traditional English fish and chips
Note for leaders – worth phoning first to negotiate a group price and put in orders so that they can be ready to collect at a designated time
3 Make some traditional English sweets such as peppermint creams, fudge or toffee and share them with your friends.
4 Find out how the Victoria Sponge got its name. Make and decorate some fairy cakes using a traditional Victoria Sponge
recipe and method.
5 England has a tradition of dairy and beef as well as arable farming. Invite a local farmer to come and talk to your group.
Know some different types of milk and make your own butter using double cream.
Put the cream into a jar with a lid. Screw the lid on tight and shake it to and fro until it thickens. In about 10 minutes, it will turn to butter.
The cream has little globs of fat and protein which stick together to form a bud of butter when you shake the jar. The left over liquid is
buttermilk.
Optional extension If you have a local Dairy or Farm with milking cows, ask if you can pay a visit to see the milking and what follows.
6 English chocolate is different from that produced in other countries. Find out how it is made and the differences between
milk, dark and white chocolate. Then form flowers or animals in modelling chocolate (often called cocoform).
The cheapest we have found is at www. CraftCompany.co.uk . It costs less to make your own and there is a recipe below. There are lots of
similar recipes on line and many of these ask for corn syrup. If corn syrup is hard to get hold of, it can be substituted with glucose syrup
– available from pharmacies and large supermarkets.
Due to time meeting time restraints and differing age groups, it is suggested that leaders buy modelling chocolate or make it at home.
Recipe for moulding chocolate 8 oz. dark chocolate. 3 ½ oz or 100g corn or glucose syrup.
Plastic wrap, spatula, mixing bowl, medium saucepan
1.Melt the chocolate over a double boiler (to create a double boiler, fill the saucepan with water, bring it to a boil, turn off the heat, and rest
the bowl on the inside rim of the saucepan, just above the height of the water. A microwave can be used for speed but be careful not to
burn the chocolate as you melt it – use short bursts of heat.
2.Cool the melted chocolate until it feels cool, but is fluid.
3. Heat the corn syrup until it just starts to boil.
4.Add the heated corn syrup to the melted chocolate and mix with a rubber spatula until it forms a smooth paste.
5.Wrap the mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
6.Allow the modelling chocolate to firm and chill all the way through. This may take up to an hour.
7.Remove the modelling chocolate from the refrigerator and knead until it becomes soft and pliable.
Reference information:- Find more out about working with chocolate and how chocolate is made and the different types of chocolate at
britishfood.about.com/.../bb/wkingchocolate.htm ezinearticles.com/?Dark,-White-and-Milk-Chocolate---Just-What-is-the-Difference?&
7 The area of Birmingham known as Bournville has a history connected to the Cadbury family who made chocolate. Find out
how the early mass manufacture of sweets and chocolate in England affected social development in their time and
consider how businesses today exercise or could be encouraged to exercise their social responsibilities. Many famous as
well as lesser known names help out socially or affiliate themselves to a charity in some way.
Start at www.jrf.org.uk (Rowntrees) and www.cadburyworld.co.uk.
8 Hold a traditional English tea party for your group, or invite parents, another group, and maybe even some local residents.
Try some different teas. Can you taste the difference between different English teas, tea bags and decaff? Serve
cucumber, salmon or similar dainty sandwiches with your tea and provide traditional scones with cream and jam.
9 Learn what different foods can make up a traditional English breakfast. Then play or make up a game on the subject.
Game suggestion:- Create teams which each sit in a line. The members of each team sitting in the same position in the line are allocated a
part of the breakfast such as fried egg, bacon or tomatoes. When their allocated breakfast part is called out, the so called girl from each
team runs down the room, round a chair and back to her original place. If English breakfast is called out, the whole team holds hands
and has to make the same journey, return and sit down. Points are allocated to the first team to arrive back and the overall winner is the
team with the most points.
10 Cook an English breakfast over a campfire and enjoy!
11 Try frying an egg in a small empty clean baked bean or similar over a tea candle.
Clean tin, ensure no sharp edges and remove outside paper. Pierce tin each side near the top and apply a long length of string as a handle
or thread a long kebab stick through the holes so that fingers are well away from heat. Ensure girls are familiar with candle safety. Then
see whose egg fries the quickest and eat it if you dare.
12 Investigate English cheeses to find out which different regions are famous for their cheeses. Hold your own ‘English
cheeses Need no Wine’ party and taste a variety of regional English cheeses.
Possible cheeses to try: Stilton, Shropshire Blue, Wensleydale, Cornish Yarg, Sage Derby, Gloucestershire and Double Gloucester, Somerset
Brie, Stinking Bishop, Lancashire, Cheddar, Cheshire and Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire. Serve with celery, grapes and crackers.
See www.cheese.com/countrystep2.asp?Country=England for leaders’ assistance.
Drinks - Why not have a punch made with half sparkling white grape juice and half Sprite or make your own ‘Mocktails’ with a variety of
English fruits and juices and soft drinks? See www.squidoo.com/mocktail for recipes.
Optional Extension: Invite prospective members to your party.
Section 2
Traditional English Crafts & Arts
1 Using a piece of binca or similar canvas to assist you, create a bookmark to give as present using different coloured silk
threads. Incorporate at least two of the following stitches:- Running stitch; back stitch; blanket stitch; feather stitch; chain
stitch; cross stitch.
2 Find out the processes that traditionally occurred between a sheep being sheared and a woolly jumper being finished.
Then have a go at some simple weaving. Use wool, straws, paper or ribbons to create mats, baskets or any item of your
choice. To make simple card looms see http://www.craftstylish.com/item/2546/how-to-weave-on-a-card.
3 Discover some well known English pottery styles and be able to recognise them. Then try fashioning your own pots from air
clay, plasticine or fimo.
Examples could include Wedgewood, Coalport, Royal Worcester, Denby, Crown Derby, Clarice Cliff etc.
If you search for www.britishcompanies.co.uk/china.htm there are links to pictures of most English pottery makers
If making miniature plates and cups for a dolls house it is easier if using fimo.
4 Have a go at simple knitting.
If you don’t have enough needles to go round try either bobbin knitting or finger knitting.
Bobbin Knitting: Use an old cotton reel with four nails.
Finger Knitting: For older members there are clear instructions at http://www.wikihow.com/Finger-Knit.
For younger girls, there is a lovely story about a shepherd which teaches them how to finger knit on one finger only at
http://themysticalkingdom.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/great-collection-of-waldorf-verses-part_7834.html
See also http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-finger-knit-easy-no-tools-needed/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMQr_nLn4FM
Have a competition to see who can finger knit the longest snake or put the most sheep in the fold in accordance with the shepherd’s story
5 How many different places and times can you think of when candles were or are still used. Learn how to use candles safely
including how to safely light and extinguish a candle, how to store, where it is safe to burn one etc. Then decorate your
own cheap, white candles with left over wax crayons. Melt the tips of different coloured crayons over a tea-light and use
them to draw patterns or create bobble textures on your basic candle.
6 Flower arranging is still popular in England. Using fresh, dried or artificial flowers, even wild flowers which you gather on a
group walk, make an arrangement on a saucer or in a small yoghurt pot on the theme of Celebrating England.
Remember the countryside code and the laws relative to picking wild flowers. If in doubt, see
www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm
7 English Brooches have been traced back as far as the first Anglo Saxon settlements with cameo brooches becoming
fashionable in Victorian England. Make a Victorian or Anglo Saxon style brooch.
Victorian Brooches:- Cut out an oval from cardboard. Decorate it with paper and beads round the edge. Then cut out a silhouette
of your head from black or white paper and place it in the centre of the oval. Use a sticky tab or double sided selotape to add a
safety pin on the back of the brooch so it can be worn!
Anglo Saxon style. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_art for ideas
8 One of the main commercial methods of transporting goods in the 19th Century was by canal boat. With people living and
working on the canal grew a new folk art where people colourfully decorated their boats and equipment. The best known
tradition was called ‘roses and castles’ and uses base colours of green, white, yellow, red and sometimes blue. You can
still see boats with decorations in this style today. Try your hand at reproducing this style on paper plates using strong
acrylic or powder paint colours.
For inspiration and information look up http://www.canaljunction.com/narrowboat/art.htm
9 Gardening is a popular English pastime which has spread to Europe.
Discuss what makes a garden typically English and
the features it would commonly contain. Design a landscape or cottage garden on paper/screen, perhaps in the style of
William Greenwood or Capability Brown.
There are pictures as well as a history and features article to help you at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_garden.
Or, design your own garden in a shoe box filled with soil.
Pick flowers for your borders and use small branches and leaves for trees. (Remember the countryside code and the laws relative to picking
wild flowers. If in doubt, see www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm). You could incorporate matchstick
fences, foil ponds, plasticine vegetables – anything that takes your imagination.
10 English churches are well known for their beautiful stained glass windows which often depict scenes from the bible.
your own stained glass windows from card, coloured tissue paper and/or acetate.
Make
http://www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtime/crafts/5-ways-to-make gives five different ways to achieve a stained glass effect using craft materials.
For older members try and construct your window in a particular style e.g. art deco or gothic. See http://www.easyboo.com/art-deco.htm
11 Find out about 2 different English artists/movements or sculptors and compare their styles. What do you like best about
each of them?
Visit your local park and construct sculptures from natural materials that you find there. Leave them there for other
visitors to enjoy.
Suggested Artists:- Turner(romantic landscape), Constable,( Landscape art) Lowry( urban landscapes and matchstick men), Gainsborough
(mainly portrait), David Hockney (pop art), Bansky graffiti art and English Pop Art, William Morris,(Pre Raphaelite textile) Tracey Emin
(conceptual). Sculptors Henry Moore (semi –abstract), Andy Goldsworthy Land Art, Barbara Hepworth(modernism), Willard Wigen
(microscopic sculptures).
Remember the countryside code and the laws relative to picking wild flowers. If in doubt, see
www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm
12 England has a tradition of famous classical composers including Elgar, Handel, Holst, Purcell and Vaughan Williams.
Listen to a piece of classical music and see if you can identify the instruments in the orchestra. Without knowing the
origin of the piece discuss how it makes you feel and what you guess it is about. Hold a mini Last Night of the Proms and
go wild with flags, dancing, singing, clapping and stamping.
You could choose one participant as conductor, split the troop into groups of instruments and accompany the music with relevant instrument
impressions.
13 Compile a montage to show others about at least 2 English pop genres and their songs from different English pop eras.
Did the music affect the way people dressed and behaved? Listen to some of those songs then put together your own
top ten from them. Suggested genres: Rock n roll, Beatlemania, Punk, Heavy Metal, Mods, Glam Rock, New Romantics, Hip Hop, Britpop.
14 England has many famous authors and poets. See how many you can think of in 5 minutes. How many are women?
Read Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’. Then find ways relevant to your lives that you can give to demonstrate how each ‘If’
could apply in the modern day world. Does the poem still have things to teach us?
'If' by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth/and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
In groups write a short poem called ‘If not’ based on what you should not do. It may be humorous. Use your promise to
help you think about this as well as the concepts raised by Kipling.
Section 3
English Festivals and Traditions
1 As a group, discuss what Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday mean to Christians and understand how abstinence is an
integral part of many religions. Cook your own pancakes, try at least one savoury and one sweet topping of your choice.
Make a resolution to go without or not do a particular thing during a period of abstinence. After a set period of time, find
out how many of your group were able to keep their intention and give a small prize to those who managed it.
Information on abstinence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting.
2 John Bull was a popular English fictitious figure until the 1950s.
Find out who he was and what he represented. Then
consider England today and what you think could and should be representative of the modern English spirit. Draw and
colour in your modern English character.
For information see www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/JohnBull.htm
For printable outline of body to colour in:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Outline-body.png
3 The English are known for enjoying entertainment in the home and inviting people
to dinner more than the Europeans do. Learn how to set a table for formal dining.
Know which knife and fork to use and when.
The golden rule is ALWAYS work from the OUTSIDE, IN
Then see who is best at the ‘vanishing tablecloth trick’ where you try to remove
the tablecloth whilst leaving all of the items on the table. NB Tin plates and
plastic glasses are a must!
4 A popular saying in England is "Manners maketh man." Even today, people are judged by their table manners, especially
when eating out or attending formal functions. There are certain ways you should behave and certain niceties to observe.
See who knows the most. Then hold a pretend dinner party and put your English manners and etiquette into practice –
the food can be as simple as crisps and squash or as sophisticated as you fancy. You could even dress formally for the
occasion. Conclude whether you think these ‘rules’ should still have a role in today’s society.
Suggested matching game to see who knows the most about table manners. Copy and cut out each card and mix to play. Each pink card is
the first part of an example of good etiquette and is matched on the right by the rest of the statement. Keep an uncut copy for the
answers.
If you are at a dinner
party wait until
your host(ess)
starts eating before you do
so
Your serviette should
always be placed
on your lap
Do not drink whilst
you still have food in your
mouth
The fork is held in the
left hand, prongs down.
Soup should be
spooned away
from you and you
should
Break bread and rolls
with your
tilt the bowl away from
you.
When you are finished
eating,.
Place your knife and fork
together in the "twenty
past four" position.
fingers not with your knife
When you leave the
table place your
serviette
loosely at the left side of
your plate
Never chew with
your mouth open
Do not scrape
the plate.
Never talk with food
in your mouth.
Always pass to the
right. And pass
jugs etc
with the handle toward the
person who is
receiving the item
Never mash or mix
food on your plate.
Do not use your fork
as a shovel.
Never use your
fingers to push
food onto your spoon or
fork
Never tuck your
napkin
into the collar of your shirt
or dress
Never reach
across the table. Ask for
things you can’t reach
to be passed to you
If you burp
Cover your mouth with a
Napkin and say ‘Pardon’
It is not acceptable to
have your elbows
on the table while you are
eating.
It is rude to put
too much food in your
mouth.
You should always
remember to say
please and thank you
with your fingernails
Never lick or put
your knife in your mouth
Never pick food out of
your teeth
When eating dessert
you should use
your fork as a
pusher and
Eat from the spoon
See http://www.learnenglish.de/culture/eatingculture.htm for more information on English manners and etiquette
5 Learn how to meet and greet people in England, including how to introduce people whom you know but who do not know
each other. Understand why people in the guiding movement usually shake hands with their left hand. Then, in a circle
move round your group shaking hands and introducing yourself. Tell each person one thing about yourself and they
should respond with a polite, relevant comment. You should say something different to each person as you go round the
group. See how much you share in common with other members of your unit.
Some of the basic formalities that are still very English are - Meeting and Greeting
 Firm Handshakes are the commonest form of greeting. In polite company you should shake hands both on meeting and when leaving
 You should introduce a younger person to an older person, not the other way round
 When being very polite you should introduce a person using courtesy titles or Mr, Mrs or Miss and their surname.
 Keep eye contact when greeting someone but avoid staring
 Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. People under the age of 35 tend to make this move more quickly than older people.
Optional Extension: You can make the greeting circle that bit more complicated by having a caller telling you whether to shake hands as a guiding
member or in conventional English fashion each time you move on.
6 St George is the patron Saint of England.
Although we do not celebrate this day with a national holiday many people wear
a red rose on 23rd April. Know why. Make your own red roses from tissue paper and wear them with pride.
Remind yourselves of the story of St. George and the Dragon. Either:i) Create and perform a short comedy mummers’ play of the St George’s Story. This is the story from which most
mummers’ plays developed and in turn, mummers plays were the origin of the English pantomime tradition.
Or ii) Design your own ‘hidden’ dragons as per instructions below.
Hidden Dragons: Split into groups of 3s. Every player folds a sheet of A4 paper into 3 equal parts and lightly labels each third on left side
from top to bottom as head, body and tail respectively. On the top third, draw and colour a dragon’s head and allow the neck to go
slightly below the fold. The paper is then rearranged so that the body section is showing with the end of the neck but the head design is
hidden. The player then passes the paper on to the next person who draws a body, again overlapping slightly onto the blank ‘tail’ third.
The sheet of paper is then re-folded until only the blank tail section is visible and it is passed to the third person to draw the tail. When
this is complete, each person will have had a chance to draw all 3 sections of a dragon but you will be left with 3 composite dragons
when the papers are unfolded. See which one is funniest!
7 When you send an invitation to a party, dinner, wedding or function, you need to inform your guest where and when it will
be, the times and place and code of dress. Design and make an invitation to invite new members to your group and send
them out with all of the relevant information. It is polite to send an RSVP within a week of receiving an invitation. Know
how to do this.
8 You may have heard people distinguish the ‘British Sense of Humour’ from that of other people from other countries.
Are
we different? Hold a comedy evening where everyone contributes a joke and tells it. Then watch a short comedy film.
Discuss what are generally found to be funny situations and topics and whether/why these would be found more amusing
by English citizens than by citizens from another country.
Suggested sources of film:-Wallace and Gromit; Tom and Jerry or more modern equivalent. Episode from an age suitable sitcom like Only
Fools and Horses, Dad’s Army, The Vicar of Dibley, Keeping up Appearances, Fawlty Towers or Some Mothers do Ave Em. Suitable
extract from a youth culture film like Hot Fuzz (age 15)
9 In Derbyshire, there is a tradition of dressing wells in flowers between the end of May and September. Some say it is a
practice originating from ancient spring fertility rites, others that it is a thank you for the pure water which remained clean
in much of Derbyshire at the time of the Black Death. The wells are dressed with large framed panels decorated with
elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, tree bark, berries and moss. Look at some
pictures. Then design your own well dressing from natural materials and flowers from your gardens or local area.
Perhaps you could give it to a local centre or church for other people to enjoy.
Picture examples and information can be found at www.peakdistrictinformation.com/features/welldress.php.
Remember the countryside code and the laws relative to picking wild flowers. If in doubt, see
www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_new_pages/1f_code_of_conduct.htm
10 Invite some local elderly citizens to come and talk with your group or visit a local old folks’ home and talk to the residents.
Find out what their childhood and early adults lives were like growing up in England. Some of them may have been
children during the Second World War and will be able to tell you about rationing, air raids etc. Ask them what they think
characterises England and the English. Collect your answers together and see if any one comment or subject comes up
regularly. As a group, consider how pastimes, jobs, values and general life have changed in one generation. Does
anything remain the same?
11 Traditional English May Day celebrations include Morris dancing, crowning a May Queen and dancing around a Maypole.
Make plaited friendship bracelets and anklets which incorporate small jingly bells. Using tissues as hankies, learn or
make up a Morris Dance and perform it as a group. Or, if you are lucky enough to have access to a May Pole, learn and
perform a simple Maypole dance and wear flowers in your hair.
Optional Extension: If you can, arrange a visit to see a local Morris dance group or invite a member to teach you a dance and tell you a little about the
meaning and folklore behind some of their customary dances.
12 Apple Day is on the 21st October and celebrates the great English Apple, orchards and traceability of food from the land to
the table. Hold an evening devoted to apples. Play lots of apples games.
Suggested games: Apple Bobbing , Longest peel,
Passing the apple
Form a circle and pass apple round behind backs. A person in the middle has to guess where it is at a certain time.
If correct guess she swaps with apple holding member.
Gruacach's Treasure A hairy ogre from Celtic myth - Gruacach lies down beside apples asleep. The rest creep to steal apples but must
stand still if he sits up. If an apple is taken Gruacach chases to recover it before they reach base. Anyone moving or
caught is out.
Apple and spoon race If the apple is dropped, the participant must use the spoon to pick it up.
Apple Plum Pudding Tag game. One person is 'it' – All hold ‘it’ and each other. ‘It’ calls out apple, plum, banana pie etc. If others let go
then they are out. But they must let go when ‘it’ calls apple plum pudding. At this point 'it' chases and catches
another person who becomes 'it'.
Apple and tunnel
In teams pass the apple over head then under legs to the last person who runs to front. Continue until the first
person is back at the front and sit down. If the apple is dropped the team restarts from front of line.
Optional Extension: Visit a local supermarket to see where how many different apples and other fruit and vegetables come from England. Or bring in lots of different apples
to try and see how many English varieties you can get hold of.
13 Learn and perform 2 traditional English country dances
Look up Palmer’s Pocket Playford for information on dance steps with full explanation of terms
For free music scores try www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/favtunesw/006963.HTM and www.scoreexchange.com/scores
15 Remembrance Sunday is not a solely English affair by any means.
However, it is very relevant to the shaping and
development of our country, from both an historical and modern perspective. Attend a local church and take part in the
remembrance day festival and/or service. Know why poppies are worn and where the leaf should point... don’t forget to
pin yours on correctly.
16 Find out about and suitably celebrate another English customary practice or festival.
There are lots around - Henley Regatta; Ascot; Trafalgar Day; Punky Night; Mischief Night; Crufts; Egremont Crab Fair (famous for Gurning
competition); Straw Bear Day; Worm Charming - to name but a few.
Section 4
A Tour of England
1 Imagine that a Guiding member from another country is coming to stay with you for a week.
She is your age. Plan what you
would do to give her a good insight into English culture. Make sure that any places you choose to visit are within 40
miles of where you live and try to keep costs low. Don’t forget that she will probably be interested in the whole spectrum
of history, nature, culture, music, people, education, family, food, sports and pastimes.
If you make your plans in groups, you could combine your results to come up with what you consider the best week you could give. The plan
could be retained as a source of ideas for hosts of overseas visitors when the next International camp is held in your area.
2 Learn some facts about 6 cities in England. For each of them know a famous landmark, the football team name, a famous
person or pop star and one other thing about each city. Be able to plan roughly where they are on a map.
3 As a group think of some famous English landmarks.
Then have a go at constructing models of some using whatever
materials you desire. You could use Lego, recycled cartons and pots, boxes, newspaper, paper mache, straws or
matches – anything to make a 3 dimensional copy.
Suggested landmarks: Big Ben, The London Eye, Stonehenge, The White Cliffs of Dover, the Angel of the North, Blackpool Tower, Hadrian’s
Wall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, York Minster.
5 Collect buttons from as many sources as you can and then decorate an old dress or other garment in the style of The
Pearly Kings and Queens from London. Know why the Pearly Kings and Queens organisations exist.
Optional Extension: Choose a charity of your own and fundraise for it. You could fundraise formally or simply collect pennies between you all until you have a one for every
button sewn on your pearly king and queen outfit.
6 Wimbledon Tennis Championships is one of the four great world tennis championships and the only one which is played on
grass. Hold your own tennis championship knockout or play English cricket. Celebrate the end of your tournament with
strawberries and cream in traditional Wimbledon style.
5 Make a collage of things that England is famous for.
The (English) world is your limit.
Possible items for inclusion:- – Phone boxes, London red buses, Black taxis, Oasis, Blur, Tea, Fish and Chips, Castles, Shakespeare, Oxford
and Cambridge Universities.
6 Visit a local castle or old English country house and find out about its history
7 Language is always developing and Shakespeare is the famous playwright accredited with bringing the most new words
into The English language. Our speech is also full of colloquialisms and slang, that is, words or phrases used to mean a
particular thing. For example a ‘do’ is a party, ‘give us a bell’ means ‘telephone me’ and ‘grub’s up’ means food is ready.
Sometimes colloquialisms and slang are nationally known but often different phrases tend to only be used in a particular
area.
Have fun developing new words to make your own contributions to the English language.
See how much slang you can come up with and how many of the phrases or words are local or national.
One easy way is to combine two things into one word e.g. puttle – put the kettle on.
Optional Extension: Learn a few phrases of Cockney rhyming slang. See if you can make up your own rhyming slang for some given objects such as home, school, mug,
plate, shirt etc and find out whether other members of your troop can guess what your rhyming slang is referring to.
8 England does not have an official anthem.
However, the United Kingdom's "God Save the Queen" is currently used. Other
songs are sometimes used, including "Land of Hope and Glory" (used as England's anthem in the Commonwealth
Games), "Jerusalem", "Rule Britannia", and "I Vow to Thee, My Country". Write and sing your own anthem for England
incorporating themes and values which you think represent the country.
9 Many English families have traditional coats of arms related to their surnames.
Find a little out about heraldry and then
draw the coat of arms for your family name. If there is no particular design for your name, you could create your own
coat of arms which you feel celebrates your personal or family values.
10 Learn and recognise the flowers and gems associated with each month of the year in England
Month
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
July
Flower
Poinsettia, Narcissus
Chrysanthemum
Calendula
Aster
Gladiolus
Larkspur
Gem
Turquoise
Topaz
Opal
Sapphire
Agate
Ruby
11 Know and be able to recognise the tree, leaf and fruit
for senior sections.
Month
Flower
Gem
June
May
April
March
Feb
Jan
Rose
Lily of the valley
Sweet pea
Jonquil
Primrose
Carnation
Pearl
Emerald
Diamond
Bloodstone
Amethyst
Garnet
of English trees – 3 for Rainbows, 5 for Brownies, 8 for Guides, 10
12 Know and recognise common English garden birds and insects
Rainbows should know and recognise at least 3 of each, Brownies 5, Guides 8, Rangers/Senior Section10 of each.
See www.woodlandnaturedetectives.co.uk for free spotter sheet downloads, trumps games and free related and similar material
13 Take a walk together in a local park or rural area and spot signs of activity of English wild animals.
holes, footprints, nests, tracks etc.
Look for homes,
www.woodlandnaturedetectives.co.uk has a good free footprint tracker sheet resource
14 Find out about the work of a local preservation society or invite a visitor from a local wildlife trust or a park keeper to talk
with you and learn ways in which you can protect the English countryside for future generations.
.
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Celebrating England Challenge
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