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1st January - New Years Day

Traditionally the first of January is a time to make resolutions, to throw away unneeded items and clean the house.

Activities: Use the Promise as a foundation and discuss the differences in resolutions like “Lose Weight” & “Exercise More” when compared to “Tidy my room weekly”, “Help Mum with the Dishes”, “Help at local food bank” etc. Make unit guidelines and agree to stick to them.

Take it further: Challenge each other with achievable goals. Maintain a record of these goals and check back regularly to see how you are each getting on.

4th January (1809) – Birth of Louis Braille

He invented the Braille system to help blind people read and write, after losing his sight at the age of 3.

Activities: Use the Braille Alphabet to write messages to each other.

Take it further: Set up a treasure hunt using Braille words for clues. Have stations with blindfolds and feely bags along the route for extra challenges. Challenge each other to complete simple tasks blindfolded. Invite a person who is blind or partially sighted to come and talk about using Braille.

Badge Links: Disability Awareness Interest badge

Web Link: https://uk.pinterest.com/jfbamber/learning-braille/

4th January (1643) - Birth of Isaac Newton

He was a genius and one of the most influential men in history. He was a mathematician, inventor, astronomer and a philosopher among many other things, and is credited with several scientific advancements in addition to all the other skills he had and used to better the scientific community.  He discovered that light can be separated out into colours using a prism.

Activities: Do some maths games, or stargazing. Think about an invention which would make your life, or that of a friend, easier. In small groups, have a philosophical discussion.

Take it further: Design your own scientific experiment. Work out what you want to know, how to test it, what variables you want to look at and what precautions to take.

Badge Links: Guides Science badge, or the Brownies Science Investigator badge

11th January – Amelia Earhart

Every year on January 11th people celebrate the brave woman named Amelia Earhart who ventured out in 1935 for a 2-day solo plane ride across the Pacific Ocean and sadly was never heard from again.

Activities: Paper aeroplane night: fastest, best flyer, best stunts etc. Try this website for printable designs: http:/www.funpaperairplanes.com/

Take it further: Visit an Airport or Aerodrome, take a trip to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil or something similar, or have a pilot come to talk to your unit.

25th January – Burns Night

A Burns Night Supper is held to celebrate the life & poetry of Robert Burns, whose birthday was 25th January 1759.

Activities: Hold a Burns Night Supper including Haggis with Neeps and Tatties. Read some Robert Burns Poetry and have a go a writing you own. Sing Auld Lang Syne to finish off your night.

Take it further: Have a go at Scottish folk dancing, or get somebody to come and play the bagpipes for you. Research to see if you have a tartan for your surname, but if not why not design your own.

Other ideas for January

Make bird feeders to help the birds see the rest of the winter through.

January is normally the coldest month of the year. Have a snowball fight with newspapers, go skiing or ice-skating.

Wassailing often occurs during January. Gifts of cider and cake are offered up to the apple trees with songs to encourage a good harvest. Why not wassail in a local orchard or even in your nearest park.

Birth Flower: Carnation

Birth Stone: Garnet