1. Choose an animal and keep a diary about what it does.
Pick an animal you can watch without disturbing it. If you don’t have a pet choose the pet of a neighbour, friend or relative, or set up a bird-feeding table in your garden or on a balcony or watch any wild animals who visit.
Put aside some time for ten days to observe your chosen animal. Watch the animal at different times of the day so that you see it doing different things.
It is important not to disturb your animal when you watch it.
Make a note of:
· Any facts you can find out about the animal.
· Anything the animal does.
· When, how and what your animal eats.
· What it drinks
· How the animal keeps fit. Does it need to be taken out and exercised? Does it like to play? Does it have toys?
· Any friends the animal has. Does it need company?
· How your animal keeps clean? Does it need grooming or brushing? Does it ever need to see a vet? What other care does it need?
· Where the animal lives. Does it keep its space clean or do you have to clean it? How much space does it need?
· Special or interesting behaviour. Does your animal have any special habits? Why does it behave like it does?
2. Imagine that you are going on a two-week holiday and a friend is going to look after your animal.
This could be the animal from your diary (see Clause 1), your own pet, or you could make up an animal. Leave your friend clear instructions about how to take care of your animal.
Include a list of what your animal does to help your friend understand when your animal needs something. Make sure that your friend knows what to do if your animal gets ill or if there is an emergency.
3. Animals in danger
Choose a wild animal and find out as much as you can about it. Draw a picture or find a photo to illustrate your project. Include:
· a description of the animal
· what it feeds on who its predators are
· where it lives and how the animal is specially suited to the place it lives
· whether it is in danger and why
· what can be done to help the animal and whether there are any special organisations to help the animal.
4. Present your project in writing, or record it onto an audio or video tape and show it to a group of people, this could be your Patrol, your unit, some Brownies or a group of friends etc. Make your presentation as exciting and attractive as possible. End your presentation by telling everyone what they can do to make the animal’s life better.
5. Design an activity or game for Brownies to help them to understand the responsibilities that come with having a pet. You could make a poster, design a board game or put on a play with some friends. Think of ways you could involve the Brownies in the activity. Test your activity out on a group of Brownies.