| Have the girls count off 1 – 6. This will
divide your group into six smaller ones. Give each group their "cue word"
and let them practice their sound and motion, so they know what to do when
their "cue word" is read.
Word
Sound Motion
Girls - giggle hands in front of mouth
Granny - oh, my! both hand slap knees
Brownies - Be Prepared! stand and make the Girl Scout Sign
House - come in! motion with right hand to come in
Owl - whoo-whoo bend arms and flap hands
Forest - moannnn sway with arms up and fingers moving
Story
Once upon a time, there were two little girls who lived in England with
their granny and their father. The girls played all day while the granny and
father had to work very hard. One day granny told the girls about the
Brownies, who used to do lots of things to help around the house. They are
gone now, she said, but we were always so much happier when they helped. The
girls wanted to know where the Brownies had gone and how to get them to come
back. Granny said, "only the wise old owl knows!"
That night, when everyone else was asleep,
one of the girls ran out of the house into the magic forest. There she found
the wise old owl. "Please", said the girl, "where can I find the Brownies to
come and live with us? The owl said, "I know where two live – right in your
house!" She was very surprised! Tell me how to find them, she begged. He
told her to go to the pond in the magic forest, turn around three times and
say, "twist me and turn me and show me the elf… I looked in the water and
saw…….!" The wise old owl said, "When you finish the rhyme, you will see the
Brownie in the magic pond."
The girl went to the pond in the magic
forest and did as she had been told. She went back to the forest and found
the wise old owl and said, " something must be wrong, I did all you told me
to do and I only saw myself! And I am not a Brownie!" " Are you sure?" said
the owl. To be a Brownie, you must be ready to help those around you, make
friends wherever you can, and every day try to discover something new. "I'd
like to be a Brownie", said the girl. Then go home and try, the wise old owl
said kindly. He touched her hand with his feathers, and suddenly she was
back in her house, in her own bed.
Quietly, she woke up her sister, told her
all that had happened. Together the girls tip-toed into the kitchen and
began to clean the house. In the morning, when granny and father saw the
house, they wanted to know what had happened. "Who did this?" said granny
and father! The girls danced around and shouted, "it's the Brownies!" And
from that day on, theirs was a very happy house near the forest, all because
of the Brownies!
Brownie Story Play
Scene I (at home)
Grandma: (speaking to children)
Oh, me, Oh, my. I've worked so hard
To clean this house all day
I think that you should help a bit,
But all you do is play.
Father:
I've chopped the wood and swept the walk
The cows and pigs are fed,
My poor old back is aching and
My legs feel like they're dead!
Grandma:
Some folks I know had all the luck
A brownie used to come
And wash the dishes, sweep the floor
And pick up every crumb.
Father:
I wish we had a brownie so
That we could rest a bit.
Where could we find one?
OH--the wise old owl--that's it!
Scene II (the wood)
Mary:
Oh! Here's the tree in which the owl
Has built his little nest
I hope that he'll be wise and not
Say no to my request.
Oh, Mr. Owl, please help me
For you're so very wise
I want to find some brownies
To take home as a surprise.
I play all day and do not help at home a
little bit.
I haven't any time to spare from play, I
must admit.
Owl:
To-whit, to-whoo, there was no reason
That you should have to roam.
For there are brownies living with
Your Grandma in your home.
Mary:
How can that be?
Why they have never shown themselves at all!
Please tell me - are they fat or thin,
And are they short or tall?
Please tell me how to find them
I will do just what you say
If I could help my Grandma
I would thank you every day.
Owl:
Go to the lake-the moon is bright
And turn three times around
Then gaze into the pool and there
A brownie will be found.
But first you say some magic words
Before you start to look
And there they are - you'll find them
Written in that open book.
Mary:
Twist me and turn me,
And show me the elf-
I looked in the mirror and saw _."
Owl:
To-whit, to-whoo, I'm really such
A very wise old bird
Do what I've told you, then you'll find
The missing magic word!
Scene III (another part of the wood)
Mary:
Well, here I am - I'll say the verse
While looking in the pool
And I shall see the brownie
Gazing up through the waters cool.
"Twist me and turn me and show me the elf,
I looked in the water and saw. MYSELF
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