The Playing the Past badge is part of the “It's Your Story - Tell It!” badge set introduced in 2011.
Step 1: Decide who you are[]
Pick your time period and do a little research. What did girls do? What did they like? Then use one of the choices to come up with the details of your character’s life.
CHOICES – DO ONE:
Write her diary. Pretend to be your character and write a week’s diary about your daily life.
OR
Write a speech for your character. If she could have gotten up and spoken her mind, what would she have said – and to whom would she have said it? Pick a scenario and write her words.
FOR MORE FUN: Perform it for an audience!
OR
Play a game of 20 questions. If your character actually existed, have a partner try to guess who she is or from what time period she is by asking your questions. Then tell her all about the character.
Step 2: Create a costume[]
Now it’s time to work on your look. Create a costume that matches your character’s lifestyle and time period. If a specific part of the outfit (such as an extra-long skirt) serves a particular purpose or function, find out what it is.
CHOICES – DO ONE:
Do it yourself. Stitch your own outfit, or make one from a pattern (ask an adult for help if you need it). Or visit a thrift shop to find clothing to decorate.
For More Fun: Add a hairdo! Style your hair for your time period, too.
OR
Make two or three accessories. What kinds of decorations did girls wear in your time period? Pick something to re-create. This could be a hat, necklace of fake jewels, or a lady knight’s shield.
OR
Draw it out. Sketch and label a typical outfit as if you were a fashion designer from the era.
For More Fun: Make a simple doll from paper (or use a doll you have) and make the outfit for her to wear.
More to Explore
Pretend you’re a Girl Scout from the past. If your character is from the past 100 years, find out how her Girl Scout uniform would have looked – and make your best copy.
Step 3: Experience daily life[]
Immerse yourself in your character’s time period. Think about what her lifestyle would have been like, and live it out. This is your chance to spend a day seeing the world through your character’s eyes.
CHOICES – DO ONE:
What are our chores/duties? Take on one. You might hand-dip candles, churn butter in a jar, embroider a sampler, or make a doll.
OR
Food and meals. Research a recipe and make a typical dish a girl from that time period might have prepared for her family.
OR
Home Sweet Home. Where would you have lived? Create a model of your character’s home – you might make a teepee or Mongolian yurt (a kind of tent) or draw and label the parts of a castle.
More to Explore
Find out how your character would have lived if she had had a disability. Share what you learn with your Girl Scout group. How would things be different for her today?
Step 4: Have some old-fashioned fun[]
Every girl has a favorite game. Find out what kinds of things girls in your chosen time period did for fun then try out an activity yourself.
CHOICES – DO ONE:
Make music! Find out what sounds were popular in your day and share them with others. You could look up sheet music and sing or play a song, make an instrument, or even compose something.
OR
Play a game – or two. What kinds of parlor or party games existed? Make a board game or play cards in a style popular for the times. What sort of outside games were played? Gather your friends and try one.
OR
Create art. What types of art were popular? Sculpt something from clay, do a painting or drawing in a period-appropriate style, or try out a dance from your era.
Step 5: Become your character[]
Now, act as your character. Wear your costume and plan to share one thing about your life. You could teach some friends a game you learned, share the food you made with your family, or tell anything else you can dream up to other Girl Scout Juniors or classmates at school.
CHOICES – DO ONE:
Make your own event. Maybe each girl is a character from Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott, and you celebrate Amy’s wedding. Or perhaps you can set up a medieval feast, pioneer day at the park, or a big dance typical of the time period. If you’re from different eras, make it a living-history jamboree – could you each have a booth to represent your era?
OR
Have a living-history party. Get together with your group and have everyone share their characters. Or be the star yourself, and bring the era to life for friends or family.
OR
Attend a history-oriented event in your town. Local historical museums and libraries sometimes host events that celebrate the past. Many cities have yearly Renaissance fairs, and some places stage reenactments of historical events. See if you can find one in your era, and make this badge a way to get yourself ready to attend.