It's a pleasure to share craft ideas!
1. Make flags, or even better, 2-inch strip paper chains made from the three colors of the German flag in construction paper: red, black and yellow/gold. You can hang these long chains like banners or have the troop carry them in a procession.
2. Playdough pretzels with kosher salt or glitter pressed against them. Want to go cheaper? Flour and water as a thick paste - dries hard as a rock. Paint them to look more like pretzels before adding the salt or glitter. Work on waxed paper or formica for easy clean up.
3. Make felt Tyrolean hats (they're not just for Austrians): dark green felt cut into a homburg hat profile with a little feather attached on the diagonal. Feathers are easy to collect - or make the whole hat from construction papers.
4. Potato stamps. Use toothpicks, edges of potato peelers and safe butter knives. Dip and print.
5. Paint little milk cartons into Hansel and Gretl gingerbread houses. Show the troop some pictures of gingerbread houses (or set them up on dispaly) as inspiration.
6. Germany has more windmills than any country in the world! How to: Cut construction paper into a square (if your paper is 9 x 12 inches, your square should be 9 x 9 inches). Fold your square in half on both diagonals and crease. Reopen your piece of paper. The creases will make an X. Cut along each diagonal crease up to about half an inch from the center. Fold the right corner of each triangle to the center and attach with pushpin to the eraser of a pencil. Blow into the pinwheel to watch it spin!
7. The oak is the national tree of Germany. You can make leaf rubbings with leaves, paper and crayons. No leaves around? Cut out construction paper leaves from a template (you can find them easily online).
8. Schultüten - First Day of School Cone. The first day of school is a big deal for kids and family. Decorate paper with glitter, stickers, crayons and roll and tape into a cone. Fill with treats and/or tiny toys.
9. Make German-English picture dictionaries. These are fun and so easy to be creative with. Even better, the Brownies learn some German and can trade or keep the booklets. See the link below; it's loaded with many ideas and themes!
Viel Spaß! (Have lots of fun!)
Auf Wiedersehen!
Frederic Kahler