Folk Arts (Junior Badge)

1. Family Portrait
Before the days of instant and
digital cameras, painters often
traveled around, stopping to make
pictures of families wherever they
were asked. Often, they were asked
to include details that were
important to the family. Draw or
paint a picture of yourself or your
family as an artist might have done
it before cameras were invented.
Include some things that are dear
to you and your family, such as
family heirlooms (valuable objects
handed down from generation to
generation), favorite hobbies, toys,
books, or collections.

2. A Picture Tells a Thousand Thoughts
Look at some old photographs of
your family or other people.
Examine the poses, clothes, and
facial expressions. Do they seem
different from what you see in
pictures ta.ken recently? What do the
pictures tell you about the people
and their lives? Write captions or a
short story about the pictures.

3. Tell a Story
Practice the art of storytelling. If
possible, get together with a local
storyteller or children's librarian
and ask how she/he keeps an
audience interested. Find a fairy
tale, myth, or legend that you like.
Practice telling it out loud, as you
would if you were rehearsing a part
in a play. Retell it, or part of it, to a
group, perhaps at a special
ceremony or event.

4. Fancy Feet
Learn a folk dance. Teach a friend
or troop members some folk steps
and dances.

5. Traditional Art
Learn an art form that was
traditional for girls 75 years or
more ago. Complete a small
project using that art form.

6. What Toys Tell Us
Find pictures of old children's toys
or games, or visit a museum,
historical house, or antique store.
Talk to grandparents or older
relatives who grew up in the preelectronic
age about the toys they
played with as youngsters.

7. Folk Arts
Around the Globe
Look for examples and pictures of
traditional folk arts from at least
three countries. Do a folk art
project either by following written
instructions or by doing what
someone teaches you.

8. A Feast of Folk Crafts
Work on a large folk art project
that requires lots of helping hands,
such as a taffy pull, a kite flying
festival, or a troop quilt.

9. Fresh and Original
Create a new folk art product,
using handmade or store-bought
items. Some examples are adding
enamel paint designs to old
pottery or dishes, making scented
candles or soaps, making paper,
or adding decorative items (beads,
buttons, ribbons, etc.) to clothing.
As with any project, use non-toxic
materials that meet safety standards.

10. Time Travel
Visit a place near you where
antiques, historical crafts, or
collections of folk art are on
display. You might visit museums,
antique stores, or places
designated as historic landmarks.
Find out how items on display were
used in the past