Buttons is a fun crafty award for Busy Bees. Busy Bees awards are often a bit light on crafts, so I really appreciate this crafty award in the year’s mix of awards. Although this optional award will fit nicely anywhere in year, I chose to make the button craft a Christmas tree ornament and scheduled it in December. (Looking for awards with Christmas ornaments for other classes? Little Lambs: Stars Award; Eager Beavers: Jesus’ Star.)
Button Box
Fulfills Requirements # 1 & 2
We used these cute plastic jars for our storage containers. I handed each Busy Bee a jar half-filled with an assortment of buttons (Multicolor assortment and “vintage” wooden buttons). This is just the beginning collection, and we’ll keep adding to it throughout the award. But, by handing them a container with buttons already inside, I know each adventurer has at least 50 buttons in a variety of designs and sizes.
To decorate the container, we used buttons (of course) and foam stickers (optional). We used glue dots to attach the buttons to the containers. I love how easy these are to work with and to rearrange. Unfortunately, the ones in our Adventurer room are not very permanent. I think I need to find a more permanent adhesive that is still extremely kid friendly. (Got any ideas? Leave me a comment. I need your help..) I spread extra buttons (and foam stickers) on the table. Kids could use the buttons in their collection, but they didn’t have to.
Pick a Hand
One of my “goals” in this meeting, is to keep finding ways to give kids more buttons! Whenever there was a little time to fill – earlier finishers of the craft, for instance – I would play pick a hand with kids. (Secretly put a random button in one hand. If the adventurer picks the correct hand, they get the button. If they guess incorrectly, we start over, and they get another chance. Maybe many more chances.)
Game: Who Has a Button?
Fulfills Requirement # 4
Fun Games Kids Play has instructions and game variations for Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button Game.
Button Tree
Fulfills Requirements # 3
I love these little tree ornaments and so did the kids! Each bee will need 2-3 brown medium buttons and 8-10 colored buttons in variety of sizes. The colored buttons could all be one one color or a variety of colors. (Trees might always be green, but your busy bees will enjoy making their trees in a variety of colors!) Each tree also needs a cord and a pony bead star. (I think these beads are similar in size to mine.)
For full instructions and a demonstration, watch the video below.
Hebrew 13:16
Fulfills Requirements # 5
Read and discuss this verse about sharing.
Button Trading
Required according to some, but not all, versions of this award.
After reading Hebrews 13:16 and discussing sharing and being fair to others, it’s time to trade some buttons. If you’ve spent time with Pathfinders during or after an international camporee, this is going to look very familiar to you! Fortunately, button trading with buttons they were just given is very low stakes and (hopefully) friendly. The button trading is fun, so if you can fit it in, I definitely recommend this activity.
This award took my class a meeting and a half. I think my previous class completed the entire award in one meeting – each group is so different! (Class size and length of class time are also huge variables.) I found making sure the button trees were finished before the meeting ended (so the kids could take them home for Christmas) a bit stressful. Next time I teach Buttons, I think we’ll start with the Button trees instead of the container decorating – containers can be decorated any time of the year!
Have you earned the Button Award with your Busy Bees? I’ve love to hear about your experience! Leave a comment and tell the best part! (Or the worst – I’m here to listen to both.)