Purpose: To educate Junior Girl Scouts about osteoporosis.
Requirements: Complete six (6) activities, including the four (4) with a single asterisk (*) and one (1) with a double asterisk (**).
This project should be done as a troop/group project. To obtain your Best Bones Badge, you must complete a Best Bones Pre-project Questionnaire before starting the project.
You may download the Best Bones Badge Booklet to print out for each girl. It includes the requirements, Exercise Log, Pre-project Questionnaire, Risk Assessment and Home Safety Checklist.
* Complete the Pre-Project Questionnaire before continuing with badge requirements. Revisit the questionnaire after completion and discuss with your leader what you have learned.
* Learn about osteoporosis. What is it and how can it be prevented? Discuss your findings with your troop.
Complete the Risk Assessment Tool to find out your risk of developing osteoporosis. Have another person fill out the risk assessment tool, such as your mother, grandmother or other family member. Compare your answers.
Discuss with your troop which risk factors for osteoporosis you can control and those you cannot.
* Learn about calcium rich foods and how to make sure you are getting the recommended amount of calcium. Using food models, develop snack recipes to increase the amount of calcium in your diet. Share your snack ideas.
* Learn about the types of exercise and which ones are best to prevent osteoporosis. Keep an Exercise Log for one week. Discuss with your troop. Try an exercise that is NEW for one week.
Learn about two health professionals who work with osteoporosis. Choose one and explain why it could be an interesting job. Share the information with your troop.
Learn more about weightlessness and astronauts. How does weightlessness relate to osteoporosis? Share the findings with your troop.
** Evaluate the safety of your own home, or the home of your grandmother, other elderly relative, or elderly family friend using a Home Safety Checklist. Discuss your findings with your troop. Develop a plan with recommendations for changes to make sure the environment is safe.
** Attend or participate in a health fair or exhibit.
Develop a public service announcement, poster, skit, or rap song to let others know about osteoporosis and what you can do to prevent it. Present the material to a group or other suitable audience.
