A Girls World Holiday Happening

Sockhop Presents: Holiday How-To's -- with Survival Tips from Girls and Teens!

For Your School

My math teacher came up with a really cool idea for our class to do for the holidays. She asked us each to come up with a presentation about whatever holiday we celebrated around wintertime.

She said some people could team up and do a joint presentation, if they wanted to. For instance, if their were 8 kids in the class who celebrated Chanukah, then they could all team up and make one, big, presentation. So each person or group would come up with a 1 or 2 minute presentation about what the meaning of their holiday is, and would also have some sort of visual display about it.

When we did ours, here's what we did: everyone in the class who celebrated Christmas teamed up, everyone who celebrated Chanukah teamed up, everyone who celebrated Ramadan teamed up, etc., etc. Some people who celebrated more than one holiday chose one so it would be more diverse. We even included New Year's Day, a Las Posadas celebration, and St. Lucia.

The entire 8th grade went into the auditorium for our presentation. Everyone did their presentations and showed their display. For Chanukah, they had brought in a menorah, for Christmas they brought in a Nativity scene, for Kwanzaa they brought in a Kinara candleholder, for Ramadan a Muslim calendar with the 9th month outlined, for New Year's a party hat, wine glass, corkscrew, and confetti, for St. Lucia a head wreath, and for the Las Posadas celebration a lace "mantilla" with a "comb" to hold in place.

Afterwards, our principal made a display case in the hall where he organized photos of the event, all of our visuals, and an explanation of what we did.

Here's what you'll need to make your own presentation:

• teacher/ principal's permission
• a place for the presentation
• everyone needs their own materials for visuals
• a set date for presentation, so that everyone knows when to have their presentation ready

I know our school had a lot of fun doing this, so I hope that it's fun for others if you try it out!

by Carolyn O, New York

Holiday Photography Tips

Can't tell one Christmas from the next? Don't let your holiday pictures be boring! With a little planning you can be a great photographer! Here's how!

• Load your camera with new batteries before the holidays. Keep it with you in your backpack.
• Don't shoot at glass objects like windows, or shiny surfaces. You'll get glare.
• Don't jump around when you click the shutter. Be as still as you can.
• Take pictures before Christmas! Take pictures of decorating the tree, writing cards and letters.
• Do a home journal: before and after Christmas Day.
• Dad just got that new gym together? Freeze the moment! Snap a shot!
• For best results, be quick on the clicker.
• Group pix: picnic tables and steps are good: so are stairways.
• Got a self-timer on your camera? Use it and jump into the pix!
• Don't tell people you're taking a picture. They'll get all nervous.
• Think action! Swinging, dancing, tearing open presents.
• Get close to your subject. Take two steps closer than you think you should.
• Goof with your camera. Get down on the floor. Hang over a sofa pillow, upside down. Turn the camera on its side, or try using the self timer to document your own Christmas experience.
• Check out this cool site. It's National Geographic's Camera Bag. It's got lots of hot tips on taking great pictures.

Chauntel, 15, Arizona

Change The World Today!

Big dinner last night? Got lots of food left over? Make a couple of extra sandwiches. Put them in a bag with some cookies and chips. Now when you go shopping, you can give a homeless person something good to eat. And make a real difference in someone's life.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Shopping for Christmas Presents

Hey! Do you always run out of Christmas money at last minute? Well, here's a way to avoid it! First, write a list of all the people you have to buy presents for, or want to buy. Secondly, count-up all the money you have. Then divide it between each person. Or, if you have a savings account ask your parents if you can get some money out of it. Some presents will cost more than other people's presents, but that's okay! Merry Christmas!

Johanna R., 11, Illinois

Change The World Today!

Tessa loves the forest. She loves getting mail too. But if you're an American, then you'll get over 2 million tons of junk mail this year. That's a lot of trees lost. And most folks don't have time to open half of it! So here's something you can do to save a whole lot of trees.

For every 100,000 girls who write and send this letter, we'll save 150,000 trees a year! The animals and trees living in our forests will sure be glad for your help!

Ask your parents if you can write a letter to keep your names and addresses from being sold to any more mailing list companies. This will reduce your junk mail by 50%. And you'll still get stuff you want! Like your favorite catalogues.

If they say "yes", ask your librarian for the address of the Direct Marketing Association in your country. If you live in the U.S.A., here's the address. Just address an envelope to the following: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 11 West 42nd St., PO Box 3861, New York, NY 10163-3861

Now take a sheet of paper and write down the following: Dear Sir or Madam: Please remove our names from your list. (Dad's Name) (Mom's Name) (Your brother's or sister's name) (Your Name) Sincerely, (Your Name) (Address) (City, State and Zip Code).

Send it off! And thanks for taking time to change the world today!

Agw Girlcrew idea

A Christmas Game

Here is a great Christmas game: First, you wake up a run to a room and say into somebody's ear: Christmas Gift! That person scores 10 points. The 2nd to do so wins 5 and so on. You take the scores to how ever many your family has. Mine has 5, so if I wake up first and whisper it into Aaron's ear I get 10. If he whispers it in Adam's ear he gets 5. Adam whispers it into Mother's ear, he gets 4. Mother whispers it into Daddy's ear, and she gets 1 point. Daddy loses and has to make breakfast, lunch, or supper.

Amanda B

Safety Tips: Shopping!

Never, ever walk through the mall alone. Always team up. Go with a friend. And if someone tries to separate you? Like the old - can one of you go check my car tires for me? Run and tell security. They'll give help if it's needed.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Do A Kris Kringle

Doing a "Kris Kringle" is an old winter holiday tradition. Instead of playing a trick on someone, you treat them instead. Wrap up a plate of cookies or an ornament. Make up a tag that says, "Kris Kringle thinks you're special. Have a happy day!" Then leave the cookies with the tag at someone's house. You can also do something nice like rake leaves or clean up and then leave a card - Kris Kringle raked your leaves today just to say "thanks for being my neighbor". The important thing is that they don't find out who gave them the gift or did the good deed. You get the joy of knowing you just made the world a better place, and they get to feel good too.

Meg, California

Change The World Today!

Call the local animal shelter. See what they need. Blankets? Food? Have a scavenger hunt for these items in your neighborhood. Collect the food and blankets and take them down to the animal shelter. While you're there, go pet a pet a homeless cat or dog. And if your friends are thinking of a new pet? Tell them about the homeless animals at the shelter who'd love to come home with them. You'll be glad you did!

Agw Girlcrew idea

A Winters Tale Party Game!

Cold outside? Warm yourself with your imagination! Get a pack of index cards and a pen. Write a phrase on each card that makes you think of a Winter's fairy tale. Get a minute timer. Then, pass around the deck of cards, face down. Each girl picks up a card and begins to spin a story for one minute or 30 seconds. She has to keep talking. Then she hands the cards to the next girl, who picks one and turns the story another direction. Here's some ideas about what to put on the cards.

the wooden floor creaked

the princess coughed

in the corner, lay a beautiful China doll. It was...

the candlelight flickered

it was a magic mirror, and a woman's face appeared

a hand touched me...I turned. It was the Ice King!

the door opened. It was the Prince of Thieves!

the dragon shook itself, and moved toward me

the crystal vase was filled with icy jewels

fairies scattered across the forest floor

a Warrior Princess rode in on a silver horse

the Frost Wolves howled

it was an Ice Giant

The King of Fairie had returned to claim me as his bride

it was a golden harp, with power to enchant all who heard its music

the invitation to the King's Ball had my name on it

I tried to run, but I couldn't move!

Santa Lucia grabbed my arm

there was a ice sprite, rising from the lake

Annette.c, 13, Colorado

Change The World Today!

Agw Girlcrew idea

New Year, New Face

This works as a party game or just as a fun thing to do with friends. Gather up all the old makeup you can find - blush, lipstick, powder, mascara. Get a box of props - hats, pipes, glasses, fake noses, scarves, wigs and jewelry. Now get a bunch of uncut melons and vegetables like zucchini squash or butternut squash. Divide the girls up into groups and give them a half hour to make a melon or vegetable into a character. Take a picture of yourselves with your creation. They will be hilarious!

Sharron.p 12, Pennsylvania

A Gift From The Heart

Want something different to give for Christmas? How about giving a Christmas letter as a present? Choose one person -- someone special who lives far away. Maybe your grandparents or an old friend, a teacher you like. Then write a special letter about what you've been up to. Include pictures of you and your friends. Write about your hopes, your dreams. Tell them how you feel about them. You'll be giving them the best present possible - a gift of your time and love.

Anonymous

A Gift of Peace

Everyone says they want "peace on earth". Did you know you have the power to make it happen? Start out the New Year by giving someone a gift that will make you both feel great! Give the gift of mercy. Forgive someone who's done you wrong. We all make mistakes. If you forgive others, maybe someone will forgive you when you need it most.

Karen.w, California

Give The Gift Of Time!

We all know someone who is alone. Think about making a phone call to someone who hasn't heard from you for a while. Plan an outing with just you and dad, or you and mom. Time is the most precious gift of all.

AGW Girlcrew Idea

Baby Sitter's Survival Tips!

This is a fun party game and also works if you're baby sitting a bunch of kids. This game is a takeoff on the old "easter egg" hunt. Hide candy all over the yard or the living room. Also hide small trees, bells, santa hats, reindeer, and snowflakes you've cut out of cardboard. Each cardboard tree, bell or hat etc. has a number on it. Give a prize of a holiday cookie, toy or treat for the kid who finds the most goodies and numbers. Then draw numbers from a bowl. Whoever has that number gets a prize. If you're having a party, then wrap up an extra gift for a prize. If you're baby sitting, let whoever wins the number pick the next game or story. You can also wrap up some cookies as a treat.

Meg, California

Winter Wandering

Shopping. Parties. Wrapping gifts. Running all over. It can wear you out, girlfriend! Don't forget to recharge once in a while! Step outside and take a walk. Look at the stars. Dream a little. Enjoy the smell of crisp, fresh air. Just breathe and be still for a minute or two. Take a sketch pad and a pencil and draw what you see. Get a handful of bread crumbs and watch the birds gather for a winter treat. Take time to enjoy the world around you.

AGW Girlcrew idea

Winter Wonderland Mural

This is fun for parties or just a neat thing to do with friends and family. You'll need a garage door or a wall and big sheets of butcher paper. Have your friends or family line up against the butcher paper. Trace their shape. Then paint scarves, hats, reindeer antlers, animal ears and tails - whatever your imagination desires - transforming your friends and family into fun/funny wintry beasts. Rachel's family does this at their New Years party. Everyone uses their shape to write what they hope and dream for the coming year. Then they draw wishes, fortunes, jokes, giggles and gags onto every family member's shape. Then they cut it up and give everyone their own shape back. Rachel tapes hers onto the back of her bedroom door. Try it! It's fun!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Photo Parlor Party!

Ever notice how no one has time to put all their photos and treasures into an album? Have a photo parlor party with your friends! Invite them to bring their boxes of pictures and old movie stubs and treasures. Make albums from construction paper or buy inexpensive photo albums. Rent a couple of old movies you like. Or set up a collection of your favorite CD's. Then pop some popcorn and get ready to spend the afternoon sharing your memories and treasures as you glue them down into your photo album.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Organize A Wildlife Walk!

Almost every town or city has a chapter of the Audobon Society or Wildlife Federation or Sierra Club. They schedule walks all year round to show you the birds and other furry residents of your area. Take a couple of friends and go take a walk on the wild side. (Teen hint! It's a great way to meet new friends -and guys.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Fortune's Merry Masks

This is a fun thing for families and friends to do for New Years Eve. Buy plain white masks from the store, one for each guest or friend or family member. Pile collections of feathers, shells, beads, jewels, fake flowers and leaves, old earrings, sea shells, sequins, springs, left over electronic parts, stickers, etc. Put out bowls of colored glitter - silver and gold and metallic colors, and paints. Cut from magazines and newspapers words of wishes, hopes and fortunes for the New Year: money, fame, friends, health, wealth, love etc. Have several bottles of white glue on the table, and pie tins to pour the glue in. Now invite your guests to make their own Fortune for the New Year by gluing it onto the mask. It makes a great "hang up" decoration next to your bed or mirror. Have fun!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Build A Family Bonfire

This is a New Years custom practiced in many cultures. (Warning! Requires adult supervision! But it's fun for the whole family!) Take two bowls. Fill them with slips of white paper. Label one bowl "faults", the other "future". Then in the "faults" bowl, everyone writes down all the things that trouble each person that she or he would like to change. A quick temper. Being thoughtless and uncaring. Being late all the time. Overspending. In the other bowl, write down your plans for the future. What steps will you take to tame your temper? What could you do to be more thoughtful? What steps do you have to take to stop being late? What changes are you going to make this year? Then build a fire in the BBQ or in the fireplace. One by one, burn the slips of paper from the fault bowl in the fireplace. Forgive yourself for what you did wrong and promise to try to do better next year. Then share what changes everyone is planning to make from the "future" bowl. Toast marshmallows together to celebrate the bright future you're all ready to make happen.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Fabulous Freaky Fortunes

Go to a thrift store and buy an old book of horoscopes. Cut the horoscopes apart so each horoscope is a single slip of paper like a fortune cookie. Put these fortunes in one bowl. Then, put lots of folded slips of paper in another bowl with the following topics: Love, Money, Your Future Mate, Your Dream Date, A Mysterious Stranger, Your Career, School. Gather your guests around. You pick from the topic bowl, and each guest pulls a fortune out and reads it. That's their future lot in life!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Create A Gift Cupboard!

Last year, Tessa got three copies of one book she really wanted for Christmas. What to do with the other two? Tessa created a gift cupboard. She put the two extra books on a shelf in her closet along with other nice gifts she got but didn't need... like a whole bunch of cool hair ornaments. Now, Tessa has a gift stash of books, mugs, stickers, frames, cookbooks and games to give friends. It's one way to solve the problem of where to find that last minute gift!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Scour the Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Do a good turn for the homeless and have fun. Make up a list of 15-20 items for your guests that a battered women's shelter might be able to use. Here's some examples.

Shampoo. Toothpaste. A new toothbrush. A bar of soap. Used clothing. Blankets. Kids toys. A baby bottle. A sweater. A coat. Canned goods. Canned Baby food. Canned Cat or dog food.

Divide your friends or party goers up into four or five groups and send them out into the neighborhood to hunt. Have prizes for the team that comes back with all or the most items, and some consolation prizes too. Set a half hour to hour time limit. Then donate what you collect to a local shelter for the homeless, or for battered women.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Survival Tips: For Baby Sitters!

Here's a fast, easy recipe for play clay. Take a medium sized saucepan. Into the pan, mix one pound (a box) of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda with 1 cup of cornstarch and 1 1/4 cups of cold water. Constantly stir the mixture over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. It will look like mashed potatoes when its ready. Take the pan off the stove and cover it with a damp paper towel or cloth until it's cool enough to pick up. When the play clay is cool, you can use a roller to roll the play dough flat and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Then you can make sculptures or jewelry - whatever you like! It will dry overnight on a wire rack. You can also quickdry the play clay sculptures by putting them on a cookie sheet and baking them in the oven on the lowest setting for 10 to 15 minutes. You can paint them with poster or acrylic paints or nail polish.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Decorate Your Back Pack

Geri saw the coolest back pack last year. Jingle Bells, strands of holly, sequined appliques, fake flowers and shimmering earrings and pins were sewn all over one teen's pack for a glamourous look Geri never forgot! It made that back pack hard to miss and discouraged purse-snatchers too. Go wild! Decorate your back pack.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Start A New Years Tradition!

Buy a big, plain colored tablecloth. It can be red, white, green or gold. Then buy a set of permanent fabric markers. Let everyone who comes to your New Years party sign it and write something special. Use this tablecloth every year as a ongoing memory of all the New Years you've spent with friends.

Agw Girlcrew idea

End That Closet Clutter!

You know how much Rachel loves clothes. Every New Year she cleans out her closets and drawers to get rid of all that old stuff she's not going to wear. Rachel donates her clothes to a local Homeless Woman's Shelter. She asks her brothers to clean their closets out too. It's a fun way to start the New Year...and make room for the latest styles too!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Recycle Junk Mail!

Start the New Year off right by recycling your families junk mail! Put the newsprint in with your newspapers to recycle. If it's white or colored paper, make a bag for them too. Most recycling centers accept both white and colored paper. You can recycle the envelopes too. But pull the plastic windows out if there's plastic windows inside.

Agw Girlcrew idea

What You Buy Can Change The World!

Do you love dolphins and whales? Then ask your parents to buy albacore and bonita instead of cans of regular tuna. It tastes exactly the same. But dolphins don't get trapped in albacore and bonita nets. So save a dolphin's life today. Just change what you buy!

Agw Girlcrew idea

What You Do Can Change The World!

Take that leftover pie or brownies or cookies. Put it on a nice paper plate. Add a flower. Now go check in on that older person down your street. Or the lady that's alone. Or the single mom. Go say hi. It's a nice way of changing the world for the better right where you live!

Agw Girlcrew idea

Survival Tips: Dealing With Aunt Aggie!

Okay. So, Aunt Aggie has spent the day glued to you like plastic wrap to a bowl. She won't take the hint that you need a BREAK! Hey, girl. You've got an audience. Think of it as your chance to try your very best betcha's or knock knocks or jokes. Or you can talk about the Internet. Or surfing the web. Or the latest fad at school. Talk about something YOU like for a change of pace! Last resort? Go help with the dishes. Or take out the garbage. Or go to the bathroom and hide out for awhile. Do whatever you can to keep your cool.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Survival Tips: Dealing With Aunt Aggie!

Making "small talk" isn't easy. But here's some ideas. If you find yourself hanging out with Aunt Aggie and you don't know what to say, ask how she does nearly anything. Ask her about what winters were like when she was a kid. Ask how she met Uncle Aggie. Asked how she liked being in the Marines, picked a school, her career or her husband. Ask her if she ever has interesting dreams. People love to share stories about their lives. Aunt Aggie will probably like telling you about hers. Good luck!

Agw Girlcrew idea

What You Eat Can Change The World!

Ever wonder how the animals are treated that you eat? Rachel likes to buy milk that says: Organically grown! No hormones or pesticides or antibiotics! Humane treatment! Our cows have access to clean water, fresh air and exercise! It's a couple of pennies more, but health experts say your health will be better without all those additives. And the animals that feed us deserve a decent life too. So buy eggs from range fed chickens. Eat organically grown fruits and vegetables whenever you can. And eat a vegetarian meal -- like a yummy soup or veggie burgers three or four times a week. Both you and our world will be healthier.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Preserve Your Heritage!

The New Year is a great time to practice being a reporter. Get a tape recorder and some blank tape. Now take your parents or your grandma and grandpa, or your aunts and uncles, cousins and friends to a quiet corner. Ask them what their hopes and dreams are for the coming year! Ask them what's the funniest thing that's happened to them so far! Ask what's the greatest challenge they've overcome? The most heroic thing they've done? Who are their heroines? Have they ever run across prejudice or injustice? What did they do about it? Now you've got something wonderful to share with your friends and children someday - your family stories!

Agw Girlcrew idea

The Gift of an Open Heart

Ever notice how some people ignore the homeless? You'd feel terrible if people treated you that way. Greet the poor with an open heart. The gift of a kind smile can be worth more to a lonely person than money. If anyone tells you homeless people want to be homeless, they're wrong. It's no fun to have no place to shower or sleep. Imagine yourself with no place where you're welcome. If you don't have money to give, give a smile. A Happy Holiday or Good Morning can give someone else a real lift and change their whole day.

Agw Girlcrew idea

Survival Tips: Babysitting!

Here's an old favorite to do with little kids. Make bookmarks out of popsicle sticks. All you need are popsicle sticks, glue and old magazines and scissors. Cut out lots of pictures of animals, or people, or cool stuff like from Nintendo ads. Let your charges glue the pictures onto the sticks, curling the edges around. It's a fun, fast craft.

Agw Girlcrew idea

The Gift of Birdsong!

Winter is tough on birds. It's hard for them to find food and water. You can make the world a better place for birds by putting a pie tin of birdseed out on the balcony of your apartment. Or put it in your backyard. Be sure to put a big tin of water too. If you're in a place where it freezes, lots of birds can't find water and they die. Ask your parents to get a heated birdbath for your yard. You'll save hundreds of feathered friends -- and see lots of different kinds of birds.

Want more information? Write the National Wildlife Federation. Ask for their Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program Booklet. 1412, 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. USA 20036-2266

Agw Girlcrew idea

Change The World Today!

Amy loves whales and dolphins. She loves helium balloons, too. They are beautiful! She used to let her balloons sail away into the sky because it was fun. Then Amy found out that balloons kill whales and turtles and other animals hundreds of miles away. The whales gobble the balloons up when they fall to the ocean surface. So now when Amy's friends are partying or her school or city plans an event with lots of balloons, Amy tells them who gets hurt when balloons go flying! Whales and dolphins die. So if your city or church wants to celebrate by throwing something beautiful into the air, ask them to rent doves. Or give their balloons away to the kids. You'll save lots of wildlife.

Agw Girlcrew idea