The Badge Archive

Game also known as Smiles

Instructions

1. The leader explains that this game requires self-control.
2. Scouts pair up and stand back to back.
3. On the count of three, Scouts turn to face their partner, look each other in the eyes, and try to remain serious and solemn. No talking is allowed!
4. The first Scout to smile or laugh must sit down.
5. Remaining Scouts find a new partner and repeat the process until only one Scout has not smiled or laughed.
   • Note – If the final pair keeps a straight face, the rest of the group can act as hecklers to try and disrupt them.
6. For a second round, divide Scouts into two teams to compete and see which team can outlast the other.

Variations

See a similar game called Strike the Funny Bone

Coin Flip Team Challenge:

1. Form two lines, each a team. Sit facing each other. Assign one team “heads” and the other team “tails.”
2. Flip a coin. If it lands on a team’s side (heads or tails), that team has 30 seconds to try to make the opposing team smile or laugh by doing silly gestures, movements, or facial expressions. They must stay seated and cannot touch or talk directly to the opposing team.
3. Scouts who smile or laugh must join the team that caused them to break their composure.
4. Game ends when the majority of scouts are on one team.

Immobile Bovine:

1. Choose 2 Scouts to act as “The Jokers.”
2. The rest of the group become “Immobile Bovine” and must lie down on their backs.
3. Jokers walk around to each Bovine, attempting to make them laugh.
4. Jokers can talk, make faces, or act silly but are not allowed to touch the Bovine.
5. If an Immobile Bovine laughs, they stand up and become a Joker.
6. The Jokers keep visiting each Bovine to try and make them laugh.
7. The game ends when only 2 Immobile Bovine remain.

Older Scout Variation – I’m Sorry Baby, But I Just Can’t Smile

Instructions

1. Scouts sit in a circle.
2. One Scout starts as “it” and approaches another Scout of their choice.
   • The Scout who is “it” traditionally says, “Baby, if you love me, won’t you please, please smile?” They can also add something funny, silly, or exaggerated, like pulling a goofy face or speaking in a playful voice, to make the approached Scout smile.
   • The only rule is that “it” cannot touch the other Scout, and must rely solely on their words, expressions, or actions.
3. The approached Scout must say the phrase “I’m Sorry Baby, But I Just Can’t Smile” while keeping a straight face.
4. If the approached Scout smiles or laughs, they become the new “it,” and the original Scout gets to sit down.
5. If the approached Scout keeps a straight face and completes the phrase, the original Scout must move on and approach someone else.
6. The game continues until most Scouts have had a turn or until only one Scout remains who has not been “it.”

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References:

• “Icebreakers and Name Games.” Orange County Department of Education, ocde.us/EducationalServices/CurriculumInstructionandAcademicEnrichment/AVID/Documents/icebreakers.pdf. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
• “Games and Activities.” Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, my.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gscwm/documents/Girl%20Scout%20Games%20and%20Activities.pdf. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
• “Girl Scout Games.” Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming, www.gsmw.org/content/dam/gsmw-redesign/documents/Girl%20Scout%20Games.pdf. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.