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BSA Updated Easier Requirements for 2016!!!

The number of requirements you need has changed, all the activities on this blog are still good, they just changed how many you need to do and some slight wording changes. but please check the new Requirements above to be sure you don't do unneeded work.


Shortcuts:
Bear Reqs. Webelos 1 Reqs. Webelos & Arrow Of Light Electives Arrow Of Light Reqs. Miscellaneous

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Webelos AOL, activities that count for more than one badge

Webelos AOL, activities that count for more than one badge

How to get the most bang for your buck...

I'm staring a list of ways to do one activity and have it count for 2 or more requirements on different badges.

If you think of any , comment below so we can all share them!

1. First aid kits make a nice hiking/camping pocket first aid kit, count it for First Responder & Webelos Walkabout.

2. Engineer requires 3 projects with blueprints copied by the boys, with proper planning you can use these for the time capsule (Looking Forward Looking Back), the tool box as carpentry project (Build It & Fix It), and the 3rd on for another who's name I'll put her later.

3. You have to design & play a game for Game Design and for Castaway, pick one that meets both requirements.

4. Visit a nature center counts for both Into the Woods and Into the Wild, and it can count as going to visit scientists for Adventures in Science.


5. Cooking meals and Going grocery shopping can count for Castaway  Cast Iron Chef and Project Family.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Adventures in Science - 3c Build a scale solar system

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Adventures in Science - 3c Build a scale solar system



The key to this experiment IMHO is enabling you to do it quickly.

One option is a 100 ft tape(100 ft tape measure best price on amazon.)

But I wanted to teach the boys some cool lessons about measuring and I didn't' have one.

So I used you existing tape measure (12')  and a piece of rope


  1. I measured out 50" of rope with  black sharpie marks every 10 ft.
    1.  This teaches them how to make their own measuring device. I did this ahead of time but I'll talk about how I made it and a why later. 
  2. Using the rope I found out I had 100 ft in my back yard from my deck to the corner.

    1. I measured 100 ft, by having a boy at one end, standing next to a fixed object and myself at the 50' end. 
    2. Then the boy walked past me as I rotated in space. so the boy who was at zero was now at 100  (Teaching them how to measure space larger than the tape) 
  3. Then I measured out the spaces from the inner planets and put marks on the rope... 
  4. The marks were too hard to see, so I added blue painter tape "flag" on the rope with the initials of the planets on them. 
    1.  

  5. After I put the inner planets, I added the outer planets through Uranus.
If I'd made a 100 ft rope I could have put Neptune and Jupiter but I have a plan for using the rope and a 12' measure to do that.

We are going to use the 50' rope to mark out the nearest 10 ft, then the 12 tape measure to add Neptune, and Pluto is at 100ft so we just put it at the end.

This teaches them to use the high and low accuracy measurements to get a measure, but also allows the whole experiment to be put together quickly. (The boys only have to work through 1 measurement together)


From here on out, this is what I'm planning I'll update it later with pics and notes.

  1. We'll use a basket or soccer ball (about 12") for the sun 
  2. Then measure out the planets marked on the rope using Marking Flags with the planets names and 12" scale diameters on them. 
  3. After they get a feel I'm going to show them the 12" sun reduced to the real scale of 1/4" so they can get an appreciation of the real scale of the objects.... but i want them to see them first, so i'm starting at the 12" sun scale in her document.. then reducing 48x to the real scale.
    1. I could have gotten  get golf balls and ping pong balls and bbs to show scale, but it's not required so I'm just going to draw circles for how large the planets are onto the flags instead. Also I'm trying to spend less money than I did last year. If you want to make the planets, go to Lowes and get 12" nails for hanging gutters, then hot glue the planet sized object to the nail, then just push it into the ground to make the planet itself.

      Here are the flags, note the extra flag was used to create a "sun, actual size flag, that after they got a feel for the scale, was used to replace the 12" soccer ball... also on the Jupiter flag, i drew a tiny dot the scale size of Jupiter, in the bottom corner (it being the only one I could conceivably draw) and I had them go look at that.


Photos of the parts of the document I used to set up the model...

Chart of planet sized on 12' scale



Planet distances on 100' scale



So in summary here are the steps

  1. Mark the planets on the 50' rope, except for Neptune and Pluto
  2. Put blue tape flag with the initial of each plant on the rope.
  3. Mark the flags with each planet and it at it's it's 12" scale size
    1. Make an extra dot, as tiny as you can draw it on the Jupiter flag
    2. Make an extra "sun actual size flag" with a 1/4" circle on it.
  4. Get a 12" ball, like a soccer ball
  5. When you are ready to start, place the soccer ball
    1. Put the sun end of the string on the soccer ball
    2. Stretch it out to full length
    3. Place the flags for all the inner planets 
      1. This goes quickly, gave flags to each boy, after showing them how to do the first couple, they ran off and did the rest.
    4. Have someone hold the far end of the rope, 
      1. Rotate around them till the sun end of the rope is farthest away from the sun.
      2. Place Pluto at the end that used to be the sun end of the rope 
      3. Have them help you measure out Neptune location, it's halfway between Uranus and Pluto, plus 16 inches...
    5. Have them walk around and get a feel for the scale of the solar system.
    6. Go back to the sun and replace it with the 14/ sun actual size flag
    7. Have them go look at the teeny tiny dot on the Jupiter flag, to see it in actual scale to the sun.



Saturday, May 7, 2016

Webelos & AOL Electives Summary Page

Webelos and Arrow Of Light Electives Summary Page

These links take you to my webelos pages, I'll be adding notes to them over the summer,
The ones I'm doing in Den meeting will get done first.


Here you can buy an electric copy of the Webelos Leader guide and den meeting plans for about $10 on amazon, there is a free web kindle viewer... You can also get an electronic copy of the webelos guidebook  there as well.

I have been told there are free PDF copies of the leader guide out there, I'll post it when I find it.

If anyone has links to good ideas for any of these send them to me and I'll add the ones I think best over the summer of 2016...(have to cherry pick the best to keep the signal to noise low enough)

I hope it helps you  out,

Eric-











Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Sportsman (EASY)

Sportsman Adventure Pin

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Sportsman

Do all of these:
  1. Show the signals used by officials in one of these sports: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or hockey.
    1. Football Clock and Ref Signals document (ref is pages 3 and 4)
  2. While you are a Webelos Scout, participate in two individual sports.
    1. List of individual sports
      1. I'm going to pick 2 that are easily done at a Den Meeting and do them as our game time, basically free, since we play every meeting.
  3. While you are a Webelos Scout, play two team sports.
    1. List of Team Sports
      1. I'm going to pick 2 that are easily done at a Den Meeting and do them as our game time, basically free, since we play every meeting.
    2.  
  4. Complete the following requirements:
    1. Explain what good sportsmanship means.
    2. Role-play a situation that demonstrates good sportsmanship.
      1. Role play how to act if you win a game
      2. Roleplay how to act if you lose a game
      3. Roleplay how to act if you lose a game and are ANGRY about it.
    3. Give an example of a time when you experienced or saw someone showing good sportsmanship.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Project Family


Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Project Family

Do 1 through 5, then choose two of 6 through 8:
  1. Interview a grandparent, another family elder, or a family friend about what life was like when he or she was growing up. Share his or her story with another family member.
    1. I think this is a perfect opportunity for a phone call to any and all Grandparents for some cool family stories, and stories about life when they were kids....
  2. Talk with members of your family about your family name, history, traditions, and culture. Create a family tree of three generations or make a poster or Web page that shows the origins of your ancestors. Or choose a special celebration or holiday that your family participates in, and create either a poster, picture, or photo slideshow of it. Share this project with your den.
    1. Online family tree maker
    2. Downloadable family tree form
  3. Show your understanding of your duty to family by creating a chart listing the jobs that you and other family members have at home. Choose three of the jobs you are responsible for, and chart them for two weeks.
    1. Bunch of printable 1 week chore charts, print two.
  4. Select ONE of the jobs below that belongs to another family member, and help that person complete it:
    1. Create a grocery shopping list for the week.
    2. Complete the laundry for your family one time.
    3. Help prepare meals for your family for one day.
  5. Create a list of community service or conservation projects that you and your family can do together, and present it to your family. Select one project, plan it, and complete it with your family.
    1. 35 service ideas
    2. 1K+ Service Ideas
    3. More ideas
    4. Even more
    5. This is just my personal advice, but look for something, small, concrete and achievable either in the course of something you do already (like at church or or school) or able to be completed in 1 trip/day. 
      1. Examples: 
        1. Be extra diligent about recycling for a week, take the recycling to the bin when it's full.
        2. Take a walk with a bag and pick up all the trash you see
        3. Plant a plant or tree in your Yard.
        4. Volunteer to help out at church for several services(4?)
        5. Etc...
  6. With the help of an adult, inspect your home and its surroundings. Make a list of hazards or security problems that you find. Correct one problem that you found, and tell what you did.
    1. Some household hazards
    2. Red cross home safety worksheet to teach about home safety
    3. Personally, talk with your kids about this and then walk around together and take photos on your phone of the safety hazards, then sit down together, review the photos on your phone and make the list. If you correct any problems as you go, take an "after" photo as well.
  7. Hold a family meeting to plan an exciting family activity. The activity could include:
    1. A family reunion
    2. A family night
      1. Personally I'd have a family night with popcorn and movies or board games.
        1. 50 movies kids should watch before they turn 12
    3. A family outing
      1. Always good too..
  8. Have your family event. Afterward, tell your parent or guardian what you liked best about the event.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Moviemaking (Easy)

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Moviemaking

Do all of these:
  1. Write a story outline describing a real or imaginary Scouting adventure. Create a pictured storyboard that shows your story.

    1. Story board work sheet 
    2. Making a story board for kids 
    3. How to story board with post it notes  (5 min, kind of rambling, for adults, but good)
    4. How to write a story video
    5. Elements of a story
    6. How to write a simple screen play
      .
  2. Create either an animated or live action movie about yourself. Your movie should depict how you live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

    1. Lets story board one video for all the boys, story board that and shoot it as a den.
      1. Maybe just work one big story board, for one big video with all the boys making at leas one pic & description... Instead of one story board per boy...
      2. Or break the boys up into smaller groups with a parent to shoot the video... 
        1. Story board by groups
        2. Then shoot as groups.
    2. Shoot it with a cell phone..
      1. I made a bracket like this to go on a tripod/mount to make the video look better.
    3. If you don't know how to edit software, plan the move as one shot, for example, have your scenes set up in a circle. stand in the middle and turn.
      1. Example Video, have all the boys stand in line, with a small script card they wrote about one one or 2 point of the scout law means to them, and how they apply it in their life. walk down the line with your camera, they read/speak her lines, play it on your phone, or upload and play it on the tv, DONE.
        1. If you are going to upload it to You-Tube, to watch it on you TV. be sure to leave out identifying info, like last name, schools, etc... Keep your boys safe.
    4. Be aware that a one shot video has to be restarted if you screw up too badly, it can take lots of attempts, so keep it simple. if you have access to video editing software and know how to use it (or want to learn) that's the cool too, you can add all kind of cool effects and titles and the like, but if you don't multiple attempts at a single shot is a better call, imho.
      1. Microsoft movie maker is included in most versions of Microsoft (up to 8), or can be downloaded free.
        1. Here is a video tutorial
        2. Another, in case you don't' like that one, 
        3. Lots more on youtube, including once for specific parts like how to add titles, etc.
        4. Be aware, this is cool and addictive stuff, but it takes a looong time...a One shot video is the best way out of this pin alive, if you have never done it before. 
          1. Really :D.
    5. My idea is a one shot battle of Scout Jedi, all proclaiming what part of the law is most important.. then a battle to the end with nerf light sabers made from fun noodles.
      1. Go down the line, each boy talks abotu his point, then turn around they run out and start fighting as silly as possible, as goofy over the top dramatic as possible, the idea here is for the boys to laugh when they see it back.
        .
  3. Share your movie with your family, den, or pack.

    1. Watch the move as a den 
      1. On your TV in your den if you can!
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Maestro!

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Maestro!

Do all of these:
  1. Do a or b:
    1. Attend a live musical performance.
    2. Visit a facility that uses a sound mixer, and learn how it is used.
      1. Free mixer board software for your computer, teach the boys how to use it, bam, done!(Vote if you've never used a mixer before it takes a bit to get it figured out)
  2. Do two of the following:
    1. Make a musical instrument. Play it for your family, den, or pack. 
      1. We never made the Sistrum or Mbira as bears, so that's doable.
      2. Or this simple way to make a drum 
      3. Or this set of easy home made instruments
    2. Form a "band" with your den. Each member creates his own homemade musical instrument. Perform for your pack at a pack meeting.
    3. Play two tunes on any band or orchestra instrument.
  3. Do two of the following:
    1. Teach your den the words and melody of a song. Perform the song with your den at your den or pack meeting.
      1. Personally I'd pick one that's based on a common song then get a video of the tune off youtube...
      2. Here are Scout songs
    2. Create original words for a song. Perform it at your den or pack meeting.
      1. This is great fun pick a song you already all know and make up new words
        1. Example: On the first day of come scout the Den leader gave to mee
    3. Collaborate with your den to compose a den theme song. Perform it at your pack meeting.
    4. Write a song with words and music that expresses your feelings about an issue, a person, something you are learning, a point of the Scout Law, etc. Perform it at your den or pack meeting, alone or with a group.
    5. Perform a musical number by yourself or with your Webelos den in front of an audience.
      1. Make this simple, use 2b, perform at the pack meeting and at a den meeting for practice.., done.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Looking Back, Looking Forward (EASY)

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Do all of these:
  1. Create a record of the history of Scouting and your place in that history.

    1. Timelines of scouting history, print one out and have them write a line on it to represent them selves either when they were born on when they joind scouting.... If any of the parents were scouts too, have them put a mark to represent themselves too. Also have boys and parents put a stick for when the turn 18 and "graduate" from scouting.
      .
  2. With the help of your den leader, parent, or guardian and with your choice of media, go on a virtual journey to the past and create a timeline.

    1. Video Timeline of Scouting, lots of them
    2. Just watch one of the videos.
      .
  3. Create your own time capsule.

    1. The lesson/meeting plan link at the bottom contains instruction on making a Time capsule out of a piece of PVC pipe. I'm going to do something similar
    2. Another example of a PVC time capsule, I'm thinking about making one like this, but with glue on caps on both ends, and stashing it in my attic instead of burying it. I'm going to put pictures printed out, and on a thumb drive. When John gets eagle we'll dig it out and put it on the table of eagle memorabilia. One of the boys from my older sons Den was an eagle with him in troop 685. So this would be extra cool if one of john den mates sticks it out as well.
    3. I'm planning something like this for the boys& myself but not such a long pipe., I'm going to put things in a mylar ziplock bag to protect them from the PVC fumes which break down organics (like paper)
    4. We included one of the Time capsule worksheets , and a photo of the den, then told teh boys to add something from home if they wish and to hide it in the bottom of a drawer in their room , so they can discover it years later.



Interesting Resources:
Scouting History Talks about how Baden Powell Taught using Games
Games actually used by Baden Powell, it's a little weird click the links to go to chapters, only then can you go to the actual games. Clicking on the game names doesn't work. My plan is to pick an Baden Powell game play that as the game at the meeting and talk about how Baden Powel taught and used that game from the very first scouting meetings when he was test out his first kid specific version of scouting books.(Flag raiding or as we call it now, capture the flag was created by Baden Powell for scouts)

I whipped up this word doc with a sheet to include in the time capsule to help capture some nostalgia for later.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Meeting Plan for this Elective

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Into the Woods

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Into the Woods

Do all of these:
  1. Identify two different groups of trees and the parts of a tree.
    1. Evergreen deciduous and part of a tree
      .
  2. Identify six trees common to the area where you live. Tell whether they are native to your area. Tell how both wildlife and humans use them.
    1. Last year I got a bunch of different pocket guide, like these, trees plants flowers animals snakes, we used them on the nature hike, I'll use these again.
      1. Follow the links at the bottom find more, I picked one up a paycheck till I had enough.
    2. They are laminated single sheets folded up to fit in a pocket, I got enough for each boy to have 1 or two and told them to keep trading them off during the hike, combined wtih cheap magnifying glasses the boys had a blast.
      .
  3. Identify six plants common to the area where you live. Tell which animals use them and for what purpose.
    1. See #2 above get lots of different of these folding pamphlets.
      .
  4. Visit a nature center, nursery, tree farm, or park, and speak with someone knowledgeable about trees and plants that are native to your area. Explain how plants and trees are important to our ecosystem and how they improve our environment.
    1. Plants 
      .
  5. Develop a plan to care for and then plant at least one plant or tree, either indoors in a pot or outdoors. Tell how this plant or tree helps the environment in which it is planted and what the plant or tree will be used for.
    1. I used this to teach the boys about one of my favorite plants found in Texas, it's not native but i have many boyhood memories of it. It's called the Sensitive Plant, or Mimosa Puddica, it used to grow in the sidewalk and curbs near my grandmothers house in San Antonio...(Video above)
    2.  How to sprout and plat to get then to come up in a week or two
      1. Be aware the leaves of the new sprouts dont' move, in about a month new leaves will come in, those are the ones that move.
      2. I used clear plastic cups and miracle grow potting soil to make it easy. This is exactly how we grew a plant for our Bear elective.
    3. A pack of 100 seeds for Mimosa Puddica $6 shipped
      .
  6. Make a list of items in your home that are made from wood and share it with your den. Or with your den, take a walk and identify useful things made from wood.
    .
  7. Explain how the growth rings of a tree trunk tell its life story. Describe different types of tree bark and explain what the bark does for the tree.
    1. Short Handout 
    2. Web Page with better and more info 
    3. Not growth rings but interesting general tree info
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Into the Wild

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Into the Wild

Do six from requirements 1 through 9.
  1. Collect and care for an "insect, amphibian, or reptile zoo." You might have crickets, ants, grasshoppers, a lizard, or a toad. Study them for a while and then let them go. Share your experience with your Webelos den.
    1. If I buy stuff for this it will quickly get out of hand, 
    2. I think we'll pick up pill bugs on our nature hike, or something similar, ganddaddy long legs, cricket, whatever we see.
      1. Keep them in Clear Solos cups covered with plastic wrap held on with a rubber band 
      2. Or in a ziplock baggie inflated with a breath of air

  2. Set up an aquarium or terrarium. Keep it for at least a month. Share your experience with your Webelos den by showing them photos or drawings of your project or by having them visit to see your project.
    1. This kind of thing you have to let the family do, I'd skip this one
    2.  
       
  3. Watch for birds in your yard, neighborhood, or town for one week. Identify the birds you see, and write down where and when you saw them.
    1. For this I'll re use the bird handouts from the Bear Nature hike
    2. like these, but find them from you area
  4. Learn about the bird flyways closest to your home. Find out which birds use these flyways.
      1. Here is a nice map, not a lot of detail
      2. This one explains it better, but doesn't have nice pictures
  5. Watch at least four wild creatures (reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, fish, insects, or mammals) in the wild. Describe the kind of place (forest, field, marsh, yard, or park) where you saw them. Tell what they were doing.
        1. Use the worksheet for this
          .
  6. Identify an insect, reptile, bird, or wild animal that is found only in your area of the country. Tell why it survives in your area.
    .
  7. Give examples of at least two of the following:
    1. A producer, a consumer, and a decomposer in the food chain of an ecosystem
    2. One way humans have changed the balance of nature
    3. How you can help protect the balance of nature
      .
  8. Learn about aquatic ecosystems and wetlands in your area. Talk with your Webelos den leader or family about the important role aquatic ecosystems and wetlands play in supporting life cycles of wildlife and humans, and list three ways you can help.
    1. Texas Aquatic Ecosystem
    2. Just google '<your state> aquatic ecosystems kids', to find local info.
      .
  9. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Visit a museum of natural history, a nature center, or a zoo with your family, Webelos den, or pack. Tell what you saw.
    2. Create a video of a wild creature doing something interesting, and share it with your family and den.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Game Design (EASY)

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Game Design

Do all of these:
  1. Decide on the elements for your game. 
    1. How to design a board game
  2. List at least five of the online safety rules that you put into practice while using the Internet on your computer or smartphone. Skip this if your Cyber Chip is current.
  3. Create your game.
  4. Teach an adult or another Scout how to play your game.
The key to this is, you do not have to make a computer game, you can make a paper game, or a hopscotch game or a checkers game.... or any kind of game at all, once you realize this it's pretty easy.

The Second key, is each boy does not have to make their own game completely solo.  make the game as a Den, each boy adding something, each boy contributing, then teach each other to play it. We have a little brother who shows up to meetings we just teach him, maybe ask for a sibling volunteer?

After you play it for a few(5) min, stop and ask the boys how to make the game better, focus on making the game more fair and more fun for the boys who are not doing as well (but without calling the boys out by name). this is called Game Balance. if everyone is doing well, then focus on more fun for everyone, talk about both of these on each round,

Tweak rules, Play test, Discuss, repeat...

If you think this is cheezing out, I was a professional game designer and Programmer for 10 years,
I'm telling you if you build it based on rules and iterate the right way, this is totally comparable. The key is after each time they play the game for 5 min, ask them how to change the rules to make it cooler, fairer, more fun for everyone.... This process of iteration, play balance and rule/Mechanic tweaking is exactly how computer games are made. It'll teach them way more than some HTML tic tac toe game you make because you don't' have tech skills. Trust me, Remember the boys are in charge, you frame things to keep it on the rails you want. Fun is paramount, but fun for everyone,

Example:

Super Ninja Death Tag of Doom.


  1. Freeze tag, 
  2. but you have to walk like a ninja, 
  3. and if you don't make a ninja noise when you tag them it doesn't count.
  4. If an adult yells "Ninjas Hide" you have to freeze where you are, hiding behind what ever is there. even if it's a blade of grass.
  5. If an adult yells "Death ninnjas go" everyone who was froze by being tagged is free
  6. If an adult yells "All ninjas go" everyone is free...

Now play that for 5 min, stop and ask the boys how to make it cooler, Guide the boys towards rule that make it more fair, not less fair.

Pick the best 1 or 2 ideas and try them out. then repeat, make sure that over the meeting each boy gets one idea in, and then has to think about if that idea made the game better or worse,and gets a chance to tweak it.

Obviously make your own game with the boys, but Tag is a simple game to modify into something entirely custom, and kids are always adding rules, admittedly usually to make if more fun for themselves, but the idea of changing the rules of tag, it natural to them... but changing the focus to making it more fun for everyone, and making it specifically more fun for the boys who were not having as much fun (not doing as well) to make a level playing field will do wonders.



Example of rule tweaks,  

1.  Some boys are way faster than others, the boy who is it, instead of freezing a boy upon tagging, converts them to also be It. the faster boys still last, but the slower boys build up numbers till eventually they get everyone.

2.  Last boy not tagged, stop the game, that boy is it for the next game. (fastest boys are it first, no long periods of one boy running and not catching)

3. periodically the den leader can make the fastest boy hop on one foot.

4. If the same people are it to long,  with no tags, the den leader picks the scout who is  "resting" and they also become it..


Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format


Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Fix It

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Fix It

Do all of these:
  1. Put a Fix It Tool Box together. Describe what each item in your toolbox can be used for. Show how to use three of the tools safely .
    1. How to use a hammer safely
    2. How to use a screwdriver safely (not for kids)
    3. How to use a hand saw safely

      .
  2. Be Ready. With the help of an adult in your family, do the following:
    1. Locate the electrical panel in your home. Determine if the electrical panel has fuses or breakers.
      1. Basic home electrical system,  
      2. How Home circuit breakers work (with pic of Circuit breaker panel on left)
      3. Video on how circuit breakers work internally (not for kids)
      4. How fuses work (Video)
    2. Determine what sort of heat is used to heat your home.
      .
    3. Learn what you would do to shut off the water for a sink, a toilet, a washing machine, or a water heater. If there is a main shut-off valve for your home, show where it is located.
      1. How to shut of water to a fixture (any of the things above)
        .
  3. Describe to your Webelos den leader how to fix or make safe the following circumstances with help from an adult:
    1. A toilet is overflowing.
    2. The kitchen sink is clogged.
    3. A circuit breaker tripped, causing some of the lights to go out.
      .
  4. Let's Fix It. Select and do eight of the following. You will need an adult's supervision for each of these Fix It projects:
    1. Show how to change a light bulb in a lamp or fixture. Determine the type of light bulb and how to properly dispose of it.
    2. Fix a squeaky door or cabinet hinge.
    3. Tighten a loose handle or knob on a cabinet or a piece of furniture.
    4. Demonstrate how to stop a toilet from running(new style).
      1. Old style
    5. Replace a furnace filter.
    6. Wash a car.
    7. Check the oil level and tire pressure in a car.
    8. Show how to replace a bulb in a taillight, turn signal, or parking light, or replace a headlight in a car.
    9. Help an adult change a tire on a car.
    10. Make a repair to a bicycle, such as adjusting or lubricating the chain, inflating the tires, fixing a flat, or adjusting the seat or handlebars.
    11. Replace the wheels on a skateboard, a scooter, or a pair of inline skates.
    12. Help an adult prepare and paint a room.
    13. Help an adult replace or repair a wall or floor tile.
    14. Help an adult install or repair a window or door lock.
    15. Help an adult fix a slow or clogged sink drain.
    16. Help an adult install or repair a mailbox.
    17. Change the battery in a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector, and test its operation.
    18. Help an adult fix a leaky faucet.
    19. Find wall studs, and help an adult hang a curtain rod or a picture.
    20. Take an old item, such as a small piece of furniture, a broken toy, or a picture frame, and rebuild and/or refinish it. Show your work to an adult or your Webelos leader.
    21. Do a Fix It project agreed upon with your parent or guardian.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Engineer



Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Engineer

Do all of these:
  1. Pick one type of engineer. With the help of the Internet, your local library, or a local engineer you may know or locate, discover and record in your book three things that describe what that engineer does. (Be sure to have your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian's permission to use the Internet.) Share your findings with your Webelos den.

    1. For this kind of Req. I usually print out 1 sheet summaries for several kinds, have the boys each pick on, go off with their parents and then tell us what they read about and a few col things... if you ask them what the learned they can clam up, if you ask what they thought was cool, they usually speak right up. 
    2. Here is a great page with links to lots fo types of engineering, designed for kids
      .

  2. Learn to follow engineering design principles by doing the following: Examine a set of blueprints. Using these as a model, construct your own set of blueprints or plans to design a project.


      1. Print out simple blue prints for your Build it carpentry project, have the boys copy them. Teach them the important parts of a blue print, drawing, measurements, instructions.
    1. Using the blueprints or plans from your own design, construct your project. Your project may be something useful or something fun.

      1. Use for Build it Carpentry project
    2. Share your project with your Webelos den and your pack by displaying the project at a pack meeting.

      1. Have the boys do the project together and share with each other.
        .
  3. Explore other fields of engineering and how they have helped form our past, present, and future.

    1. See the links above for #1
  4. Pick and do two projects using the engineering skills you have learned. Share your projects with your den and also exhibit them at a pack meeting.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Earth Rocks!


 

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Earth Rocks!

  1. Do the following:
    1. Explain the meaning of the word "geology."
    2. Explain why this kind of science is an important part of your world.
    3. Share with your family or with your den what you learned about the meaning of geology.
  2. Look for different kinds of rocks or minerals while on a rock hunt with your family or your den.
  3. Do the following:
    1. Identify the rocks you see on you rock hunt. Use the information in your handbook to determine which types of rocks you have collected.
      1. Identify rocks easy for kids
      2. Free Book on Texas rocks
    2. With a magnifying glass, take a closer look at your collection. Determine any differences between your specimens.
    3. Share what you see with your family or den.
  4. Do the following:
    1. With your family or den, make a mineral test kit, and test rocks according to the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
      1. Don't let the Mohs scale scare, you, it's just a scale of what rocks can scratch other rocks. Identify a rock, use it to scratch and unidentified rock, if it scratches its lower, if it can get scratched it's higher... Really that's it...
    2. Record the results in your handbook.
  5. With your family or den, identify on a road map of your state some geological features in your area.
    1. Free state road maps
  6. Do the following:
    1. Identify some of the geological building materials used in building your home.
      1. Sheet rock contain Gypsum
      2. Concrete contains Lime, Sand and Gravel
      3. Bricks contains Clay
      4. Nails and bolts are Iron and Zinc
      5. Wires are Copper.
    2. Identify some of the geological materials used around your community.
    3. Record the items you find.
  7. Do either 7a or 7b: (not this is one or the other not both!) 
    1. Go on an outing with your family or den to one of the nearby locations you discovered on your state map, and record what you see as you look at the geographical surroundings. Share with your family or den while on this outing what you notice that might change this location in the future (wind, water, ice, drought, erosion).
      1. We are going to go to a near by cavern Natural Bridge Caverns or Innerspace Caverns (Innerspace is closer, but Natural bridge is much cooler)
    2. Do the following:
      1. With your family or your den, visit with a geologist or earth scientist and discover the many career fields that are included in the science of geology.
      2. Ask the geologist or earth scientist about the importance of fossils that are found.
      3. Ask the geologist or earth scientist what you can do to help preserve our natural resources.
  8. Do at least one earth science demonstration or investigation with your den or with adult supervision, and explore geology in action.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Castaway

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Castaway

  1. Do two of these:
    1. With the help of an adult, demonstrate one way to light a fire without using matches.
      1. Before you do this learn how to make a Tinder bundle and how to build a fire.. it's a key to most of these techniques 
      2. When the boys are first learning use cotton balls that you have pulled a part slightly to make the extra fluffy... once they can light those, put petroleum jelly on one end, and fluff the other... the Jelly makes it burn longer, like a candle.. 
      3. There is SO much more to all this, go for a google for infinite information online, lots of stuff on youtube 
      4. Here is a guy showing lots of different ferro rods, lighting cotton balls
      1. With a Magnifying Glass
      2. 9v battery and steel wool
      3. Ferrocerium and Magnesium Rod 
        1. If you get one of the one with the magnesium bar, buy Doan brand, or Mil-spec (which is made by Doan), some of the others use impure Magnesium which doesn't burn hot enough...)
          1. Or do your research, there are lots of good brands, and lots of terrible ones... as a general rule, the shinier the magnesium is the higher the quality...
        2. If you are buying just a ferro rod, you want a soft one with extra magnesium, the softer the rod, the easier it is to get a spark off it, the more magnesium, the longer each spark burns before it goes out (lighting the tinder)
          1. If that's too over detailed and complex, just get a "light my fire" brand
      4. Cigarette lighter (light the tinder)
        1. I mostly did this one to teach the boys how to use one safely 
        2. Make a Prison match with a cotton fluff, paper and a dead lighter
      5. Flint and Steel
        1. I always wanted to learn to do this as a scout and never did so I bought a kit on ebay and learned how. Be sure to get a kit with flint, steel and premade Char Cloth, to make learning easier.
        2. The video above is from Jas Townsend and sons, a reputable seller of old timey stuff like this,and have a good flint and steel set 
          .
    2. On a campout with your den or family, cook two different recipes that do not require pots and pans. If your chartered organization does not permit Cub Scout camping, you may substitute a family campout or a daylong outdoor activity with your den or pack.
      1. Be sure to tie this in with Cast Iron Chef and Project Family, another activity that counts for 2 awards
      2. If you don't know where to start,  there is a TON of info online, the easiest ones are roasting hotdogs (or marshmallows) on a stick, followed by a foil pack meal, also called a Silver Turtle or a Hobo meal...
         .
    3. Using tree limbs or branches that have already fallen or been cut, build a shelter that will protect you overnight.
      1. Boys Life article on Building shelters
        .
  2. Do ALL of these:
    1. Learn what items should be in an outdoor survival kit that you can carry in a small bag or box in a day pack. Assemble your own small survival kit, and explain to your den leader why the items you chose are important for survival.
      1. We are going to build Altoids tin Survival kits
        1. Altoids tin, inside of lid useable for signaling
          1. Teach the boys how to flash sos to a plane with a mirror
        2. Small folding knife
        3. Whistle (the single most important bit of gear for kids, imho)
        4. Cigarette lighter
        5. Bobbin full of 80 l spider wire fishing line
        6. Button compass
        7. Cotton and Vaseline fire starter
        8. Wrap outside with Paracord and or ranger bands
        9. Whatever else you can think, of, google Altoids tin survival kit for lots of ideas
          .
    2. Show you can live "off the grid" by minimizing your use of electricity for one week. Keep a log of what you did. Discuss with your den members how you adjusted to this lifestyle.
      1. This one you are going to have to figure out as family and den what qualifies.
        .
    3. With your den, invent a game that can be played without using electricity and using minimal equipment or simple items.     
      1. Be sure to tie this game in with the game from game design, to get extra credit from one activity. You can basically earn Game Design for free if you plan it out. We did Tag and design and play tested our own versions.
        .
    4. Name your game, write down the rules once you have decided on them, then play the game at two different den meetings or outings.
      1. Get this on the computer so you an print it out when needed
        .
    5. Teach your game to the members of your pack or other Scouts.
      1. I had the scout practice teaching it to each other.
        .
    6. With your den, demonstrate two different ways to treat drinking water to remove impurities.
      1. Bring to a rolling boil, let cool.. voilà! Done!
      2. Water Treatment Filters for camping, ala Katydin
      3. Iodine tablets, or tincture
      4. Regular Unscented bleach, 8 to 16 drops per gallon
      5. Water Treatment tabs
      6. UV quick SteriPens, like navy seals use
      7. Put clear water into a clear plastic bottle and set in sun for 8 hours, uv will purify the water, killing the germs
      8. How to filter water for clarity with sand, rocks and charcoal
        .
    7. Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters "S-T-O-P" stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do you do to help rescuers find you.
      1. Lost in the woods survival for kids
        .
    8. Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Boy Scout motto.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Build My Own Hero (EASY)

 

 

 Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Build My Own Hero

Do all of these:
  1. Discover what it means to be a hero. Invite a local hero to meet with your den.
    1. Scholastic lesson plan on heroes.
  2. Identify how citizens can be heroes in their communities.
    1. Help Others
    2. Pick up litter
    3. Stand up for other kids who are being bullied
  3. Recognize a hero in your community by presenting him or her with a "My Hero Award."
    1. Why not have the kids use crayons to make a "my hero" award for their parents/family member?
    2. Print out a coloring sheet and have them color it and add names?
      1. I need to make one and post it here
      2. Here is a pre colored on you can print out
    3.  
  4. Learn about a real-life hero from another part of the world who has helped the world be a better place.
    1. Biographies for kids, Pick a handful you see as heroes, print them out and have the boys each pick one, read it and then tell you a couple cool things they learned. 
  5. Learn about a Scout hero.
    1. History of Lord Baden Powell, the man you accidentally invented boy scouting.
  6. Create your own superhero.
    1. Create yoru own super herop at Marvel
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Build It

 

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Build It

Do all of these:
  1. Learn about some basic tools and the proper use of each tool. Learn about and understand the need for safety when you work with tools.
    1. Hand tools and Safety rules
  2. With the guidance of your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, select a carpentry project and build it.
    1. Be sure to tie this with the blueprint drawing & project in Engineer, to get a two for one
    2. This is my plan for a project.
  3. List the tools that you use safely as you build your project; create a list of materials needed to build your project.
    1. Use worksheet linked below
  4. Put a check mark next to the tools on your list that you used for the first time.
  5. Learn about a construction career. With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, visit a construction site, and interview someone working in a construction career.
    1. My plan is to visit with a local Home builder and go see one of their home sites, that's what we are doing!
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Aware and Care

 

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Aware and Care

Do all of these:
  1. Develop an awareness of the challenges of the blind through participation in an activity that simulates blindness.
    1. Why not a blindfold and have them walk around an area with obstacles (say your living room)
    2. We had the boys blindfolded, and I threw balls and Frisbees around the back yard and the parents had to guide them without touching them to get the ball and then get back to where they started with it 
  2. Engage in an activity that simulates mobility impairment.
    1. Three legged race?
       
  3. Take part in an activity that simulates dexterity impairment.
    1. Have them put on thick work gloves and write therie name on a piece of papaer, and pcik up quarters and then dimes. Or tie there shoes, simulates small motor control problems (one of my personal issues)
       
  4. With your den, participate in an activity that focuses on the acceptance of differences in general.
    1. I think something as cheezy as a sharing circle, where the adults and then the kids sharing something they are good at, and something that is/was an obstacle they worked to overcome would be good.
    2. Try to bring out the idea that EVERYONE has deficits, of some kind.
       
  5. Do two of the following:
    1. Do a Good Turn for residents at a skilled nursing facility or retirement community.
    2. Invite an individual with a disability to visit your den, and discuss what activities he or she currently finds challenging or found challenging in the past.
      1. We did this as part of #4
    3. Attend a disabilities event such as a Special Olympics competition, an adaptive sports event, a performance with sign language interpretation, or an activity with service dogs. Tell your den what you thought about the experience.
    4. Talk to someone who works with people who have disabilities. Ask what the person does and how he or she helps people with disabilities.
      1. What about your local Special Ed teacher?
    5. Using American Sign Language, sign the Scout Oath.
      1. YouTube video to follow
    6. With the help of an adult, contact a service dog organization, and learn the entire process from pup training to assignment to a client.
      1. Find a video posted by a good org, I need to come back and add one here:
        1. Autism dog training text
    7. Participate in a service project that focuses on a specific disability.
    8. Participate in an activity with an organization whose members are disabled.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Art Explosion

*** This is just a stub I'll be filling it out later ***

 

 Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Art Explosion

Do all of these:
  1. Visit an art museum, gallery, or exhibit. Discuss with an adult the art you saw. What did you like?
    1. Find art gallerys near you
      1. GalleryFinder 
      2. GalleryLocator
      3. And of course Google "art Gallery <put your city and state here>'
  2. Create two self-portraits using two different techniques, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and computer illustration.
    1. This may just be my opinion here, but the key is simple cheap and doable easily at a scout medium.. Obviously if you have special access or talents to do something cooler do that.. 
      1. Pencil and Paper, sketching
      2. Crayons
  3. Do two of the following: (Art supplies all over Amazon)
    1. Draw or paint an original picture outdoors, using the art materials of your choice.
    2. Use clay to sculpt a simple form.
    3. Create an object using clay that can be fired, baked in the oven, or air dried.
    4. Create a freestanding sculpture or mobile using wood, metal, papier-mâché, or found or recycled objects.
    5. Make a display of origami or kirigami projects.
    6. Use a computer illustration or painting program to create a work of art.
    7. Create an original logo or design. Transfer the design onto a T-shirt, hat, or other object.
    8. Using a camera or other electronic device, take at least 10 photos of your family, a pet, or scenery. Use photo-editing software to crop, lighten or darken, and change some of the photos.
    9. Create a comic strip with original characters. Include at least four panels to tell a story centered on one of the points of the Scout Law. Characters can be hand-drawn or computer-generated.
  4. Choose one of the following methods to show your artwork:
    1. Create a hard-copy or digital portfolio of your projects. Share it with your family and members of your den or pack.
      1. Take digital photos of everyone work, then see comments on B, do this slide show at your den meeting instead of a pack meeting and your are done.
    2. Display your artwork in a pack, school, or community art show.
      1. Combine all the digital photos into a slide show, and play it in the background at a pack meeting.
        1. We use a digital projector, but a phone or tablet set up on a table showing the slide show will count.
        1. Add a few slides with your patrol name and Art Explosion to explain what it's all for!
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Aquanaut

 *** Our pack doesn't' allow swimming stuff for liability reasons, so you're on your own on this one, I may add some links but not much. ***

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Aquanaut

Complete 1–5 and any two from 6–10.
  1. State the safety precautions you need to take before doing any water activity.
  2. Recognize the purpose and the three classifications of swimming ability groups in Scouting.
  3. Discuss the importance of learning the skills you need to know before going boating.
  4. Explain the meaning of "order of rescue" and demonstrate the reach and throw rescue techniques from land.
  5. Attempt the BSA swimmer test.
  6. Demonstrate the precautions you must take before attempting to dive headfirst into the water, and attempt a front surface dive.
  7. Learn and demonstrate two of the following strokes: crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, or elementary backstroke.
  8. Invite a member or former member of a lifeguard team, rescue squad, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, or other armed forces branch who has had swimming and rescue training to your den meeting. Find out what training and other experiences this person has had.
  9. Demonstrate how to correctly fasten a life jacket that is the right size for you. Jump into water over your head. Show how the life jacket keeps your head above water by swimming 25 feet. Get out of the water, remove the life jacket and hang it where it will dry.
  10. If you are a qualified swimmer, select a paddle of the proper size and paddle a canoe with an adult's supervision.
Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Adventures in Scienc



 

  Note: I have my comments on these, if you like one of the experiments that I don't' choose, or don't like and you thinks it's awesome, totally ignore me and do it your way,
!!!!This is just all my personal opinion !!!!

I'll try to add links even for the ones I don't like. after you are done send me info on how you did it and I'll add it if it's unique and cool!

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure: Adventures in Science

Do all of these:
An experiment is a "fair test" to compare possible explanations. Draw a picture of a fair test that shows what you need to do to test a fertilizer's effects on plant growth.
Example of fair test including this one

Much more detailed one
1. Visit a museum, a college, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Prepare three questions ahead of time, and talk to a scientist about his or her work.
.
 Get the questions written down ahead of time,
My wife works at a cancer research center, if I find and easier one I'll post it here, but it's going to be Pflugerville, TX specific.
Questions to ask yourself if you can't think of a science lab near you
Is there a university you can go visit?
What about a geology, highway and building departments use geologists.
What about a nature preserve, aquarium or zoo? All forms of Biological sciences..
Remember they don't have to be doing hard science, if you live in a really small town, find someone who has a bachelors in  science or does lab work.
Maybe for the local clinic or Vet...
All it needs is some one who studied science, and uses some of that knowledge in work.
Lots of engineering type sciences if you get really stuck, master electricians and the like, but try chemistry or biology...first, A vet can talk about the scientific method in diagnosis and the biology involved...
Or a Dr... Or a medical technician who's doing the tests for a Dr.
Don't let the fact that you don't know some one who's running the Cern supercollider stop you from finding a scientist... a Scientist is some one who studied and applies the scientific method... that's all...
.
2. Complete any four of the following:
  1. Carry out the experiment you designed for requirement 1, above. Report what you learned about the effect of fertilizer on the plants that you grew.
    1. IMHO Dont' do this one as a den activity, it's great at home, buy why do an activity that's going to take weeks at a den meeting? 
    2. If you really want to do this, look at the links in Req 1,.
  2. Carry out the experiment you designed for requirement 1, but change the independent variable. Report what you learned about the effect of changing the variable on the plants that you grew.
    1. See choice a
  3. Build a model solar system. Chart the distances between the planets so that the model is to scale. Use what you learn from this requirement to explain the value of making a model in science.
    1. Here is a great word doc on making a scale solar system in your back yard
    2. You can see in detail how I did this experiment here:
      1. We built  a model on the 100' scale filling my backyard, and it took us about 10 min to build it and learn a lot from it.
  4. With adult supervision, build and launch a model rocket. Use the rocket to design a fair test to answer a question about force or motion.
    1. We do a rocket-thon every fall so this one is free for me!
    2. If you have never done it you need a launch kit, and a rocket
      1. The launch kit includes the expendables (motor, wadding, ignitor) for a couple launches
      2. Each boy needs a rocket, a motor an ignitor and wadding, for each launch
    3. This is the rocket we built first, it's so easy, literally snaps together
      1. We buy them in bulk and every Tiger gets one of these, then each year they gets a bigger and harder rocket.
    4. This is a launch kit with the 2nd rocket we build, it's not snap together, but it's the next easiest
    5. There are lots of great how to videos on you tube spend time looking at them. There is way to much for me to break down here. Find a build video of your rocket by name, then look up how to pre for launch and launch videos at minimum.
  5. Create two circuits of three light bulbs and a battery. Construct one as a series circuit and the other as a parallel circuit.
    1. I have a whole kit for these already I made test leads(click her to get them from amazon_), wires with alligator clips on both ends
    2. You can buy a switch or make one
    3. This kit has 2 switches 2 bulbs, and test leads and battery holder all you need is one more bulb holder and a bulb for it, but it's only for one scout at a  time...
    4. I'm trying to figure out a cheap way to build a kit for each boy, so there is no waiting, here is my current thinking
      1. Test leads, 
        1. Going to need 8 or 10 per scout, 
        2. So maybe just wires and wrapping around nails...
      2. Button cells
        1. Pick your voltage to match your LED or Bulbs
        2. Many LEDs required minimum 4.5 v... so plan accordingly 
          1. Match the voltage of your batteries to your leds.
        3. You can just tape the wires to a button cell and use that, even if you have to stack the cells
        4. Or make a battery holder from a binder clip
        5. Here is a short lesson in the voltage fo standard watch button cells
          1. A 2032 button cell the 20 is the size (20mm) the 32 is the voltage 3.2v
          1. So a 2025, is 20mm 2.5v. etc...just get the voltage you nee
        6. If you want to use big cells, try this, just make sure you have enough voltage for whatever lamps you use.
      3. OPTION1 - LEDs.. 
        1. You Dont' need to buy a base, just clip straight to the leads.
        2. You can get 20-100 for around $10, as opposed to $5+ each for a  bulb and base
        3. Remember polarity, a diode is a 1 way gate for electricity, so a LED (light emitting diode) hooked up backwards, is basically an open circuit. (not going to do anything)
          1.  
        4. When you get your leds check the voltage range, and buy a matching button cell,
          1. These are 3v to 3.2v
          2. These are 2v to 2.2v
        5. If you add to much voltage it makes it brighter but shortens the life, eventually so short it just dies...life is easier if you don't over drive the LEDs. 
        6. If you add to little voltage it will dim, or maybe not light up at all... 
      4. OPTION 2 - If LEDs are to complex, get regular bulbs and use conductive glue to glue wires to them for hookup
        1. The bulbs above are 2.5v so you can glue wires to a single D,C or AA or AAA battery and they will work dimly as your power source..better  to tape up two of them or glue them up for 3v.
          1. 3.6v bulbs like the ones above, to be safer with 2 batteries
        2. Clean everything with alcohol before gluing, after gluing tape in place to hold it while the glue drys.
        3. Test everything before the meeting.

      5. Then simple switches with thumbtacks and paper clips.

        1. or make a press button switch like this
      6. Connect it all together on nails on a board , like a bread board
        1. HERE is a full step by step of how We did it, included printable circuit diagrams, Max easy, Max Awesome (but i spent about $40)
        2. Examples lower down on this page.
          1. Brass nails are good, but not required plain old ones work too, especially galvanized ones.
        3. Fancier examples here 
        4. Print out a circuit diagram and copy it literally like this
        5. Or cardboard  

      7. I'll try to remember put up pics when we do it
  6. Study the night sky. Sketch the appearance of the North Star (Polaris) and the Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) over at least six hours. Describe what you observed, and explain the meaning of your observations.
    1. Six hours, are you on crack? Not doing this one... These are 4th graders...
    2. If you do this, and have an android phone get Google Sky Map, it's awesome, point you cell phone at the constellation of stars you want to identify and it shows it to you in real time. I'm sure IPhone has something similar, but i don't know it's name.
      1. If what I'm saying about google sky map doesn't' make sense, watch this movie
  7. With adult assistance, explore safe chemical reactions with household materials. Using two substances, observe what happens when the amounts of the reactants are increased.
    1. Totally doing this!! Baking soda and vinegar reaction here we come!
      1. Note you don't' have to dissolve the baking soda in water, this works find dry too!
      2. Get a disposable aluminum Turkey basting pan to put this in so it's easy to clean up, bubbles go everywhere... (I'm doing it on the back porch!!)
      3. We did drops of vinegar in the bottom of a clear plastic cup sprinkled with baking soda, and then did the experiment again with lots of both.
      4. Cups like these made great test tubes and beakers,
        1. 1 for baking soda
        2. 1 for vinegar
        3. 1 to mix them in , in various quantities
        4. 1 plastic spoons for measuring the dry ingredients
        5. I also reused my disposable droppers from Bear Sink & Swim experiment from last year... and it worked great for the small quantity experiment they sprinkled baking soda on the bottom of the cup then dripped in single drops of vinegar, then for the big one we put half a cup of soda and half a cup of vinegar together..sploosh!
  8. Explore properties of motion on a playground. Does the weight of a person affect how fast they slide down a slide or how fast a swing moves? Design a fair test to answer one of those questions.
    1. Study weight and amount of effort on a swing set... done!
    2. Play Ground Science
    3. More Playground Science 
    4. Science on the Playground (grade 1-2 but you can get ideas)
  9. Read a biography of a scientist. Tell your den leader or the other members of your den what the scientist was famous for and why his or her work is important.
    1. I like to pick enough good biographies to have one for each boy, plus some spares.  Print them out and have the kids each pick one, read it (with parental help) and answer the questions. Then tell what they thought was cool about their person.(Parents are allowed to help remind them)
      1. My Pre Made document to print out, staple and hand out,
        1. have the boys pick one,
        2. Read it with parent
        3. And return to tell a few interesting facts about their scientist.
        4. ez peezy, done.
      2. Kids scientist and inventor biographies,
      3. Really short ones(maybe too short) 
      4. Biographies organized by type of science.
      5. More medium length ones, scientists in the right of center column

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format